Early Help Update - September 2022

Newspaper - early help

Welcome to the latest edition of the Early Help Newsletter. In this edition you will find out about an education programme run by Purple Leaf to increase young people’s awareness of sexual abuse and exploitation, training and development opportunities, the latest dates for the BEAM workshops on managing anxiety, sleep support and wellbeing planning. There’s also information on a job vacancy – for a SEND Lead in Early Help.

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.  

‘By treating our children and young people with respect, love and trust and with the right amount of encouragement we can inspire them to dream big, build relationships and connections that matter and together with kindness and a sense of belonging we can do great things.’

Children and Young People’s vision statement



The only number you need

Phone - early help

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.


Purple Leaf education programme for 10-18s

Purple Leaf Logo

The Purple Leaf education programme increases young people’s awareness of sexual abuse and exploitation, both on and offline, equips them with the skills, knowledge, and tools to be able to identify uncomfortable feelings, and to know where to go for help and support.

The programme is delivered by experienced specialists, who understand the complexities surrounding sexual violence and child sexual exploitation. It can be delivered in group settings such as schools or on a 1:1 basis, if that is deemed more suitable for the child.

The programme includes a one-hour session for parents and professionals to increase awareness of sexual abuse and exploitation, knowledge about Purple Leaf and other services within WMRSASC. More in-depth CPD and training options for professionals are also available.

Purple Leaf provide advice, risk and need assessments, and interventions for children and young people (aged 5 to 18) who have experienced or been impacted by and/or exhibited inappropriate, problematic, or harmful sexual behaviours. This includes specialist AIM assessments, psychosocial and education support and advice in relation to sibling sexual behaviours.

For further information or booking enquires please visit www.purpleleaf.org.uk or contact us on enquiries@purpleleaf.org.uk or 01905 677444.

Purple Leaf is a trading name of West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (WMRSASC).  WMRSASC has over 30 years’ experience of delivering frontline support to survivors of sexual violence and abuse, and provides a range of services including advocacy, therapy, online and a helpline service.


Free webinars for parents, carers and practitioners

Charlie Waller Trust Logo

The Charlie Waller Trust have a series of live webinars for parents, carers and practitioners.

The webinars explore strategies for maintaining positive mental health, both for children, young people and for their parents/carers - paying attention to everyone’s own wellbeing and so we can all carry on supporting those around us.

They are all presented by mental health trainers, speakers and guest speakers who come from a wide range of professions, including education, psychology, social work, youth work, public health, psychotherapy and nursing.

Each webinar will be delivered twice across the month and is approximately 90 minutes in length. For further information please click here.


Child Exploitation Consultation Sessions and Resources

Do you have a particular young person who you would like to discuss in more depth?

If so, we are offering virtual monthly consultations on the first Tuesday of each month, between 2pm – 4pm via Microsoft Teams.

These sessions are available to front line practitioners, managers, and anyone who would like advice about a young person they are working with where exploitation may be a concern/feature.

The following professionals will be on hand to offer advice and support regarding all CCE & CSE queries:

  • Clare Jervis, Exploitation & Missing Lead
  • George Davies, Young Persons Substance Misuse Advisor
  • Stafford Mason, Targeted Early Help
  • Jo Smith, Education Access Service
  • Sonya Jones, We Are With You
  • Carrie O’Keefe, Branch Project

To book your ½ hour slot, please email the Exploitation & Missing Lead: clare.jervis@shropshire.gov.uk

Don’t forget to also check out these resources

*Updated* CE Directory  

*Updated* CE Leaflet for parents & carers

*Updated* CE Leaflet for general public

*Updated* CE Consultation Sessions poster


Job vacancy - SEND Lead – Early Help

Family strength early help

Early Help is recruiting to its new SEND Lead role. Supporting the Early Help network across the county, the successful candidate will be able to take advantage of the council’s blended approach to work location.

This role is the Early Help operational link into the Children’s Social Care Disabled Children’s Team, SEND Team and other SEND relevant partner organisations. It has lead responsibility for collaborative working across the Early Help Partnership and will play a key role in supporting and developing services for families with children aged 0-25 who have SEND, in line with relevant Statutory Guidance and Shropshire’s SEND Strategy. 

The successful candidate will provide training, support, guidance to the Early Help workforce in order to enhance the partnership’s ability to meet the needs of children with SEND. They will also provide direct individualised support to Lead Professionals supporting families with children with SEND, and provide challenge and direction where required.

They will attend a range of multi-agency panel meetings where the collective needs of children and young people with SEND and their families are discussed, and will then be required to liaise closely with other staff in the Targeted Early Help Team, schools and other agencies to provide clear and effective communication in order to ensure the decisions regarding Early Help provision are implemented.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate experience of working with vulnerable children and families, including children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. With strong communication skills, they will have experience of working in a multi-agency environment.

Closing date – 18th September 2022

For further information and to apply please click here   


Resilience – the biology of stress and the science of hope

Resilience is a one-hour documentary that delves into the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the birth of a new movement to treat and prevent Toxic Stress. Now understood to be one of the leading causes of everything from heart disease and cancer to substance mis-use and depression, trauma in childhood can alter brain development and have life-long effects on health and behaviour.

However, as experts and practitioners are proving, what’s predictable is preventable.

Screenings take place on the following dates:-

  • 12th September from 10am—12pm
  • 20th September from 10am—12pm
  • 6th October from 10am—12pm
  • 13th October from 10am—12pm

To book please click here


Healthy Start - support for families

Healthy Start

Healthy start is an NHS Scheme that supports families on low income to buy fruit, vegetables and milk and access free vitamins.

In Shropshire, not all eligible families are currently claiming this support and uptake of the NHS Healthy Start Voucher Scheme has fallen below 30%.

Many Shropshire families are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. It has never been more important for the most vulnerable families to access to financial support available to them.

All professionals working with pregnant people and young families can play a key role by talking about Healthy Start and promoting the offer. The scheme is now digital, making the application process easier.  Further information available on the Healthy Start website.   


Cost of Living Support

Many families in Shropshire are worried about the increasing cost of living. With bills escalating, families have concerns about energy bills, the cost of food and money generally. With winter approaching these concerns will surge and will impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of many families. Information on the help and support available can be found on this dedicated cost of living website. 

Cost of Living help

Beam Virtual Workshops for parents and practitioners

Beam

Shropshire Beam are pleased to provide Virtual workshops for Parents & Professionals starting on Wednesday 7th September  2022 for six weeks. Duration of the workshop is approximately an hour.

Details below in chart, all you need to do is click on Link at the appropriate time of chosen Workshop. All workshop will be done via M S Teams Video call, we are unable to record sessions. The Workshops are derived to be informative and engaging sessions, please be willing to participate during the sessions.

There are three Workshops which will be rolled out to the end of October to enable more people to attend, please see the following details of content:-

  • Managing Anxiety – aims & Objectives are to pass over psycho - education within the topic followed by practical suggestions of methods & techniques to help support the youth experience issues with anxiety.
  • Wellbeing Planning – a workshop which explains & provides a tool for Children & Young people to support their general Emotional Health & Wellbeing, it recognises triggers and promotes self-awareness, his can also be used as a relapse tool to support resilience.
  • Sleep Support - aims to pass over psycho - education within the topic followed by practical suggestions & advise of methods & techniques to help support the children & young people having difficulties with getting to sleep and staying a sleep. This workshop will be rolled out twice over the four weeks, due to popular demand.

Managing Anxiety Wednesday 7th September 4pm Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 355 721 682 360 Passcode: LrfV5i

Sleep Support Wednesday 14th September 4pm Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 386 358 644 436 Passcode: UjUg9g

Wellbeing Planning Wednesday 21st September 4pm Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 346 327 598 46 Passcode: aUYxQa

Managing Anxiety Wednesday 28th September 4pm Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 317 225 199 895 Passcode: ZWEvf4

Sleep Support Wednesday 5th October 4pm Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 332 728 685 179 Passcode: pXfKY7

Wellbeing Planning Wednesday 12th October 4pm Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 357 202 073 990 Passcode: 7HMWuL

Managing Anxiety Wednesday 19th October 4pm Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 390 810 487 616 Passcode: MELAST

Sleep Support Wednesday 26th October 4pm  Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 359 625 398 630 Passcode: 97p8Yc


FREE Early Help Multi-Agency Training

Family strength early help

Early Help offer free, multi-agency training sessions aimed at professionals or volunteers from all agencies who work with children, young people or their families in Shropshire.

Whether you are new to post or have been working in the early help arena for several years, there will training courses suitable for you.  All our courses will help those working in the early help arena to work more effectively with children, individuals and families and understand the processes and resources available to them.

Modules currently available to book include:

  • Introduction to Early Help and thresholds
  • Gateway to using the Early Help Module (EHM) of Liquidlogic
  • Using EHM to manage an early help episode in Shropshire
  • Introduction to reducing parental conflict
  • Reducing parental conflict – building confidence and using resources
  • Chronologies and significant events
  • LEGO think bricks
  • Practitioner programme
  • Staff supervision
  • Trauma informed practice
  • Using assessments to support families in Shropshire

The current Early Help Multi-agency Training Schedule,  has full details of courses and information on how to book onto any course


Free Sporting Equipment

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Sport England are pleased to invite community organisations to apply for sporting equipment which was used at the Games.

The opportunity is open to organisations providing inclusive and accessible sports, physical activity and wellbeing activities in communities in the West Midlands

The application window will close on 19 September 2022 at 5pm. It is expected that all organisations will be notified week commencing 10 October 2022, with collection commencing the same week for a period of 3-4 weeks. 

For further information and to apply please visit the website.


Early Help Youth Support Team Summer 2022 Update

Shropshire Early help Youth Service

Pop Up Youth Spaces and outreach

The team have been utilising our green spaces in Shropshire to deliver our Holiday Activity Fund programme.  The spaces were ‘drop in’ sessions where young people do not have to book so held onto our Youth Work values of establishing voluntary relationships (Young People choosing to be in those spaces to engage with us).  Conversations topics with young people have been around food and eating, drugs, alcohol & vaping, Stay Safe information, school/education, communities, Post 16 support and mental health and wellbeing. The team have delivered 26 Pop Up Sessions over the county offering bike maintenance, wild cooking and creative arts workshops whilst establishing positive working relationships with young people.  We would like to thank Climb and The Education Access Service for supporting us with this work.  This has enabled us to connect with more young people in these spaces.

Safer Streets Funding

The Youth Work Team have been successful in receiving Safer Streets Funding. This is part of a wider partnership bid to improve public safety for all within Shrewsbury Town Centre.  This will give us an additional 15 hours a week of Youth Work in the Shrewsbury Town Centre area.  The funding is for 18 months. In addition to the detached Youth Work the funding will include development work with young woman around keeping them safe when out in the community.  We are in the early stages of delivery plan for the educational side of this work. We are keen to engage with the young woman we are currently working with to help us develop this work further.  Young people’s participation in the development of this work is critical to make sure the content is reflecting their current needs.

Shropshire Cycle Hub

Shropshire Cycle hub have kindly donated bikes to the team to use over the summer months.  This will enable the team to cover more spaces within larger communities.  The teams will have bikes in the central area and the north of the county.   Using the cycles will have great benefits for the team too.  As an employer it’s good to be promoting physical activity as part of the work we do.   A huge thanks to the Cycle Hub who value the work we do in communities and have offered us the bikes for no cost on a lease basis.


Good Start Together – Ludlow

Good Start Together is a closed parent toddler and baby group providing support, encouragement and activities for parent with post-natal depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and limited confidence. For further information on this group please click here.


Autism West Midlands Update

Autism West Midlands Logo AWM

Autism West Midlands (AWM) enjoyed some fantastic activities during the summer holiday including family trips to Chirk Castle, Attingham Park and Telford Town Park.  These were relaxed opportunities for families to come together and have fun in local places of interest. It was great to see people joining in and connecting with each other, playing, and enjoying some of our lovely surroundings in the sunshine. Their teens group was also busy during the summer, they had a range of activities available to support youngsters aged 12-18yrs make the most of the holiday including drama, yoga, games, art/crafts, nature spotting at Whixall Moss, exploring Hawkstone Follies and Blists Hill.  They are planning more events for the October half term so keep an eye on our events page to join in the fun!

**Reminder** No diagnosis is needed to access the AWM Shropshire service and there is no formal referral route – parents/carers can self-refer by booking an advice appointment or contacting them directly. 

Learn more about autism…

AWM have lots of FREE autism related webinars coming up, click on the links below for more information and details about how to book.  You can watch live or catch up by viewing a recording of the broadcast up to 14 days later – you must register in advance though.

For families with younger children…

In November AWM will be starting their very popular “Rising To The Challenge for the Early Years” – a series of webinars and optional ZOOM groups tailored to the needs of families with younger autistic children.  More details of how to book coming soon!

Webinars for parents, carers and professionals

WEEKLY Zoom Advice slots

Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday

For those would like some face-to-face advice AWM 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.  The Zoom link will be emailed the week before your slot so please check your inbox, including junk/spam to get your link.

Virtual Support Group for Parents 

Wednesday Mornings 10am-11am and Wednesday Evenings 8pm-9pm – 1st and 3rd Weds of each month (term time)

AWM online support groups meet twice a month via Zoom. This is an opportunity to talk with other parents, share ideas, and offer support. They recommend that you have attended an online advice appointment with a member of the team before joining group sessions (link above).

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. 

Click for more information and booking details

Advice and support

AWM also offer advice and support over the phone and via email. Parents/carers and professionals can contact their small team directly to arrange an appointment please call:

Shropshire office       01952 454156

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

Sign up to the AWM updates

If you would like to be added to the AWM professionals mailing list, please email your details to emmah@autismwestmidlands.org.uk


Shropshire Youth Association

Shropshire Youth Association Logo

Over the Summer SYA have delivered or helped deliver the Holiday and Food (HAF) programme in Shropshire and The Happy, Healthy Active Holidays (HHAH) programme in Telford.

Summer projects have been held in Shrewsbury, Wem, Market Drayton, Highley and Brookside, supporting children on free school meals, Syrian and Ukrainian refugees and SEND young people. The projects have been successful with a visit from Department for Education confirming this.

From September the 14 fully staffed, 18 partnered and 67 voluntary youth clubs supported by SYA will all reopen, offering out of school activities and support in communities across the county. To find local clubs, use our club finder.   

Over the coming months SYA are opening new provision and are seeking new staff to work evenings as youth workers. The leaders in charge have to have a Youth Work qualification at Level 3, but if people want to volunteer or seek employment who aren’t qualified we can offer them the opportunity to join our team and get trained, if you would like to know more contact Richard Parkes at richard@sya.org.uk


Healthy Weight Consultation

Reducing obesity is a priority for Shropshire Council and Shropshire’s Integrated Care System (local NHS and partners). They are developing a strategy to help Shropshire residents achieve and maintain a healthy weight –doing all they can to prevent obesity

Achieving a healthy weight (BMI 18.5 to 25 kg/m2) is important to long term health and wellbeing. It is known that children who are overweight are more likely to be obese as adults and suffer poor mental wellbeing and ill-health as a consequence.

Genetics play a role in influencing weight but many other factors play a role too:

-The food environment (not having the opportunity to make healthy food choices)

-The physical activity environment (not having easily walkable or active travel options)

-Breaking unhealthy habits formed in childhood

-Prevention is better than cure!

Your views are Important. If you work for the council, the NHS or a local community or voluntary group please

complete this short ‘stakeholder’ survey