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Welcome to the latest edition of the Early Help newsletter. We hope this newsletter finds you safe and well. In this edition there is an important update from Fran Doyle, Head of Early Help, Partnerships and Commissioning, there is also information on changes to services in light of Covid-19, and finally we have added a list of resources for children, young people, parents and practitioners who support families. These resources cover a wide range of topics such as mental health, relationships, money worries, educational resources and keeping active at home.
If you have information on your service area you would like to share in the next early help newsletter, please email Kate.Bentham@shropshire.gov.uk
Whether you think a child, young person or family needs some support, or you are worried a child might be at risk of abuse or neglect, there is only one number you need – 0345 678 9021. From this number you will receive the support you need to get the right help at the right time to strengthen families and safeguard children.
What an amazing job Early Help colleagues are doing in the most challenging of times. One thing is for sure, families are still receiving the support they need, albeit by a different means. While it isn’t possible to meet families face to face, we are now keeping in contact with them through telephone, skype and text.
Our Early Help Hubs continue to receive requests for intervention for Targeted Early Help. In response to the ever-changing situation caused by Covid-19, if you feel that a family needs more intensive targeted family support, which can not be provided by or managed by partner agencies, then please send a request for intervention to Targeted Early Help. Simply complete the revised Request for Intervention form, which can be found on the Early Help Website, under Forms for users of ECINS and send it to the Strengthening Families email address – ShropshireStrengtheningFamilies@shropshire.gov.uk Our targeted Early Help hub teams will then follow up and plan how to best support the family
Early Help Module (EHM) of Liquid Logic
Our Targeted Early Help Team has gone live with the Early Help Module (EHM) of Liquid Logic. Staff are getting use to the system, providing us with feedback and highlighting any glitches or practice issues, which are swiftly being sorted. The good news is that when we are ready to invite our external Early Help colleagues to be part of the Early Help Liquid Logic case management system, we will have ironed out all the key issues. Given the current state of play with Covid 19 – it is not likely that the Early Help Module (EHM) will go live for partners until September 2020.
Thank you to all Early Help colleagues, partners and agencies who continue to put children and families first, in the most challenging of circumstances. Let’s continue to be creative, focussed and working together. You are all stars.
Fran Doyle
Head of Early Help, Partnerships and Commissioning
Shropshire Council
The Parenting Team is continuing their service of telephone consultations. Parents and carers can simply call the office on 01743 250950 or email parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk to arrange a consultation at a time convenient to them. Professionals can also contact the office and arrange appointments for parents/carers if they have gained their consent to pass on their telephone number.
Taking the current situation into account the parenting team can support parents and carers with:
- managing difficult questions and worries from children due to the current situation
- managing challenging behaviour which might be a result of the changes to their everyday lives
- maintaining good relationships with children during this time
- suggestions on activities to do with children
- talk through and reflect on the online course content with a Parenting Practitioner
The online Understanding Your Child parenting courses are also still available:
- Clicking on the In Our Place website.
- Then put the access code DARWIN18 in the box
- Choose from the following courses:-
- Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby
- Understanding your baby
- Understanding your child
- Understanding your teenager’s brain
- Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby: for women couples
In this challenging period, please do not forget any young carers that you may be aware of. If support for a young carer is identified please contact Simon Jones on 07801 576326 or email Simon.Jones@crossroadstogether.org.uk,
Young carers might also be interested in the Facebook group “Crossroads Together – Young Carers”, there is a post showing all groups including Shropshire Young Carers. When they request to join, they will be asked a series of questions to confirm their identity (name of young carer, name of staff member etc.)
With most people now confined to home and with children not in school Autism West Midlands have been busy working out new ways to offer support to families during this time.
Oswestry Coffee morning
Oswestry Coffee morning is AWM longest running support group and is attended by an established core group of parents. For this group AWM are setting up a closed Facebook group and will be providing opportunities to meet up virtually together with Emma via Zoom. If you are a member of this group, contact emmah@autismwestmidlands.org.uk
Advice and support
Autism West Midlands continue to offer advice and support over the phone and via email. Parents and carers can contact the small team directly as follows and for phone calls either speak then or arrange a call back at a more convenient time. Video calls can be offered if required
Mon, Tue, Weds Wendy Cowton 07900784186
Weds, Thu, Fri Emma Hegenbarth 07881109480
Email shropshire@autismwestmidlands.org.uk
See their website for useful information, resources and upcoming virtual events at www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/
Autism West Midlands Virtual Evening Support Group -Thursday 16th April, 8pm-9pm
An opportunity to talk to with other parents, share ideas and offer support during this difficult time.
Book at here, you will then receive an email with a link to join through ZOOM.
The support currently being offered by Beam is purely phone-based. They cannot provide support via email, text/messaging apps or on video calling platforms. Please note that they are not offering a crisis or instant response service.
Accessing call-back support:
Young people can email Beam at AskBeam@childrenssociety.org.uk asking for support. Once they have emailed, an automatic response will ask for some more information. When this has been completed, a team member will contact them to discuss what help they need, and when the best time would be for a practitioner to call them. Calls will be booked in with our practitioners within our usual drop-in times.
Accessing support without a call back:
Where a young person does not want to talk but still needs some support, they can still contact Beam via AskBeam@childrenssociety.org.uk They can send details of online resources, information and apps which can offer support.
Information for Professionals:
You can signpost any young people who you feel would benefit from knowing more about this offer to the Beam website.
You can also pass on the details as to how they get in touch with Beam. Please ask the young person to contact us via AskBeam@childrenssociety.org.uk.
Beam aren’t able to contact young people unless the request for contact from the service has come from the young person or their parent/carer.
For all young people who are aged 13 and under, their parent/carer will need to make a request on the young person’s behalf. As with the face to face drop-ins, the young person should want to engage with Beam, and be able to do so over the phone.
ThinkNinja is a FREE App specifically designed to educate young people (10-18 years old) about mental health, emotional wellbeing as well as skills that can be used to build resilience and stay well.
As a direct response to the COVID-19 crisis there is specific COVID-19 content within the ThinkNinja app. This will bring self-help knowledge and skills to children and young people who maybe experiencing increased anxiety and stress during the crisis.
The new COVID-19 content provides an opportunity to understand the following:
1. Fears relating to the virus
2. Isolation struggles and how to stay connected to family and friends
3. Worries about personal health and health of family members
4. Mental strength
5. Coping techniques to use during the crisis
6. Plus many other helpful tips
The new content was created by specialist child psychologists and is available via the WiseNinja chat main menu. For more information on ThinkNinja visit this website
To download ThinkNinja visit Android or Apple
If you, or anyone you know, is the victim of domestic abuse, please be reassured that there is still help and support available. Anyone worried about or living with domestic abuse can get help from any of the services below.
Shropshire Council First Point of Contact (FPOC)
- Adult social care and safeguarding concerns – 0345 678 9044
- Safeguarding children: access to children’s social care and targeted early help – 0345 678 9021
- Housing – 0345 678 9005
Telford and Wrekin Family Connect – 01952 385385 (Family front door, including child protection referrals)
Out of hours Emergency Duty Teams:
- Shropshire Council – 0345 678 9040
- Telford & Wrekin Council – 01952 676500
- Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) – 0300 303 1191
- Shropshire Domestic Abuse Helpline (24 hours) – 0800 7831 359
- Safe Lives – The UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for good.
- Men’s Advice Line – 0808 801 0327
- Respect helpline – 0808 802 4040 (for anyone worried that they may be harming someone else)
- Galop – 0800 999 5428 (national helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people experiencing domestic abuse)
- Forced Marriage Unit – 0207 008 015
The following resources have been pulled together to support, children, young people, parents and practitioners working with families. If you know of any others that are useful to share please email them to Kate.Bentham@shropshire.gov.uk
Helping children to understand Coronavirus
Dave the Dog is worried about the Coronavirus
Child friendly explanation of Coronavirus – workbook
Coronavirus story for children
BBC Newsround - Coronavirus special
Cartoon on Coronavirus
Coronavirus - A social story
Coronavirus - a book for children
Parenting/family relationships:
Parenting through Coronavirus - links and resources from trusted organisations and websites to support you during the COVID-19 pandemic
Top tips for kinship carers to help children to maintain relationships during the Coronavirus outbreak
Mental Health
Public Health Guidance on supporting children and young people's mental health and wellbeing
Every Mind Matters provides simple tips and advice to start taking better care of your mental health
Practical advice for staying at home, taking care of your mental health and wellbeing, support for work, benefits and housing
Talking to your children about Coronavirus
Young Minds - what to do if you are anxious about coronavirus
Kooth - Online counselling support
How to have an open conversation with young people about Coronavirus
Guidance for parents on supporting children and young people's mental health and well being
A young person's guide to staying well during the Coronavirus outbreak
Collection of health and wellbeing resources
Coronavirus and your well-being - a guide for young people
Looking after your family's mental health while staying at home
Helping teenagers cope with lockdown
The Calm Zone - Childline
Money worries
Citizen's Advice - Coronavirus what it means for you
Money Advice Service - what it means to you and what you are entitled to
Step Change - Debt and Finances
Domestic Abuse Support:
Surviving Financial Abuse
COVID-19/Coronavirus: Safety Advice for Survivors of Domestic Abuse
A guide for victims and survivors of domestic abuse from Safelives -
The government’s Directory of resources and organisations in relation to Domestic Abuse during C19.
Educational Resources
List of online educational resources
For children who love science
BBC Bitesize - choose a Key Stage to access lessons, quizzes and games
Link to the BBC portal with activities and resources for language skills for 0-5 year olds
Dept of Education Simple, fun educational activities for Under 5s
A list of free, online, boredom-busting resources including virtual tours, crafts, learning a new skill and virtual trips to the zoo.
Maths with Carol Vorderman
Keeping Active at Home:
Keeping active at home
Sports England - Stay in, work out. Tips, advice and guidance on how to keep or get active in and around your home.
Energize - staying active at home
Daily PE Lesson with Joe Wicks
Easy Read guides to Covid 19
Coronavirus - Easy Read
ASD support
Guidance on coronavirus and handy top tips for dealing with its impact
Covid-19 update
Information Sharing
There is a great deal of information available in relation to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic already and the impact it has had on every part of our daily life, not least frontline services such as health, social care, police, and education.
The Shropshire Safeguarding Partnership (SSP) Business Unit have set up dedicated pages on their websites Shropshire Safeguarding Children Covid-19 Information and Keeping Adults Safe in Shropshire Covid-19 Information. These pages provide a single point of access for anybody who is needing to seek information and resources in relation to safeguarding children, young people and adults with care and support needs, whilst the pandemic is ongoing, and the measures remain in place from the UK Government.
Recent information added to both of these webpages include:
Love Shouldn’t Hurt - Contact numbers and resources for people living with domestic abuse at this difficult time
Professional Curiosity Management and Practice Guidance – This joint guidance document had already been agreed for both adults and children before COVID-19 began. We have provided some additional questions, tips and links at the end of the guidance for you to consider, to help you maintain professional curiosity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Safeguarding Children - Contacts, Definitions & Information Handout
Safeguarding Adults - Identification, Definitions & Contacts Handout
Given how quickly the situation is progressing the information detailed on our websites is subject to constant review and change. If you would like to share any resources or information on our websites please email the SSP Business Unit: SSPBusinessunit@shropshire.gov.uk
Meetings
The SSP is meeting regularly with partner agencies to assure itself of their safeguarding response during the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result of, and in order to support, the extraordinary pressure and challenges being placed upon our multi-agency partners to manage the current impact of COVID-19 in Shropshire and our bordering areas, the SSP have reviewed the need for and means of conducting all future meetings and multi-agency training provision.
For the foreseeable future, in order to respond to social distancing guidance and minimise travel and time, meetings arranged by the SSP Business Unit will be set up using virtual conferencing capabilities through Microsoft and Skype communications.
Training
All multi-agency face to face Safeguarding training for the Children’s workforce delivered by SSP will be suspended until the end of August 2020. We will look to re-commence the Multi-agency Safeguarding Children Training Schedule in September 2020 and will be reviewing this regularly as the situation progresses. Free Children’s E-learning Safeguarding Modules offered by the SSP through Virtual College remain available and can be accessed via the SSP Safeguarding Training webpage
Please visit the Keeping Adults Safe in Shropshire Learning Resources Pages for access to learning materials including access to relevant e-learning modules: http://www.keepingadultssafeinshropshire.org.uk/learning-resources/ Shropshire Council Joint Training team have suspended multi-agency safeguarding training for the next four weeks, effective from 17 March 2020. The Joint Training team is still available to help with training information, support and advice. More information is available at: http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/joint-training/
Shropshire Partners in Care has cancelled all forums, events, non-essential meetings and all non-mandatory training up to 30th April 2020, the scenario will be reviewed prior to that. More information from Shropshire Partners in Care is available at: https://www.spic.co.uk/
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