Welcome to the latest edition of the Early Help newsletter.
In this edition you will find exciting news about Children and Young People’s Social prescribing, a new Child Exploitation Directory and an Anti-knife campaign aimed at young people in Shropshire called Steer Clear. There’s also Solihull training for practitioners and new Early Help multi-agency training. The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme has also opened applications for any providers wanting to receive funding for the delivery of activities during the school Christmas holidays.
We are also looking review local partnership working to support children, young people and their families in Shropshire and have created a survey we'd like you to feed into to shape future partnerships.
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 or if you know of a colleague who would also like to receive this newsletter they can also email to be added to the distribution list.
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Whether you think a parent 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. |
This survey has been designed to review local partnership working to support children, young people and their families in Shropshire. This survey aims to obtain feedback from all partners working with Early Help and Children’s Social Care to shape future partnerships.
The pandemic and pressures on public sector resources have put considerable strain on the workforce across all sectors. Organisations have worked to change the way they deliver services and internal responses have required focused attention. The longer-term impact of the pandemic is still unknown, and further changes within the environment we work in and socio-economic context seem likely. Partnership working will remain valuable in overcoming these challenges. Mutual support, sharing of information, ideas and best practice can ensure the needs of children, young people and families continue to be met.
It is important that any partnership working aligns the ambitions of partners, makes best use of time and resources and achieves against shared aims and objectives. Feedback can ensure future discussions are informed and reflective of a diverse range of views and opinions. We would like your feedback on what has been working well, what could be done better, areas to focus on for action and any other feedback you would like to be considered within future planning.
The survey is short and should not take long to complete; https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PartnershipSurveyOct2021
The survey feedback will be independently analysed by the Feedback and Insight Team at Shropshire Council. If you would like the survey in an alternative format, have any questions about the way the information will be used, or if you would like to provide additional feedback please email TellUs@shropshire.gov.uk quoting ‘Partnership CS survey’ in the title.
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A new Child Exploitation Directory has been produced, which will be a valuable resource for all practitioners.
This directory has been produced to outline the support available to children and young people in Shropshire who are victims of, or at risk of Child Exploitation - as well as their families and professionals who support them. Child Exploitation is a complex issue, in which there are sometimes other push factors in the young person’s life, so information about other services have also been provided.
If any agency feels that they are not reflected in the directory, who can offer support regarding exploitation, please send some details across to me for inclusion in the next update.
Please feel free to distribute the directory amongst your colleagues,
To access the directory visit the Early Help website and click on Child Exploitation directory at the bottom of the list.
The Steer Clear program is an anti-knife crime program targeted towards children aged 10 – 17 years who are most vulnerable to being involved in knife crime and the harm associated with it. The program stives to educate and support each young person through a one-off workshop with presentations by invited speakers.
The children who are invited to attend cannot be under suspicion of committing a knife related crime and cannot have any cautions or convictions for knife related crime. The attendees will be children who have come to attention due to intelligence that they may have a concerning interest in knives (hiding knives in their room, found playing with a knife) or are on the periphery of offending.
The program is voluntary and there is no cost involved.
Referrals can be made from any practitioner who may have contact with young people, and also parents who may have concerns regarding a child, either their own or someone else’s. Please contact the team is you think a young person could benefit. Email SteerClearProgramme@westmercia.pnn.police.uk or telephone 01952 214747 or 07970544956
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The latest newsletter co-produced by Shropshire Council, the Parent and Carer Council (PACC) and the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has just been released. The newsletter aims to provide easy access to key information for SEND families, as well as an opportunity for parent carers to hear from each other about their experiences.
The latest newsletter, Issue 12, includes articles on the Autism and Schools Project, Assessed Short Breaks – Overnight, and Celebrating Supported Internships. Please share with parent carers. To sign up to receive the newsletter please email Local.Offer@Shropshire.gov.uk
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My name Is Sharon Cochrane, I am delighted to share I am Shropshire’s first Children and Young Peoples’ Social Prescriber. This exciting and crucial new service will support children and young people to access tailored non-medical solutions to difficulties they may well experiencing.
What is Social Prescribing?
Social Prescribing happens all the time and has been happening through the voluntary and community sector and throughout our systems, for many years. Several different definitions of social prescribing are already in use, but there is no universally agreed definition. The Social Prescribing Network developed a definition at their conference in 2016 and produced the following shorter version… “Enabling healthcare professionals to refer patients to a link worker, to co-design a non-clinical social prescription to improve their health and wellbeing”
Shropshire’s Children’s and Young Peoples (CYP) Social Prescribing Model
Social prescribing is a way for services in collaboration with young people to find innovative solutions to the problems that many young people face. Problems may be physical and or mental health conditions, caused by social and environmental factors. Instead of medical intervention we can use sources of non-medical support in the local community.
Social prescribing is designed to support Children's and young people with a wide range of social, emotional, or practical needs. It is a way of enabling GPs, health and social care professionals, the voluntary sector and other partners to refer children and young people to wider community based quality assured activities or for a consultation with a CYP Social Prescriber. The CYP link worker supports motivates and encourages the child or young person to engage in the activities and provides follow-up support and monitoring of their progress.
How does Social Prescribing help Children and Young People?
- Improves the health and happiness
- Reduces school exclusions
- Improves school attendance
- Reduces referrals to NHS mental health services
- Alleviates feelings of being lonely and stress caused by school/college, work money, housing and improves individual life skills and access to employment
- Improves problem solving skills
- Increases confidence and motivation, self efficacy
- Positive social interaction
- Improved well being
Referral Criteria for Activities or to a CYP SP
Individuals aged 11 years or over who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Emotional Well Being and Mental Health issues (low level)
- Low level attendance school/college
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s)
- Lacking self confidence
- Long term condition
- Loneliness/ isolation
- Young Carer
- Frequent attender at GP
Are able to meet and engage with a Social Prescribing Advisor at a community venue, GP practice, or online.
Access Points to Activities and CYP SP
Contact via NHS/Gov - E mail healthylives.shropshire@nhs.net or healthylives@shropshire.gov.uk
With subject heading Access to CYP Social Prescribing or call 0345 6789 025
For further information about CYP social prescribing please contact Sharon.Cochrane@shropshire.gov.uk
After a great summer of activities, Shropshire HAF are looking for applications for the Winter HAF Programme. Deadline for Applications to be submitted is 29th October 2021.
Two Types of Grant can be applied for
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Core Provision: which must have activities lasting for a minimum of 4 hours per day, for at least 1 day in the week of 20th December 2021 - 24th December 2021. Healthy meals must also be provided. Read the Shropshire HAF Guidance for Core Providersfor the full criteria.
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Enrichment Activities Only: Enrichment providers can offer workshops to enhance the Core HAF Provision, focusing only on enriching the experience of those children taking part in the HAF programme, within the week of 20th December 2021 - 24th December 2021 . Read the Shropshire HAF Guidance for Enrichment Providers for more details.
Apply Here
The aim is to commission a rich and diverse programme of activities delivered by organisations from the private, voluntary and public sector that respond to local need, draws in the wider community and is delivered in a variety of ways.
For more information about Shropshire HAF visit the Shropshire HAF Website
Contact: HAF.programme@shropshire.gov.uk for questions about the application process.
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The Early Help Detached Youth Work Team have vacancies for Assistant Youth Workers with 2 posts in the South, 2 posts in the North and 1 post in the central area of Shropshire.
The Assistant Youth Support Worker role is a varied and interesting post, suited to someone who is enthusiastic and has an interest in working with and supporting young people. The post holder will be working with others to provide guidance around personal and social development through informal education opportunities, within schools and local communities.
The Assistant Youth Support Worker will work as part of a team and with other partners, including providers in the statutory, private, and voluntary sector, to develop and deliver a model of support for local young people.
The post will mainly be street- based work. We are looking for dynamic, creative people who can think on their feet and are passionate in engaging with hard-to-reach young people.
The successful applicant will need to work daytimes, evenings, and some weekends- the role requires flexible working.
This will be a unique opportunity to work with young people and gain a recognised level 3 certificate in youth work practice.
To find out more and apply please click here.
Target audience: Professionals who work with families, infants, children and young people.
The Solihull Approach is a highly practical way of working with families within a robust theoretical structure. It explores the quality of the parent-child relationship and how this is crucial to the way the brain wires itself, impacting upon the child’s ability to regulate their own emotions and behaviours. It has a major contribution to make to the ways in which practitioners can work with families to ensure that children have a good emotional start and support throughout childhood.
- Thursday 9th and Wednesday 15th December 2021
- Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 10th February 2022
Training runs from 9.30am to 3.30pm, virtually through MS Teams. The training is delivered over 2 days and both days need to be attended.
The training is free to Shropshire Council staff. For Shropshire maintained schools, academies, nurseries and other agencies there is a cost of £100 per attendee.
To book a please email or phone the Parenting Team – parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk or 01743 250950
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Shropshire Strengthening Families Team currently delivers multi-agency early help training modules virtually via Microsoft Teams or face to face in venues in Shrewsbury.
Our training is aimed at any professionals or volunteers from all agencies who work with children, young people or their families in Shropshire. All Early Help virtual training is free of charge to any professional/volunteer working with children, young people or their families in Shropshire.
Modules currently available to book include:
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Introduction to Early Help - Are you new to Early Help in Shropshire? Are you confused by the language? Don’t know who to talk to? Whether you are in a school, an early years setting, health, housing, social care or the voluntary sector, if your work involves children and their families then this 2-hour module, delivered either via Microsoft Teams or face to face, will support you to see the benefits of partnership working and early help. Places currently available on 12th October (Teams), 9th November (Teams) and 29th November (face to face in Shrewsbury).
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Introduction to Liquidlogic Early Help Module (EHM) - Have you completed the online ME Training? This 2-hour session is a small group training session to familiarise yourself with the functionality of EHM by working through a case. Places currently available on 20th October (Teams) and 24th November (Teams).
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Introduction to Reducing Parental Conflict - Do you know how to identify and work with parental conflict? If you are working with families, you are likely to interact with parents who display conflict in their relationship, whether they are together or separated. This can be challenging. To help you with managing your response, this 2-hour training session, delivered either via Microsoft Teams or face to face, aims to support practitioners to build awareness and develop the confidence, knowledge and skills to work with parents to reduce conflict and improve outcomes for children. Places currently available on 15th November (Teams), face to face sessions will be added soon.
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**NEW MODULE**: Early Help Staff Supervision - This training, delivered face to face over 2 full days, will help those working in the early help arena to understand the key principles of supervising teams and practitioners working with families with complex needs.
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**NEW MODULE**: Early Help Practitioner Programme - This 4 full day training course is delivered face to face and will help support those working with families in the early help arena to work effectively with children, individuals and families and provides them with an understanding of strong multi-agency and integrated working across partnerships. Places available on Course 1 running on 20th October, 21st October, 24th November and 25th November (face to face in Shrewsbury).
Please view the current Early Help Multi-agency Training Schedule for further details (new dates added regularly) and information on how to book to attend.
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The Shropshire SEND Local Offer is a single place for information, services, and resources for children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and / or disabilities, their families, and the practitioners who support them. It's been designed with a family’s needs at the heart of the process. We'd be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to complete an online survey to provide us with feedback on the SEND Local Offer.
The survey results will help us to understand if the information is accessible, what you like/dislike, and if there are any gaps that need addressing. We value all comments and will share with you feedback we have received, and how we have responded to the comments made to improve your Local Offer. Click here to complete the survey Thank you for your time.
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A new Worrying About Money? Leaflet has been co-produced by the Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance, local stakeholders and the Independent Food Aid Network
The 'Worrying About Money?' leaflets are straightforward resources for people facing financial crisis, and anyone supporting them, to quickly see available advice and cash first support options and which agencies are best placed to help. The aim of this project to reduce the need for emergency food aid by helping people access any existing financial entitlements and advice on income maximisation as a cash first response to food insecurity.
You can find out more information on the project at a special launch event. If you would like hard copies of the leaflet, please contact sophie@shrewsburyfoodhub.org.uk.
NEW team member – We are delighted to tell you that Dawn Lewis has joined the team and has started working alongside Wendy and Emma as an Autism Specialist Advisor (part-time). She has a started to shadow us during virtual sessions such as webinars and advice appointments, so you can expect to see and hear more from her over the coming months.
Rising to the Challenge for the Early Years Nov/Dec
https://autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/rising-to-the-challenge-winter-2021/
DAD’s Group
We welcome Dad’s to come and join our online group. Come together to share ideas and advice with a member of AWM present. For more information on this group and to register please visit: https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/
Virtual Support Group for Parents - Wednesday Mornings 10am-11am & Wednesday Evenings 8pm-9pm
We are running our weekly online support groups via the Zoom platform. This is an opportunity to talk with other parents, share ideas, and offer support.
If you would like to join either of the support groups, please email Gemma at gemmae@autismwestmidlands.org.uk
Zoom Advice slots
For those who would like some face-to-face contact we are offering this virtually via video appointments. Zoom works well on mobile phones. To book a 45 min advice appointment with a specialist autism advisor please book via our shop
https://shop.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/collections/events/products/online-autism-advice-and-consultation-sessions-shropshire-county
Advice and support
We continue to offer advice and support over the phone and via email. Parents and carers can contact our small team directly to arrange an appointment please call:
Mon, Wed, Fri - Wendy Cowton 07900784186
Weds, Thu, Fri - Emma Hegenbarth 07881109480
Tue, Wed, Thu - Dawn Lewis 07706309382
Email shropshire@autismwestmidlands.org.uk
Helpline 0121 450 7575
***Please note we no longer have our landline number of 01743 236193, for professional consultations/enquiries please contact shropshire@autismwestmidlands.org.uk to arrange a call back or call one of the mobile numbers above ***
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Shropshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board (HWBB) has drafted a Joint 2022-2027 Health and Wellbeing Strategy which describes the identified priorities based on local evidence and data, and explains how the Board will work together to action these priorities.
We want to create opportunities to improve health and wellbeing for all residents and communities in Shropshire, while reducing inequalities in health.
This strategy is in draft form and is for everyone. Your views matter, and we would like your thoughts through use of this short survey for the public or short survey for stakeholders which should take around 10 minutes to complete. All the information including the surveys and draft strategy can be found at this link: Health and Wellbeing Survey | Shropshire Council You will find it helpful to take a look at the strategy before completing this.
The survey will close on the 8th November 2021
The findings from the survey will be published on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy page of the Council website, with a link to the new strategy which will published early next year. This final strategy will be based on feedback received from Shropshire people and our stakeholders. Your voice really does count.
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