The latest news
HAPpy camps return for the Easter holiday - Help for families to have fun in Hertfordshire
HAPpy activity camps are returning this Easter, providing eligible children and young people with the chance to meet friends, learn new skills and enjoy nutritious food during the Easter break.
The HAPpy programme is funded by Hertfordshire County Council and the Department of Education (DfE) via the government’s Holiday Activity and Food programme and coordinated by Herts Sport and Activity Partnership and the Hertfordshire Community Foundation.
Children and young people who are in school years Reception to Year 11, who attend a Hertfordshire school and are in receipt of benefits related free school meals can attend the HAPpy Easter camps. Eligible families should already have been given their booking code from their school. Parents/carers who have not received the code should contact their school office.
Every camp is inclusive and able to meet the needs of most children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), provided the right information is supplied with their booking. There are also SEND-specific camps which are better for children with higher support needs.
Bookings open at 12pm on Thursday 13 March. For further details of the programme, the camps available and to book places visit: https://bit.ly/ICBookHAPpy25
Schools will also give supermarket vouchers to families eligible for free school meals during the Easter holiday.
Families whose children are eligible for free school meals are now able to claim discounts in shops, sports clubs and children’s activities with a new Herts Card. For more info visit: Herts Card for those who receive free school meals | Hertfordshire County Council
Help for families to have fun in Hertfordshire
The Herts Card (previously known as the HAND card) is designed to support and benefit families of children with SEND across Hertfordshire and provides discounts and exclusive support. Families of children and young people on Free School Meals are also now entitled to a Herts Card.
You do not need to reapply if you already have a HAND account - you can access the new card by logging into your existing account.
Find out more about the Herts Card and where you can use it.
Find out more about the Herts Card for those eligible for free school meals
Check out Hertfordshire's Spring 25 Parenting and Relationship Courses
Please download the latest Parenting and Relationship Support Offer Newsletter which will provide you with information and details on Parenting Courses and Relationship Support offer. Please can you ensure you cascade to your teams. If you have any questions please email CSStrategic.Partnerships@hertfordshire.gov.uk .
We have listed a few of the current courses below, but please visit the Hertfordshire Directory for the full listing.
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Supporting someone after a suicide Attempt
Hertfordshire County Council has funded the development of a groundbreaking Carers Resource Guide, designed to support carers, families, and individuals affected by a relative's suicide attempt. This comprehensive guide has been created by Hector’s House, a renowned suicide prevention charity in Hertfordshire, and is potentially the first resource of its kind on a national level.
The guide was officially launched on the 6th of March and is now available for access. You can find it on the following webpages:
Please note that the content of this guide includes sensitive subjects such as suicide. We encourage everyone to take care of their mental wellbeing while engaging with this material. For additional support, you can access our Mental Health Resource attached.
We believe this guide will be an invaluable tool in providing much-needed support and information to those affected by such challenging circumstances. However, it is important to remember that this guide does not replace professional support in times of crisis.
If you would like to join the Suicide Prevention Network Mailing list to be kept updated on our services and events, kindly complete the attached word document and send back to SuicidePreventionHerts@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Join a Hertfordshire Family Centre Service partnership network meeting
These meetings are a great opportunity to find out updates from the Family Centre Service as well as sharing updates from your service and networking with other professionals. Please find below the date and location of the next Hertfordshire Family Centre Service Partnership Network Meetings in your area.
Dacorum (NEW, amended date)
Tuesday 3rd June, 13:00 – 14:30
Little Hands Little Feet Family Centre, Douglas Gardens, Berkhamsted HP4 3PE
East Herts
Wednesday 7th May, 13:00 – 15:00
Beane Valley Family Centre, Clappers Lane, Watton-at-Stone, Hertford, SG14 3QA
Hertsmere
Tuesday 27th May, 13:00 – 14:30
The BECC Family Centre, Furzehill Road, Borehamwood, WD6 2FD
North Herts and Stevenage
Thursday 15th May, 12:00 – 13:30
Bridge Road Family Centre, Woolenwick Junior School, Bridge Road West, Stevenage, SG12NU
St Albans
Wednesday 21st May, 10:00 – 11:00 -11.30
Sopwell Family Centre, St Albans, Mandeville Drive, St Albans, AL1 2LE
Watford and Three Rivers
Wednesday 7th May, 12:30 – 14:00
Westfield and Littlebury Family Centre, Croxley View, Watford, WD18 6NS
Welwyn Hatfield and Broxbourne
Wednesday 7th May 13:00 – 15:00
De Havilland Family Centre, De Havilland Primary School, Travellers Lane, Hatfield, AL10 8TQ
“Support on a Page” for children and young people with SEND
We have been working on a series of service directories, 'Support on a page', to help professionals and parents navigate the services that are available to support their child or young person’s educational needs. We recognise that knowing where to go for different types of support can be confusing, so these directories provide clear, accessible and concise information to help find the right level of support.
We have worked collaboratively with professionals, schools, and parent carers to produce this document and incorporated the feedback from various stakeholders. We would now like professionals to start using the documents and provide any feedback so that we can address any issues before we formally launch the resource to parent carers.
The documents are all hosted on this page of Local Offer and we ask that you share it with your team.
The specific directories can be found on each support page:
· Speech Language Communication Service Directory
· Learning Difficulties Directory Support on a Page
· Deafness and Sight Loss Directory Support on a Page
· Physical Needs Directory Support on a Page
· Behaviours that challenge
Please provide any feedback to SENDStrategy@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
Contraception Champion Scheme
The Hertfordshire Contraception Champion scheme is for all frontline practitioners/professionals across a wide range of organisations and services in Hertfordshire, including from Children’s Services, Health, Education, and adults services including social care and drug and alcohol services and the aim is to support and encourage conversations with residents and service users that promote contraception and good sexual health and signposting to contraception and sexual health services.
A Contraception Champion is a practitioner who:
- Pro-actively has conversations that promote good sexual health and the use of contraception through their role working with residents and service-users.
- Signposts residents and service-users towards local contraception and sexual health services.
- Promotes key prevention messages to all sexually active men and women, highlighting how individuals can reduce their risk of catching or passing on HIV, an STI, or risking an unplanned pregnancy.
- Engages with training and learning and development opportunities on an ongoing basis to enhance their knowledge related to contraception and sexual health.
What support is available?
- ‘Ask me about Contraception’ champion guidance.
- Initial resource pack, including badge.
- Training opportunities related to contraception and sexual health.
- Newsletter with relevant information, service provision and updates.
Download the Flyer here
How can I sign up?
You can sign up here: Sexual health (professional) | Hertfordshire County Council
Help families and young people with FREE healthy lifestyle support
Ready to help families and young people in Hertfordshire feel healthier and happier? Sign them up to FREE* Beezee healthy lifestyle programmes today.
Refer today.
Here’s a quick look at our Beezee programmes to help you find the right support.
Beezee Families: A 12-week programme for 5-15-year-olds and their families. Led by expert nutritionists, we focus on nutrition, moving more and having fun! Families can join us in-person or online. We also have self-learning on the Academy and 1-2-1 support all year-round.
Find out more: Beezee Families
Beezee Youth: An 8-week tailored programme for 13-17-year-olds,which explores mental, social and physical wellbeing. There’s also content created specifically for young people on our Academy.
Refer today: Beezee Youth
HENRY: Parents and carers of under 5's can learn about making healthy habits early on, all while enjoying our free creche during the 8-week face-to-face programme. Or they can join us online!
Find out more: HENRY
*All our programmes are funded by Herts County Council.
Training, workshops and masterclasses
We also run workshops and masterclasses to help parents and carers tackle common lifestyle concerns, such as fussy eating. We also deliver training for professionals.
For more information on any of our services, please get in touch! You can call us on: 01707 248648 or email us.
Ollie Foundation introduces the Grief Café for Teens
The Ollie Foundation have recently had some funding approved to provide a number of Grief Café sessions for Teens. Please see below.
We would be grateful if you could share this with families, students and your staff / pastoral teams.
💛 Grief Café for Teens 💛
A safe space for young people who have experienced loss
What is a Grief Café?
Losing someone you love can feel overwhelming, lonely, and confusing. A Grief Café is a welcoming space for teens who have been bereaved to connect, share (if they want to), and find support in a way that feels right for them.
💬 No pressure to talk – just an open space to be understood.
💛 Meet others who get it – because you are not alone.
🎨 Express grief in creative and meaningful ways.
🕯️ Learn how to honour and carry the memory of your loved one.
This is not therapy or counselling—it’s a space for connection, reflection, and support.
4-Week Programme
📅 Session 1: You Are Not Alone – Understanding grief & finding connection
📅 Session 2: Holding On & Letting Go – Exploring memories & emotions
📅 Session 3: When Grief Feels Heavy – Coping with difficult emotions
📅 Session 4: Carrying Their Light Forward – Creating meaningful ways to remember
You can book as many sessions as you like. You do not have to do all four.
📍 Location: The Green House, London Road, St. Albans
🕒 Time: 5-6pm
📆 Dates: 16th, 23rd, 30th March and 6th April
£ Cost: Free
Join Us
Grief is a journey, and you don’t have to walk it alone. If you're a teen who has lost someone, you are welcome here.
📩 Sign up: Contact debi@theolliefoundation.org
📱 Questions? Debi@theolliefoundaiton.org
💛 We see you. We hear you. We are you. 💛
If you are interested in attending or have any further questions then please get in touch with Debi.
IFST Focus Fortnight - Safe Sleeping
Our Intensive Family Support Teams partnered with our health colleagues to hold their second Focus Fortnight in March on the topic of Safer Sleeping,
A Focused Fortnight is a dedicated two-week period during which the Intensive Family Support Team (IFST) ensures that every family receiving support gets targeted intervention in a specific area of need. The goal is to provide comprehensive and effective assistance by:
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Upskilling staff: Collaborating with partners to enhance staff knowledge and skills on the identified topics.
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Providing resources: Offering relevant materials to support the interventions.
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Prioritising discussions: Ensuring that workers focus on the area of need during their interactions with families.
They held a lite-bite webinar session with health partners and you can download the slides from the session, along with additional useful information and resources to support your visits with families with babies and young children, here:-
Learning & development
Families First Dates for Your Diary!
There are many ways to stay updated with Families First News, including events, webinars, induction days, and partnership meetings. Discover what’s coming up here
Monthly Families First Keeping in Touch Sessions
These sessions are a short informal update on service news, training offers and parenting courses delivered by one of our service managers. Please email familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov..uk if you would like an invitation to join.
- Thursday 3 April, 9am-9.30
- Thursday 15 May, 9am-9.30
Join a Families First Induction day - ideal for new starters
We host Families First online Induction days 4 times per year, where various early help services give a 20 minute whistle-stop tour of their service and are attended by new internal CS staff and external partners. The next dates are:-
- Wednesday 2 April 2025 via Teams
- Wednesday 25 June 2025 via Teams
Please email: familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk if you have any questions on the above or would like an invite sent to you.
Families First quarterly district partnership meetings
In addition, many of you are regular attendees at our partnership meetings, which are a great way of keeping up to date with new services, updates and make connections. You can find out more about the groups here and email familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk if you would like to join.
Families First Share & Learn: Prevent Programme
Learn more about how to spot and report radicalisation in Hertfordshire through Prevent.
We work with some of the most vulnerable people in society. Some of these vulnerable people can be exploited by extremists looking to radicalise individuals into terrorist ideologies. The HCC Prevent Programme Delivery Manager is holding a share and learn session for all staff about the Prevent programme. Prevent is the government initiative in place to tackle the ideological causes of terrorism, intervene early to support people susceptible to radicalisation and enable people who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate. Please join us:-
Date and time: Monday, 19 May, 1:00pm
Location: Online live streamed - Microsoft Teams
Duration: 45 minutes
Free professionals training - working with families to support healthy lifestyles
I’m writing to offer the Families First / Children’s Services teams some free training to your professional staff working with children and their parents/carers around the following topics:
- Fussy Eating behaviours in children
- Raising the Issue of Obesity with parents and carers
Training is delivered by our Wellbeing Coordinator and/or our Nutritionists and lasts around 90 minutes to allow for discussion and interaction, with groups of professionals in attendance either in person (best) or online. Download the poster here
Please do reach out to me in the first instance with any queries or if you wish to book something in!
We are very keen to help support professionals in their vital role in the communities we serve, and to help you guide and refer families to us.
Introduction to the SEND Local Offer website’ – webinar
The Local Offer website lets parents, young people and professionals know what special educational needs and disabilities services are available in Hertfordshire, and who can access them. There is so much more than that, too.
A friendly face from the Local Offer team will take you through what’s on the website and how you can use it to find the right services and support.
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/localoffer
(For professionals) Wednesday 23 April 11am – 12pm Join the meeting
(For professionals) Tuesday 29 April 2pm - 3pm Join the meeting
(for professionals AND parent carers) Tuesday 29 April 8pm - 9pm Register to join this webinar
A quick note: The Local Offer website is different to Short Breaks (SBLO). We won’t be going into detail about SBLO.
HSCP Learning & Development Programme
HSCP provide a wide variety of learning programmes and workshops across Hertfordshire to develop skills for safeguarding children, young people and adults. We use this page to give you some quick links through to the HSCP learning programmes:-
Money Advice Unit Training Programme, Spring/Summer 2025
Please find attached the Money Advice Unit Training Programme and booking form for SPRING/SUMMER 2025.
All the courses are free of charge but please note we will only accept bookings from organisations in Hertfordshire. Due to demand, we only allow a maximum of two participants from each organisation per course.
Our courses are done both online and face to face. Please see programme to see which you would prefer to attend.
If you want to book for more than one person, please complete a separate booking form for each person.
Once you return the completed booking form(s) to us, the attendees will receive a booking confirmation email within 5 working days. Please check your junk folder as sometimes our emails go to the junk folder straight away.
You can also download the January 2025 Herts Adviser
My Baby's Brain training for practitioners
Do you work with young children or their families? There are still places available for My Baby’s Brain Universal training in April:
What? My Baby’s Brain Universal courses introduce the key principals of neuroscience and how they can help parents, children and babies form strong attachments that will encourage healthy development.
Who? These courses are for practitioners who work with children aged 0-3 years old in Hertfordshire.
Where & when? This course will be delivered on Zoom on Wednesday the 2nd of April at 9.30am-3pm
Book your place here: Registration Link
Email lucy.hudson@hertfordshire.gov.uk if you have any questions.
Email us at ehcommissioning@hertfordshire.gov.uk if you have any questions.
Workforce Shadowing
The vision for Families First training and development is to create a skilled, confident and resilient multi-agency workforce that supports whole family working.
Workforce shadowing provides a great opportunity to find out more about other services, what they do and how they might be able to support you in your work. It also enhances communication across agencies and helps strengthen and develop professional relationships, building local networks.
If you would like to organise a workforce shadowing placement for either yourself or a team member please complete the form on this page stating the service you would like to shadow and the preferred district and we will match you to a shadowing opportunity.
The following services have offered to host shadowing opportunities in either in person or virtually:-
- Citizens Advice (Broxbourne/St Albans/North Herts)
- Childcare provision
- CGL
- Domestic Abuse Support
- Families First Panels Team
- Family Support Service, Family Centre
- Herts Mind Network
- Herts Sports Partnership
- MIND in Mid Herts
- ASB Team, District Council, Three Rivers
- Housing Support, District Council
- Intensive Family Support Team (IFST)
- Local School Partnerships
- Police
- Public Health Nursing
- Schools Early Years Provsion
- Specialist Adolescent Services Hertfordshire (SASH)
- Services for Young People
- Supporting Families Practice Team
Additionally, if you would like to add your service to the above list, again please email us with your contact details, service and district.
Familesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Please take a look at the page, bookmark and share with teams, where appropriate.
Workforce development (hertfordshire.gov.uk)
Difference we're making
Generous donations made
A big “Thank You”
Supporting Families ran a very successful clothes and hygiene donation stall in Farnham House canteen on Wednesday 12 March in additional to providing information on
the Families First Programme.
Thank you to all the staff who generously donated and over 20 large bags of items were provided to Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield Local Schools Partnership who have set up a clothes and hygiene hub providing free items to families in need. Due the success of the day, Supporting Families are planning further donation days in 2025 – please look out for details.
Feedback received:-
"Thank you very much for the donations the team and the families we work with are/will be very grateful.
We appreciate your support and generosity, please pass our thanks to those who kindly donated"
Many thanks, best wishes,
Cheryl Bodrozic, Lead School Family Worker, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield Local School Partnership
Amazing Feedback worth Celebrating
Another successful SEND coffee morning at Otley Way Family Centre, parents talking to professionals to find the right support for their family. On our feedback form, one parent said “Talking to knowledgeable people rather than trying to find info online. Came away with some helpful advice.”
It's always good to hear positive feedback from a family, below is some lovely feedback sent to our Homelessness Prevention Team
Feedback from a parent, recently supported by Children's Services Homelessness Prevention Team
"You guys are heaven sent! Thank you so much I will be forever grateful, I was told by the Children's father that CS will take the children away, but he was wrong CS are there to help families in tough times, I was going through a very tough time, but you made things seem a little bit easier. Becky, you make me feel like I was talking to my mother, you are very motherly and have a good heart.
It is obvious you put your heart into your work and you are very caring and children sense a good person, daughter loved you and was comfortable with you she knew you have a good heart!"
Parent, Jan25
Families First - Performance Data Report
You may be interested to view our Families First Performance Data report for the period January 2024 - December 2024.
The report looks at Families First Assessments that took place within the period and highlights the presenting needs and outcomes broken down by district along with information about other support for families.
Families First Case Studies
Following on from a programme of Celebrating Excellence in Early Help sessions run in Children’s Services, which aimed to highlight the Families First approach and also included contributions from some of our partners, we are sharing some of the recent case below:
Case Study 1 - Intensive Family Support / Local Borough Council
Scene Setting
The Intensive Family Support team (IFST) began supporting this family of nine in Spring 2021.
As support got underway the third youngest child Tia* was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and the family are struggling coming to terms with Tia’s diagnosis and her life expectancy of one year. Tia is 11 years old.
On learning of Tia’s prognosis and following discussion with Keech Hospice an Occupational Therapist (OT) appointment was arranged for the family’s home. This assessment identified that the three-bedroom home was not suitable for end-of-life care and was not suitable for adaptation as the access was too narrow and steep for a ramp.
The Family Intervention Worker (FIW) made contact with the local Borough Council’s Aids and Adaptions Team for support.
READ MORE
Case Study 2 - Families First Assessment
Scene Setting
This case study provides some insight into the journey of Fran* and her family. Fran is an eight year old girl who worries about her mum, she knows mum is different when she is with her drinking friends. Fran’s Mum has a diagnosis of unstable personality disorder and has previously used drugs and alcohol as coping strategies, she has been in a cycle of poor mental health and whilst their wider family network have been supporting Fran and her mother they sought out some external support via a Families First Assessment.
READ MORE
Case Study 3 - Employment Adviser/IFST
Scene Setting:
This case study provides some insight into the support provided to Sanz* from one of our Employment Advisers. Our Intensive Family Support Teams include Employment Advisers who provide tailored support in areas such as employability; taking time to understand skills and experiences, any barriers or challenges preventing employment, identification of any training to support employability, preparation of supporting statements and CVs and job search support, including mock interviews.
Our Advisers can also provide guidance on how to navigate the benefits system, including benefit entitlements and claims, as well as how changes in circumstances impact benefits.
They work in parallel with Family Intervention Workers. This case study summarises support given to Sanz, the mother, to support with employability and benefits.
READ MORE
Case Study 4 - Local Schools Partnership
Case Study 5
This case study follows a mum who suffers from depression and anxiety. She was distrusting of professionals due to a negative experience with Children's Services in another local authority. Dad had recently moved out of the family home so she cares for her three children alone. Read more about the support the family received and the tools mum now takes forward in her parenting skills.
READ MORE
Please share anonymised case studies highlighting how early help and partnership working has provided support to local families with us at familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk. Please ensure you have consent from the family.