Welcome to the October edition of our Family Hubs and Start for Life newsletter!
In this very special issue of the the Start for Life Family Hub Newsletter, we are celebrating all of the amazing services who come together across Cheshire East to provide support, advice and guidance around emotional wellbeing and mental health.
World Mental Health Day
10th October 2024
 On World Mental Health Day, let’s all come together to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. Talking about our mental health can help us cope better with life’s ups and downs. So, on World Mental Health Day and beyond it, why not check in with your friends, family, peers, or colleagues?
World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October. This year’s theme set by the World Federation of Mental Health is, “it’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace”. The theme highlights the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, for the benefit of people, organisations, and communities.
Cheshire East Family Hubs launches FREE online workshops for families!
 Cheshire East Family Hubs is excited to announce the official launch of its recent partnership with the Solihull Approach; trusted NHS provider of online courses focused on children's emotional health and wellbeing. Through this collaboration, Cheshire East Family Hubs funds a multi-user license, enabling all residents within the council's area to access a comprehensive range of online courses on www.inourplace.co.uk at no cost.
Cheshire East Family Hubs recognises the importance of nurturing emotionally resilient and socially aware children within its community.
Key highlights of the Inourplace online courses include:
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Understanding your child's emotional health and brain development: Parents will gain insights into the science behind their child's brain development, helping them make informed decisions that support healthy cognitive growth.
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Reading your child's behaviours: These courses will provide parents with tools to interpret and respond effectively to their child's behaviours, fostering positive interactions and reducing stress for both parents and children.
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Developing communication: Parents will learn strategies for open and effective communication that will strengthen the parent-child bond and promote emotional well-being.
Cheshire and Mersey Specialist Perinatal Service (CWP Local Team)
 One in five women and birthing people experience mental health problems during pregnancy or in the first year after birth.
The Cheshire and Merseyside Specialist Perinatal Service provides important mental health assessment and support for local women and birthing people, who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health issues during this time.
Sophie shares her perinatal mental health journey and encourages others to reach out and get support.
Leighton Hospital Perinatal Mental Health Service
 My name is Lucy and I’m in charge of the perinatal mental health service at Leighton hospital.
The service is designed to care for women who are currently pregnant or in the early stages of their postnatal journey. With their consent patients who have a moderate or severe mental health condition, can be referred to the perinatal mental health team at any point during this period. This may be a condition that the patient lives with day to day or one that has developed along side their pregnancy or following birth. My primary role is to help patients navigate though their maternity journey with as much enjoyment as possible whist ensuring the safety of themselves and their baby. I support women to create holistic wellbeing plans, taking into account their unique circumstances and making any reasonable adjustments necessary to make them feel safe and comfortable. We offer flexible appointments in a variety of locations to ensure no patient is disadvantaged. Our in depth assessments mean we are able to clearly identify what external services or strategies best suits their individual situation and support the implementation of these plans along side the wider Midwifery team. This may include therapies, group work, medication reviews or just a supportive professional ear. Ether way we are here to serve all women and their families who need us during what can be a life changing period of time.
If you are under the care of Leighton hospital and feel you would benefit from a referral, please talk to your midwifery team. Alternatively, you can call 01270 278260 to talk to a member of the mental health team. (please note these calls will be monitored Mon-Friday 9-5)
Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Midwife
Macclesfield
 At Macclesfield District General Hospital Maternity Unit, we are lucky enough to have a team of midwives dedicated to providing care to and supporting families with additional complexities. The team is made up of a specialist perinatal mental health midwife and 3 other specialist midwives, who provide continuity of care for women, pregnant people and families. This support could include, but is not limited to, mental health support, housing and financial support, completion of individualised care plans and/or hospital passports, supporting families with social care involvement and support with domestic abuse.
Katrina is the specialist mental health midwife at Macclesfield Hospital and her role is to recognise, support and refer.
-To recognise those women, pregnant people or family members who are experiencing, or are high risk of experiencing, mental health difficulties in pregnancy and the postnatal period.
-To ensure that individuals have the right support package in place.
-To ensure that the correct referrals are made to wider services and support, where necessary.
Katrina also offers support and training to the midwives and wider maternity and obstetric workforce. Her role also involves working closes with the wider workforce, such as the health visiting service, family nurse partnership, the perinatal mental health team and the local authority to ensure joint working and seamless care for families.
Pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period are life changing, and the transition through all of these stages can bring an array of emotions, both positive and negative. The changes to the human body, mind, hormones, relationships, finances and social life are complex and it is understandable that individuals may need additional support to navigate this.
Cheshire East 0-19+ Service
 Our Children and Young People’s Service in Cheshire East is structured around the national Healthy Child Programme and provides support for children, young people and their families.
Support begins during pregnancy and continues until the child reaches the age of 19. Working in partnership with families, communities and professionals the 0-19+ Service promotes good mental health and emotional wellbeing of the whole family and supports healthy parent-infant and couple relationships.
Cheshire East 0-19+ Health and Wellbeing Service - an introduction - Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (wchc.nhs.uk)
 Smile Group is a Charity that support families who are struggling with their wellbeing in the perinatal period.
If you are pregnant or have a toddler under 3 you can access the services. Smile's peer support groups are in family hubs in Macclesfield, Congleton, Sandbach and Crewe.
These sessions are a drop-in and there is no need to book. They also offer 1:1 home visits via a professional referral, Monthly family sessions and Counselling.
To access the counselling you need to be accessing Groups or 1:1 and the Wellbeing Practitioners can add you to the waiting list, which is generally between 4 - 10 weeks depending on location.
For more information you can email hello@smilegroup.org.uk or look at their website on www.smilegroup.org.uk
NHS Talking Therapies East Cheshire
 NHS Talking Therapies East Cheshire offers free NHS therapy for people with common mental health problems like anxiety or depression. We offer online therapy through Silvercloud and a choice of well-being courses both in person and remote. We also offer a bespoke course for people affected by a long term health conditions. At an initial assessment treatment options will be discussed to help you decide which one is right for you. You can either ask your GP or healthcare professional to refer you or you can contact us directly on 01625 469 950 or go to our website at the link below.
Launch of The Healthy Young Minds Service
 Cheshire East Family Hubs were delighted to be invited to exhibit at the launch of the Healthy Young Minds Alliance at Congleton Town Hall last month. Our Family Hub Journey Officer Charlotte spoke to representatives from schools, public health and CVFSE about the vital work Family Hubs do to support emotional wellbeing within the community.
Work is now underway across education, public health, the NHS, the VCFSE Sector, and the Healthy Young Minds launch event, marked the establishment of the Healthy Young Minds Alliance, a model to support collaborative working - with the shared goal of making the lives of all children and young people immeasurably better.
UNICEF UK's Baby Friendly Initiative Accreditation
Do you have a baby born after 1st June 2024?
 Cheshire East Family Hubs would like your help to gain the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Accreditation. We need families with babies born since 1st June 2024 to complete a short questionnaire in person or over the phone around the help and support you have received when feeding you baby. If you would like to help us and take part please contact your local Family Hub or speak to a member of staff on your next visit.
Stay and Play
 Now that the new school term has started, our Stay and Play groups are for children aged 0-5. These are a wonderful place for pre-school children to socialise, explore messy play, get outdoors and for parents to seek advice and guidance from our Start for Life team. These groups are also inclusive for children with additional needs. If you would like to talk to one of our practitioners about support with crying, please do so. There is no need to book, please just turn up and play!
To find out when and where your local Stay and Play is, please use the link below.
FREE Toilet Training Webinar
Primary School Admissions 2025
Applications now open
 Applications are now open for children starting primary school. If you are a parent, with a child born between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021, your child will be due to start primary school in September 2025. Parents are strongly advised to apply for three preferences.
Applications must be submitted to the child’s home local authority by:
- 15 January 2025 for pupils starting primary in September 2025.
Parents still need to apply even if the child has a brother or sister already at the school or the child is attending a nursery/preschool attached to the school. Some faith schools may also require parents and carers to submit a supplementary information form/confirmation of baptism. Further information about this will be available on the school’s website.
Parents should consider how their child will travel to school when making preferences. Parents can find out about school transport at Free and subsidised school transport (cheshireeast.gov.uk)
To apply online and for further information please go to Application process for starting school in September (cheshireeast.gov.uk) or call 0300 123 5012.
For up to date information please direct parents to follow our twitter @CE_Admissions and follow The Family Information Service – @FISCheshireEast or Family Information Service (Cheshire East Council) - Home | Facebook
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
North Locality
 We held our first Local Offer SEND Marketplace event at Oakenclough Family Hub on 4th September.
The event was a great success and allowed parents and carers to access specialist advice and support from a wealth of SEND practitioners.
Watch out for our next event being advertised soon!
South Locality
Book of the Month
 The Book of the Month for October is 'My Hair' by Hannah Lee. Join Hannah as she tells the story of her hair and why it is so special to her.
Celebrate Black History Month throughout October with clips, quizzes and stories from across CBBC. Find out more about black history and why Black History Month is important.
Rhyme Time
This is the way we brush our hair
 This is the way we brush our hair, brush our hair, brush our hair
This is the way we brush our hair,
Early in the morning!
This is the way we clean our teeth,
This is the way we wash our face,
This is the way we eat our food,
This is the way we brush our hair.
 The Cheshire Book Trust Team are celebrating World Sight Day with 'A squash and a Squeeze' by Julia Donaldson that is available in Giant print and Braille format. Reserve a copy at https://cheslive.koha-ptfs.co.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=506699&query_desc=a%20squash%20and%20a%20squeeze.pl or ask about other books in this format. #RSBC
 If your child has recently started school you may be feeling a little unsure of where to turn to for help and support. Even though your child is now attending school, Cheshire East Family Hubs are here to support you, as well as the 0-19 Contact Hub who provide:
- Health Visiting
- Infant Feeding – Cherubs
- School Nursing
- Family Nurse Partnership (FNP)
- Immunisation and screening
Healthy Start
 If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We’ll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks.
You can use your card to buy:
- plain liquid cow’s milk
- fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
- fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
- infant formula milk based on cow’s milk
You can also use your card to collect:
- Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old
Common Approach to Children's Health
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