Welcome to the latest edition of the Early Help Newsletter. In this edition you will find out about a useful website for young people called Life Stuff, there’s also information about free Early Help training and also free training around trauma, attachment and brain development and dates for the next Early Help Network meetings in June.
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. |
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www.life-stuff.org is developed and managed by The Alcohol Education Trust, a youth charity that works across Britain to help ensure young people are given the information and tools to make safer choices. Topics include:
- Alcohol
- Cannabis and other drugs
- Gaming and gambling
- Money
- Mental Health
- Domestic violence and sexual abuse
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Tuesday 21st June 2022 from 12.30pm - 2.30pm via Microsoft Teams
This learning event takes into consideration the learning from the National Panels report the “Myth of Invisible Men” as well as local learning from Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews. During the event challenging questions will be posed in relation to how you work with males within a family and ensure they are involved and engaged in assessments of care as well as risk. The learning event will explore joint working protocols, how to use Clare’s Law and trauma informed practice that will support you in your daily work with families.
This event is open to all practitioners or volunteers from the children's workforce in Shropshire.
This interactive learning event will delivered via Microsoft Teams.
To book to attend the SSCP Myth of Invisible Men Learning Event, please log in to your Leap into Learning learner record. If you do not have a learner account with us, please email the SSCP Business Unit with your name, agency, job title and email contact so that an account can be set up for you so that you can book to attend.
This learning event will also be recorded so that the learning can be shared with a wider audience following the session.
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Check out Leap into Learning for the current early help training. All early help training is free to any practitioner who works children and their families. Early Help training is also a great opportunity to meet the Locality Development Officers and explore how they can support you to support the children of Shropshire and their families.
It is suitable for DSLs in school, ensuring they understand early help processes and services in Shropshire and how these relate to the Threshold Document.
The complete list of available training is Leap: Early Help (learningpool.com), where you will find sessions around using the Early Help Module of Liquidlogic, Introduction to Early Help and Thresholds in Shropshire, Using Assessments to support families, Introduction to Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) and RPC; Building Confidence and Using Resources and more...
New sessions are planned for the autumn, so keep checking back to see what may be appropriate for your role and setting.
For further information, please contact shropshireshtrengtheningfamilies@shropshire.gov.uk
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Parent carers can access a range of free online courses to help and support them in their role as parents. These include…
- Understanding your Pregnancy
- Understanding your baby
- Understanding your child
- Understanding your child with additional needs
- Understanding your teenager
- Understanding your child’s mental health
- Understanding your relationships
There’s also free online training for practitioners…
- Understanding attachment
- Understanding brain development
- Understanding trauma
For further information please visit the Family Information Service online directory
The latest edition of the quarterly newsletter, aimed at reducing and ending exploitation in Shropshire is now available. The TREES newsletter (Together Reducing and Ending Exploitation in Shropshire) provides updates on the latest information regarding exploitation in your local area – including useful links and resources.
Our Family Information Service (FIS) has been providing free information, support and guidance to families of children and young people aged 0-19 years in Shropshire since 2000. It provides information on all aspects of family life, from childcare and things to do through to the sort of family support matters which many families face.
The FIS is always keen to make sure that the information it provides, and the way in which it's provided, meets the ever-changing needs of families in Shropshire.
We'd like to know more about the sort of information parents may want now or what they think would be useful in the future, and would be grateful if you could please ask them to complete our short survey which covers some of the many issues affecting families.
To find out more about the FIS please take a look at our webpages.
You can also follow the FIS on Facebook.
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Early Help Network Meetings are held every term in each network area. These meetings are free of charge to attend and are an opportunity for professionals from all agencies working with children, young people or their families to share information about services available or issues affecting families within the network area.
Ideally professionals should have Microsoft Teams enabled on their laptops. Dial in to the meetings will be possible but will not provide such a great experience as connecting in through Microsoft Teams.
The dates of the next meetings are
- South West Shropshire: 14th June 2022 from 3.30-5pm
- Central Shropshire: 21st June 2022 from 3.30-5pm
- North West Shropshire: 15th June 2022 from 3.30-5pm
A Microsoft Teams invite will be sent to those on our Early Help Network Meeting database for you to accept if you wish to attend.
For further information please contact shropshireshtrengtheningfamilies@shropshire.gov.uk
Parenthood can be extremely rewarding and enjoyable. It can also be demanding, frustrating and exhausting. Shropshire Council’s Parenting Team is here to support parent carers to raise healthy, well-rounded children in a loving and stable environment.
Do you have any questions around child development and parenting?
Why not call our Parenting Helpline where one of our trained Parenting Practitioners will be ready to listen?
Parenting Helpline Call 01743 250950 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 12.30pm
If you would like to find out about other services the Parenting Team offers please email Parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk
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The All In Programme is part of our Early Help service for children aged up to the age of 18 who live in Shropshire and have a disability that prevents them accessing universal services without additional support.
All In short breaks are available to families when universal services aren't able to meet the needs of their disabled child and provide a range of opportunities from horse riding, football, swimming, cycling, arts and music.
The activities are managed and commissioned by Actio and you can see the latest activity offer on the Actio website. Activities | Actio (actioconsortium.wixsite.com)
The activities are provided as a 'targeted provision offer', this means that if your child requires personal care support, dedicated one to one, or has complex care or health needs, you will need to speak to Shropshire Councils Disabled Childrens Team about accessing additional support to be able to access these activities safely and appropriately. Many activity providers are happy for PA's, parent carers, or other trusted adults to support a child to access an activity but please check with them as they may need to undertake some risk assessments for your child's safety and wellbeing. Please contact First Point of Contact at Shropshire Council on 0345 678 9021 to discuss how to access any additional support.
If your child isn’t already an All In member you can apply through the SEND Local Offer.
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Parents and carers of five to 11-year olds living in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are being reminded that their child can now get a 1st and 2nd dose of the Covid-19 vaccination, following recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Children of this age are given the doses 12 weeks apart, or 8 weeks if they are at high risk from Covid-19 or if they live with someone with a weakened immune system.
The vaccine is safe and has been tested and trialled around the world, it will boost your child’s immunity and increase protection against any future waves of Covid-19.
To find out more please visit the SEND Local Offer.
We are delighted to be able to share with you a new video we have produced which explains what the Shropshire SEND Local Offer is, and how it can help parent carers and families. The video shows the full range of information available on the Local Offer and the directory element. It also shares how parent carers can get involved in producing the Local Offer. You can watch this short video on the Shropshire SEND Local Offer YouTube channel.
What is the SEND Local Offer? (signed version)
What is the SEND Local Offer?
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The Public Health Nursing Service have developed a video called Toileting Support Session teaching children how to wipe their bottoms, following a number of referrals from primary schools. This video is useful for childcare settings as well as schools, and supports children in a fun and visual way.
WEEKLY Zoom Advice slots – every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
For those 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://autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/online-autism-advice-shropshire/
Virtual Support Group for Parents - Wednesday Mornings 10am-11am & Wednesday Evenings 8pm-9pm – 1st and 3rd Weds of each month (term time)
Our online support groups meet twice a month via Zoom. 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 the team here shropshire@autismwestmidlands.org.uk
Dad’s Group – Monthly on a Thursday 7pm-8pm
This is an opportunity for dads to meet online, share ideas, celebrate their children’s achievement’s and offer support to each other with a member of Autism West Midlands present. For more information and booking details see link below
https://autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/virtual-dads-support-group-west-midlands-mar31/
Advice and support
We also offer advice and support over the phone and via email. Parents/carers and professionals can contact our small team directly to arrange an appointment please call:
Shropshire office - 01952 454156
Monday, Wednesday, Friday - Wendy Cowton - 07900784186
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - Emma Hegenbarth - 07881109480
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - Dawn Lewis - 07706309382
Email - shropshire@autismwestmidlands.org.uk
Helpline - 0121 450 7575
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The Care in the Square events are part of a drive across the county to seek new recruits into an exciting and rewarding career in social care and health.
The events organised by Shropshire Council and Shropshire Partners in Care, will take place between 11am and 2pm at the following locations from mid-June.
- Bailey Head, Oswestry – Friday 17 June
- The Square, Shrewsbury – Thursday 23 June
- Castle Square, Ludlow – Friday 24 June
Organisations across the health and social care sector will be showcasing their career and job opportunities across the sector. These will include frontline care and management roles and also supporting roles such as activities coordinators, housekeeping and administration.
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