Welcome to the latest edition of the Early Help Newsletter. In this edition you can find information on Family Foundations – a new course for those having a baby together for the first time, a video on how West Mercia Police tackled child exploitation in Oswestry by taking down the Boris drugs line, information from the Family Information Service on things to do and places to go during half term, the support available from Kindship Care, plus lots more.
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 Kate 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
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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 support families and safeguard children.
The Parenting Help and Support Line is here for parents with a friendly listening ear and practical advice on everything from behaviours that challenge to sleep issues. No judgment, just support, through this anonymous and confidential service.
Call 01743 250950 Monday - Thursday, 9.30am - 4.30pm or Friday, 9.30am - 3.30pm or email: parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk
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This video shows how West Mercia Police took down a Merseyside based drugs gang who were pumping drugs into Oswestry, while exploiting vulnerable young people and making them sell drugs on their behalf.
This gang ran the ‘Boris’ drugs line, facilitating the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
While the three leaders of the gang enjoyed a lavish lifestyle funded by these crimes, they left a trail of misery on our streets, and enforced with a ruthless aggression, which left one female with life changing injuries.
This was a successful case, that has seen 14 defendants receive over 70 years in prison. You can watch the video here and read more about the case here.
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Family Foundations is designed to help anyone build on their strengths to prepare for becoming parents, through a series of sessions designed with one overall goal; to help create the best family they can so that their child has the best family possible.
There are 4 prenatal sessions (usually delivered between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy), followed by 3 postnatal sessions approximately 6 months after the birth of the baby. All 7 sessions will be around the concept of putting baby first. Group discussions will look at feelings, thoughts, and communication.
Areas covered in the prenatal sessions are:
Session 1 - Building a family.
Session 2 - Feelings and conflict.
Session 3 - The parenting team.
Session 4 - Working it out.
Following the birth of your baby postnatal sessions will include:
Session 5 - New parent experiences
Session 6 - Security (Family security)
Session 7 - Putting it together. (Pulling all you have learnt together)
Please share with any parents to be you think would benefit. Sessions are running in November and December, information here Family Foundations - free group to help you prepare for becoming parents
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The latest edition of the Family Information Service (FIS) newsletter is now available on the news section of the Early help website.
The newsletter is just another way in which the FIS give parents the info and resources they need to help family life run a little smoother
Please encourage any families you are working with to sign up – and don’t forget to sign up yourself! Sign up to the Family Information Service newsletter or scan the QR code
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The Family Information Service has been busy gathering information on things to do and places to go during October half term.
Click here for our half term events listing.
Click here for pumpkin picking venues.
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Early Help Locality teams are holding drop in sessions for professionals to discuss any concerns or worries they have about a child, young person or family (with consent).
You are able to meet with Early Help Locality Area Development Leads for advice on vulnerable children and families as well as seek guidance on accessing Early Help or other wider support.
These sessions are open to early years as well as schools.
Please note the Child Exploitation Risk Assessment has been updated. You can access the revised assessment Exploitation tools and pathways.
Main changes;
- Links updated throughout the form including new TREES website
- Tick boxes, table formatting and generally easier to view
- Can be used to refer to With You similar to Branch/Climb being ticked at the bottom of the form
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Find out more about autism support in Shropshire with these upcoming events.
Autism West Midlands and Shropshire Autism Hub will be available to offer information advice and guidance for children, young people and adults at any stage of diagnosis.
You can join them for an informal chat at:
Oswestry library, SY11 1JN on Wednesday 6 November 2024, 9.30am-12 noon.
Bridgnorth Library, WV16 4AW on Wednesday 13 November 2024, 9.30am-12 noon.
For more information, please email pip.long@shropshire.gov.uk
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A series of webinars hosted by Autism West Midlands designed to give parent carers a better understanding about their autistic child.
Covering topics such as
- Understanding Autism
- Supporting Social Communication
- Autism and Sensory
- Autism and Behaviour
- Autism and Food
- Autism, Toileting and Sleep
Starting in November, parent carers can book on here Rising to the Challenge (the Early Years)
Find out more on the Family Information Service Directory.
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More than 141,000 children are in kinship care in England and Wales.
Kinship are the leading charity in England and Wales for all types of kinship carers regardless of whether there is a care order in place, so they support family carers of children looked after or under an informal care arrangement, private fostering, child arrangements order/residence order, Special Guardianship Order (SGO), etc. The offer free advice and support but they have government funding to roll out FREE training nationally. Search their training offer here.
Written and recorded by kinship carers, this film speaks to the joy, the warmth, the humour, the love, as well as the challenges of being a kinship family.
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Calling families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and those who support them.
Shropshire Council and their partners NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin need your views on the new draft SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy and Outcomes Framework for 2024-2029.
These key strategies aim to shape the future of support for SEND children and young people in Shropshire.
Key Priorities include:
- Developing high-quality, inclusive local provision.
- Reducing waiting times for services.
- Empowering children and young people.
- Creating supportive alternative provision.
- Enhancing communication with families and professionals.
- Supporting social and economic independence.
Please review the documents and share your invaluable feedback with us to ensure they genuinely reflect the needs and aspirations of our SEND community. Your voice matters.
To find out more and take part, SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Draft Strategy and Outcomes Framework 2024-2029 | Shropshire Council
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Vaping is not recommended for young people because it's not risk-free and they are not completely harmless, yet so many of our young people are vaping. In response to growing concern around vaping among children and young people, a youth vaping Resource Toolkit has been developed for use by those caring for and working with children and young people.
The Toolkit includes helpful resources to support parents, carers and those working with children and young people to have conversations and deliver education around youth vaping. They're also designed to increase awareness of the risks of vaping for children and young people and help them to make informed decisions.
You can access information on youth vaping here.
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In today’s digital age, keeping children safe online is more crucial than ever.
West Mercia Police are offering FREE Online Safety Workshop to parents and guardians to anyone living or working in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.
For more information and to book onto the workshops, visit their website Exploitation and vulnerability training
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The Law Commission has published a consultation paper on disabled children’s social care law in England. The consultation looks at how the current system meets the needs of children with disabilities and their families, and outlines proposals for improvements.
Topics covered include: assessments; eligibility; how services are provided; the transition to adult social care; the definition of disability; advocacy and participation; and whether a new legal framework is needed.
Responses are invited from children and young people, parents and carers, social workers and local authorities. The consultation closes on 20 January 2025.
Read the consultation: Disabled children's social care consultation paper
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The Home Office has announced new measures to strengthen the police’s response to tackling violence against women and girls in England and Wales.
The measures include: a pilot placing domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms to advise on risk assessments; and the launch of the new domestic abuse protection order pilot.
The measures reinforce the Government’s commitment to addressing the root causes of violence, which include supporting schools in teaching children about healthy relationships, respect and consent.
Read the news story: New measures set out to combat violence against women and girls
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Girlguiding has published a survey on the challenges facing girls in the UK.
The 16th Girls' attitudes survey captures the views of 2,500 girls and young women on sexism and safety, online harm, appearance and wellbeing, the cost-of-living crisis, and their future.
Findings include: 47% of 11- to 21-year-olds reported feeling less safe than ten years ago due to sexism and misogyny; and 77% of girls and young women aged 7- to 21-years-old said they had experienced online harm in the last year.
Read the news story: ‘Fear of missing out’ keeping girls and young women online despite sexism
Read the survey: Girls’ attitudes survey 2024
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The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has created a safeguarding tool for charities on handling allegations of abuse.
The tool aims to support charities in England with handling the reporting of safeguarding allegations about the behaviour or actions of a person in their charity.
Access the tool: Guidance on handling safeguarding allegations in a charity
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Train the trainers is a 2 day course which will enable participants to deliver Raising Awareness in Safeguarding and Protection Children (3 hour) multiagency training to all staff within their own organisations and agencies. The next Train the Trainer course will be held on 4th and 11th February 2025.
All training resources, and handouts will be provided by Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership Learning and Development Co-ordinator.
Both days must be booked on and attended at Prestfelde School, London Road, Shrewsbury. SY2 6ND. This is not an online course. Once registered on the webinar via the links shown your details will be saved for the course organiser and the date can be added to your calendar.
Click directly on these links to register
Day 1 Train the Trainers 4th February 2025 SSCP
Day 2 Train the Trainers 11th February 2025 SSCP
To see details of what the course will cover please click this link
SSCP Train the Trainers (2 day course info)
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Family Support Workers
- Parent – She’s lovely, had a great chat with her, believe it helped one way or another. In the few sessions we had it helped me recognise positive relationships and ways to help with anxiety.
- Parent - Early Help has helped me gain a better understanding of my own parenting ways. You has been amazing and we are all much happier.
- Young person - things are better now after her involvement.
0-5 Team
- Parent - I feel better to able to cope now I know who I need to contact for the right support for me and my child.
- Parent - I feel that Early Help has helped encourage my relationship with my boys, I feel I have improved my bond with my boys with the support/services you has reached out for us. I have come across services that I would have not known and given my family support to hopefully support our lives further down the line.
- Parent - I feel a lot calmer and able to deal with any challenging behaviour we are doing really well. My son is now at school full time and enjoying his new class no difficulties with transition settled well. I've started my induction at work and am feeling really positive about my new job, I'm also going to be starting a level three teaching qualification in December which the college are providing for me. I also feels that me and my son are getting on much better recently and that now I've completely recovered for the withdrawal issues I was having when coming off my anti-depressants, I feel that I'm better able to parent him.
- Parent - The service has helped to make things possible for our family. We felt listened to and supported. Helping us to understand what services we needed to better ourselves. And the children loved to see you coming to the house with toys and activities bringing much joy to the house.
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