 Welcome to the January 2025 edition of the Family Hub Partner Newsletter!
In this first edition, we share information on upcoming events at Family Hubs across the locality and explain how best to signpost the families you work with.
Since the launch of this newsletter at our south locality collaborative event in November 2024 we have already gained 171 subscribers. So that we are able to continue to provide clear and consistent communication, please feel free to forward this edition to your colleagues so that they too are able to subscribe for updates.
Our pledge is to ensure all those working with children and families across Cheshire East have the same access to Family Hubs information in a timely manner.
Find your nearest Family Hub
Cheshire East Family Hubs and Children’s Centres provide support to families with children aged 0-19 (25 with SEND). We are a one-stop-shop for advice and support and are here to support families along every step of their journey as a parent. We bring together the best of council, health and voluntary, community and faith sector services.
Collaboratives
South Locality
 On the 19th November 2024 we hosted the first south locality face to face collaborative event at Nantwich Civic Hall.
The morning provided opportunities for all partners to share their offer and learn about the services which are operating across the locality in support of our key priority areas; SEND, Mental Health and Deprivation. It was wonderful to meet so many partners in person, many for the first time and there was a true sense of community and collaboration as we were able to spend time learning from one another.
The afternoon session saw presentations from key speakers in our three key priority areas and I would like to take this opportunity to whole heartedly thank Keith Martin, Sam Ruck, Rachel Taylor and Cathy Gregory for their input. The information shared was extremely valuable for all of us and their generosity is greatly appreciated.
North Locality
Knutsford and Wilmslow
Key achievements:
- Reducing parental conflict services and resources have now been included within the SCIES information pack to schools.
- Reducing Parental Conflict information is shared within the SCIES refresher training for DSLs in schools.
- SCIES are now checking that healthy relationships posters/newsletters/leaflets are displayed within schools where appropriate.
- Dip sampling has been completed within Family Help around the engagement of Dads. It was clear to see that there are a lot of inconsistencies with
trying to engage Dads/hidden males. A lot of the time, they are not discussed or if they are, they don't feature in the plan, which also means there is a
while network missing for the child.
- Following on from this, Within the Family Help Front Door, Practitioner Support Officers ensure that they speak with both parents from the outset, gain
their views and update family composition where Dad’s details are missed. The Family Help Front Door will gain consent off both parents prior to
referring them for additional support and will ensure that any resources sent via email are sent to both parents to explore. This is completed for parents
that are together and separated.
Congleton
Key achievements:
- Holistic view of family - New Life Church now offer weekly form filling assistance.
- Wider range of organisations involved to progress agreed aim.
- Holmes Chapel partners are included, to ensure more families are supported.
- New Life Church and Plus Dane have been connected with the National Lottery
Funding Officer for advice and guidance on future funding applications.
- Middlewich Foodbank have commenced distribution in Holmes Chapel – T&F group are assisting in reaching out to a wider cohort/raising awareness.
Macclesfield North/South and BDP
Key Achievements:
- The Bread and Butter Thing is now established at Broken Cross Primary Academy.
- Increased community engagement – promoted Healthy Start during the
Macclesfield Living Well event held on 12/10/24.
- Connections made during the Healthy Start T&F group to raise awareness.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Little Stars
 At Little Stars we welcome all children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities aged 0-4 to come and play together. Whether a child has been diagnosed with additional needs or are on a pathway, parents and carers are free to drop in and meet other parents with shared experiences to their own.
Monks Coppenhall Centre of Excellence for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Here at our flagship SEND site we facilitate a wide range of SEND support for families of children up to the age of 25.
Regular drop-in sessions from 0-19+ Health Visiting Service, Cheshire East Autism Team and LDCAHMS support our offer as well as our monthly SEND Marketplace which brings together a variety of SEND practitioners who can provide support and advice to parents and carers.
Emotional Health and Wellbeing
 The "Your Mind Matters" project, run by Youth Fed in Cheshire East, provides mental health support and guidance for young people aged 8-25 years old. The project operates under the iThrive framework, specifically within the Advice and Guidance quadrant, focusing on offering early support to prevent the onset of mental health difficulties. The project offers one-to-one work and group work, ensuring that young individuals receive the necessary support before their needs escalate to requiring clinical intervention or therapy.
Who can we work with?
Age: Individuals aged 8-25 years old.
Location: Cheshire East
Mental Health Status: Individuals experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health concerns that do not require clinical intervention.
Young people who are at risk of developing mental health issues and could benefit from early advice and guidance.
We are NOT a crisis service.
Referrals
E-mail yourmindmatters@youthfed.org for a referral form.
Deprivation - Social, rural and financial isolation
HENRY
Making Every Contact Count for Physical Activity - Training for School Staff and Services Supporting Children and Young People
 Would you like to support the children that you work with to be more physically active?
Would you like to explore ways to use physical activity to support your own wellbeing?
This 2-hr training covers:
- The Making Every Contact Count approach and explore how this can be applied in your settings
- What is meant by physical activity (including awareness of the latest Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines)
- Skills and confidence to deliver healthy lifestyle messages linked to physical activity, to encourage people to change their behaviour
- Understanding of where suitable resources for signposting can be found
Each session will be personalised to you, and will be arranged for a day/time that works for you and your team.
The training can be delivered online or in-person.
All staff are invited.
If your school/organisation is interested in attending this training, please contact hayley.antipas@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Family Hub Updates for your setting/organisation
 As we continue to share our offer across the locality, our Family Hub Journey Officer Charlotte Blake has been visiting schools, primary care settings and voluntary organisations to ensure all practitioners are equipped with a solid understanding of the Family Hub offer and how best to signpost children and families to our services.
Charlotte has delivered staff meetings to Primary Education settings and GP practices and is keen to continue this work moving forwards.
If you would like to find out more please email charlotte.blake@cheshireeast.gov.uk
|
