Welcome to the latest edition of the Early Help Newsletter. In this edition you can find information on 3 spotlight sessions organised by SSCP on complex safeguarding beyond family boundaries, modern day risks and abuse facing children and young people and getting it right in Early help and how you can help.

There’s also guidance on the escalation policy to help resolve professional differences, and lots of great training to enhance your professional practice.

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.’

Shropshire Council’s Children and Young People’s vision statement

Parenthood can be extremely rewarding and enjoyable. It can also be demanding, frustrating and exhausting. In Shropshire the Parenting Team offer workshops and groups for parents which provide easy to implement, proven parenting solutions.

There are also two SEND groups are for parents/carers of children who might have special educational needs and disabilities, no formal diagnosis is needed to attend the groups.

The groups encourage parents and carers to identify the most important issues in their relationship with their child and to reflect on why things sometimes go well and sometimes do not. It is about looking at what you are already doing well and building on that to make it even better. It is then easier for you as a parent to identify how to work together with your child.

You will explore issues like:

• Having Fun Together
• Behaviour Difficulties
• Sleep
• Communication
• Development Needs
• Parenting Styles

The group aims to:

• Promote understanding of children’s behaviour within the context of how a child develops
• Promote the development of parent/child relationship
• Increase confidence and self-esteem in both parents and children
• Give parents a strategy for repair when things go wrong
• Promote reflective, sensitive and effective parenting.

Groups are aimed at parents of children and young people and are free to attend. 

To find out the dates and times, please visit the Shropshire Family Information Service Directory.

To book a place please contact the Parenting Team on 01743 250950 or email Parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk

This 5 week workshop aims to support parents and carers to make positive changes to their child’s sleep patterns. Life can be difficult when children have sleep issues. Our aim is to support families to get a better night’s sleep by using a behavioural approach to sleep and work in partnership with families, as we know that they are the expert on their children.

Workshops provide parents and carers with the opportunity to meet other families in similar situations and to gain tips on how to support a better night’s sleep for them and their child.

Quotes from parents who have been on the course

"Absolutely fabulous workshop. Should be offered to first time parents when their babies are old enough for the skills learned to be applied. I have a disabled daughter and naively thought that the workshop wouldn't apply to her needs, well I was wrong, I believe it applies to most children and every parent can take massive positives away from this workshop! Awesome!"

"I have learnt a lot! I was interested to learn about the science behind sleep, melatonin production, sleepy foods. It has been good to know that I'm not alone and to learn things from some of the other Mum's who were on the course. It was helpful to hear their suggestions!"

June Group - Monday 16th June 2025 from 9.15am to 11.15am.

SEND workshops - June Group - Monday 9th June 2025 from 12.45pm to 2.45pm.

Workshop runs for 5 weeks from the start date excluding the School Holidays

To find out more or to book a place please contact the Parenting Team on 01743 250950

Or email Parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk

The Parenting Help and Support Line are here for parents with a friendly listening ear and practical advice on everything from behaviours that challenge to sleep issues. No judgment, just support.

Call 01743 250950 Monday - Thursday, 9.30am - 4.30pm or Friday, 9.30am - 3.30pm or email: parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk

It’s fair to say that all parents from time to time need some help and support with issues that impact on family life. There is help and support available in Shropshire through our Early Help coffee and chat drop ins – some of which are also stay and play sessions.

You can get free Information, advice and support on all aspects of family life, at our Family Drop-Ins.  You can chat, have a cuppa and see how we can help you with:

• Family life
• Parenting support
• Domestic abuse support
• Money worries
• Housing support
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• and much more

To find your local drop in please visit the Shropshire Family Information Service Directory

Are you supporting a parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)?

Please share with them information on the informal Early Help SEND drop-in sessions where they can ask questions, get advice, and explore the support available.

They can speak to a range of professionals who can help with:

• Education, health, and Care Plans (EHCPs)
• School support and advocacy
• Health and Wellbeing for children with SEND
• Social care and family support
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Advice for navigating SEND challenges.

Each session will have different professionals available.

Please encourage parent carers to come along, have a chat, and find the help they need!

Summer term dates

• 12^th May 2025– 12:30 – 14:30 - Sunflower House, Shrewsbury
• 19^th June 2025 – 14:00 -16:00 – Raven house, Market Drayton
• 22^nd July 2025 - 13:30-15:30 – Ludlow youth centre, Ludlow 

All dates - SEND Meet and Chat Family Drop-In

Information on the open access clinics run throughout Shropshire by Health Visitors has been updated. You can find out where they are and when they run by clicking on the Shropshire Family Information Service Directory

They offer parents the chance to get their baby weighed but also to access information, advice and support on a range of topics, including:

• Infant feeding and breastfeeding advice
• Child development
• Emotional health and wellbeing
• Parenting and local support groups
• Behaviour
• Sleep

Please promote these great clinics to parents who may benefit from attending. Parents who would like support but are unable to get to a session, can also get help by calling 0333 358 3654 or texting the team on 07520 635212.

Worried about your relationship or feel you’re arguing too much? Not all arguing between parents is harmful but when it’s intense or happens a lot of the time, there can be a negative impact on the children.

If your relationship is going through a difficult phase, you can find ways to argue ‘better’, resolve disputes and reduce conflict at home with our range of free courses, resources and apps. Have a look at the Getting on better pages of the Early Help website.

Misogyny is back on everyone’s minds after Netflix’s drama Adolescence made UK TV ratings history. The new drama about a 13-year old boy who is arrested on suspicion of murdering a girl from his school explores the complex factors that shape young people’s identity, attitudes and behaviours including the impact of online misogyny and the manosphere.

So what can we do to understand and tackle harmful behaviours and beliefs? The most effective way to challenge gender stereotypes, online misogyny, bulling, and abuse is creating space for wide-ranging, honest conversations with all young people.

Here are some resources from BROOK to support with these conversations:

What is the manosphere? An introduction to digital communities that promote harmful ideologies.

What does it mean to be a man? Ideas that might come up in conversations and ways of challenging these stereotypes.

Tips for countering online misogyny in the classroom. Learn from Nick’s experience delivering lessons to boys and young men.

Tips for building critical thinking. Practical advice on helping young people analyse and challenge problematic ideas and where they come from.

What does a healthy relationship look like? An introduction to some ideas that form the basis of healthy relationships.

When practitioners are working together in the complex business of safeguarding there will inevitably be occasions when there are professional differences of opinion or concerns about practice decisions, actions or perceived lack of action.

Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership is committed to open and transparent joint working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults with care and support needs and to keep our communities safe. Raising questions, challenging, and escalating concerns where appropriate, quickly and clearly, is seen as a positive approach to practice and continuing improvement in how we protect and meet the needs of children, adults with care and support needs and communities.

Our escalation guidance has been developed to enable a quick and straightforward means of resolving professional differences or issues in specific cases and is designed to be used by all agencies across the private and statutory sectors.

You can find the escalation guidance here.

Invitation to Spotlight on key themes from learning Beyond family boundaries – children and young people of hidden harm.

This is an in-person workshop at Barnabas Centre, Shrewsbury. SY3 7DN (No parking on site)

Wednesday 14th May,  12:30 - 17:00

Call to Action – Spotlight on Complex Safeguarding:

Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership are hosting a series of Spotlight Workshops, inviting professionals and stakeholders from partnerships, services and setting across the county to attend which provides a dedicated opportunity for you to:

• Hear about research and good practice in identification, prevention and tackling complex safeguarding.
• Share your knowledge and experience of complex safeguarding including: peer on peer abuse including sexual abuse; sexualised behaviour; hazing; online abuse and safety; bullying; social media; and grooming.
• Identify areas of strength, where there are gaps and where there are opportunities to improve responses to complex safeguarding across our system.   
• Reach agreement on what needs to happen next to improve our leadership and practice in tackling the hidden harm that children and young people experience across Shropshire and how we can achieve this.  

Please note that this is face to face only (not online) to allow you to network and learn with multi-agency colleagues.      

Refreshments will be provided in the afternoon, feel free to bring your own lunch. 

Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Invitation to Spotlight on key themes from learning Safeguarding Children against modern day risks and abuse

This is an in-person workshop at Ludlow Assembly Rooms (On-street parking only)

Entrance to Oscars - Ludlow Assembly Rooms is on Castle Street, SY8 1AZ

Tuesday 3rd June,  09:00 - 13:30

Call to Action – Spotlight on Safeguarding Children against modern day risks and abuse

Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership are hosting a series of Spotlight Workshops, inviting professionals and stakeholders from partnerships, services and setting across the county to attend which provides a dedicated opportunity for you to:

• Hear about research and good practice in identification, prevention and tackling Safeguarding Children against modern day risks and abuse.
• Share your knowledge and experiences. 
• Identify areas of strength, where there are gaps and where there are opportunities to improve responses to safeguarding children against modern day risks and abuse across our system.   
• Reach agreement on what needs to happen next to improve our leadership and practice in tackling modern day risks and abuse, how we can safeguard children across Shropshire, and how we can achieve this.  

Please note that this is face to face only (not online) to allow you to network and learn with multi-agency colleagues.      

Refreshments will be provided in the morning, feel free to bring your own lunch. 

Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Invitation to Spotlight on key themes from learning How Can I Help? Getting it Right in Early Help and Prevention

This is an in-person workshop at Barnabas Centre, Shrewsbury. SY3 7DN (No parking on site)

Tuesday 24th June,  12:30 - 17:00

Call to Action – Spotlight on Early Help: How can I help?

Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership are hosting a series of Spotlight Workshops, inviting professionals and stakeholders from partnerships, services and setting across the county to attend which provides a dedicated opportunity for you to:

• Understanding what the Early Help Strategy is in Shropshire, and understanding your role in early help.
• Clarity around the role of the lead practitioner, and families first approach, 
• Hear about identified needs in Shropshire, evidence based practice and what we are doing well.
• What is your early help offer? Share your knowledge and experience of offering early help. 
• Reach agreement on what needs to happen next to improve our leadership and practice and how we can achieve this.  

Please note that this is face to face only (not online) to allow you to network and learn with multi-agency colleagues.      

Refreshments will be provided in the afternoon, feel free to bring your own lunch. 

Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

An Integration Consultation Panel is a friendly and collaborative meeting where professionals from various services, including early help, health, education, social care, and community services, come together.

Their goal is to share their expertise and work together to offer the best support for families. The panel aims to create a fully joined-up plan to address each family's unique needs and help improve overall well-being

We've produced a new leaflet for families to understand more about the integration panels for practitioners to print out and share with the family.

You can find out more about the work of the Integration Consultation Panels on the Early Help Website.

Are you a professional who works with families in Shropshire, to support them and make referrals when they are facing a challenge?  

We are looking for feedback about Shropshire’s integrated multi-agency consultation panel from professionals who have taken part as well as from those who haven’t yet. 

Let us know what is working well and what could be improved so we can work together to support Shropshire’s families in the most effective and joined-up way.  

Take part in the survey here. 

Closing date Sunday 27 April 2025 

Following a robust procurement process for the provision of universal autism support, Shropshire Council welcomes national charity Kids to the county, to support Shropshire families with autistic children, at any stage of diagnosis. This replaces the previous agreement with Autism West Midlands.

Shropshire Council is committed to providing a service which enhances the wellbeing, resilience, and confidence of parent carers through accessible, strengths-based assessments, practical support plans, and strong community networks.

This includes early engagement with families on waiting lists, preventative interventions for children and young people and tailored support for parents and families that meets the varied needs of children and young people. 

Kids will be supporting children and young people up to the age of 19, signalling an increase in age range for accessing the service, to support the transition from children to adults’ services through the council’s adults’ autism hub. 

Visit the Kids website to find out more about their Shropshire offer.

Kinship has launched a new film on life in kinship care. The film was created by young people growing up in kinship care and explores their experiences of being raised by a relative or family friend. The film highlights a need for increased access to support for kinship families. 

Read the news story: Young Champions’ film on growing up in kinship care premiered in London  

Watch the film: A film by young people in kinship care | Kinship Young Champions film project  

See also on NSPCC Learning   Children in care

Building on last year’s event, West Mercia Police would like to invite you to join us for our Online Safety Conference for front-line professionals hosted on Wednesday, 18th June 2025.

The conference is for "non-technical" professionals such as teachers, social workers, health workers, and police officers who work with the public and need to be aware of basic online and digital risks. The event will feature a series of easy-to-understand sessions based on local incidents and crimes. Attendees will have the option to participate in-person or online.

During the day we will aim to demystify some of the most challenging online threats we face. With inputs from the Force Cyber Crime Unit, Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team, Economic Crime Unit, Regional Cyber Crime Units, Counter Terrorism Unit and other professionals working in the safeguarding arena, we will explain topics that may have previously felt too technical or complex to grasp. 

 Throughout the conference, we hope delegates will share their own professional experiences and challenges. There will be question and answer facilities during each topic area, with an opportunity for discussion following the deliveries and potential further collaboration. In addition to providing valuable CPD for professionals, we hope this conference will act as a springboard for longer-term collaboration and prevention work.

Technology is transforming all of our lives at an eye-watering pace, and we urgently need to come together as professionals to share experiences and ideas about how we can adapt to deliver our respective services to the public in an increasingly online world.

It is envisaged that the conference will take placed between 9:30am and 3:30pm.  The event will be equally as valuable to those who attended last year due to differing content although we very much welcome new attendees and participants. A full agenda will be emailed to those registered in due course. To register to attend either in-person or online, please follow the following link.

IN PERSON REGISTRATION - click here

ONLINE REGISTRATION -  click here

Please feel free to share it with other professional colleagues interested in attending

Parental Conflict Module 1 – Introduction to reducing parental conflict

This module is designed for those with no previous knowledge or training in Reducing Parental Conflict.  We look at the official definition of Parental Conflict, how it differs from Domestic Abuse and how it impacts child development and family wellbeing.  Touching on some of the research findings that prompted the founding of the national programme to Reduce Parental Conflict, delegates will form an understanding of why it is essential to tackle relationship dysfunction and how easy it is to make a small difference to family life. 

Audience: Anyone working with families who has no previous knowledge or training in Reducing Parental Conflict.

Parental Conflict Module 1 - information and booking

Parental Conflict Module 2 –  using tools to support healthy parental relationships

Following on from Parental Conflict Module 1, this is a practical, skills-based workshop that introduces the RPC Intervention tool along with resources specifically designed to improve communication between parents.  Delegates will learn how to offer a structured intervention to parents in conflicted relationships.

Audience: Anyone working with families who has either attended Parental Conflict Module 1 or has attended other reducing parental conflict training in the last 3 years.

Parental Conflict Module 2 - information and booking

Parental Conflict Module 3 – building confidence in delivering an intervention

This workshop aims to help build confidence in working with parental relationships, and covers talking to groups about the importance of healthy relationships, using OnePlusOne and Getting On Better cards as part of an intervention, and how to measure the impact of an intervention.  Delegates will also have the opportunity to discuss relationships they are working with.

Audience: Anyone working with families who has either attended Parental Conflict Module 1 and 2 or has attended the original full day reducing parental conflict training in the last 3 years. 

Parental Conflict Module 3 - information and booking

Parental Conflict Module 4 – Complex Co-parenting part A

This module delves into highly conflicted relationships between separated parents.  We look at why relationships stay conflictual after separation, the impact on co-parenting, and ways to avoid Parental Alienation and Family Court.  We explore the VSA as an empathy-led tool to help parents unpick their feelings about each other, and bring them both onto the child’s side. Suitable for anyone working with families. 

Audience: Anyone working with families who has completed Parental Conflict - Modules 1, 2 and 3 or the original full day reducing parental conflict training in the last 3 years.

Parental Conflict Module 4 - information and booking

Parental Conflict Module 5 – Complex Co-parenting part B

As a follow on to module 4, this practical, skills-based workshop builds on using Relational Capability, Calibrated Questions, and negotiating skills, to encourage parents to agree a parenting plan with their co-parent. 

Audience: Anyone working with families who has completed Parental Conflict - Module 4.

Parental Conflict Module 5 - Complex Co-parenting part B | Shropshire Council

"Domestic Abuse always seems to happen behind closed doors and there is a societal view that it is not our issue to deal with. I am here to help people understand that this is not the case and we need to take action to prevent people dying. People have died in Shropshire and the learning from these case reviews has helped shape this training." Harriet McInnes, Domestic Abuse Training Lead for Shropshire Council

These three, half-day, face to face modules can be attended individually.

Coercive Control and Trauma Informed Practice

Increase your understanding around what coercive control is, the tactics that may be used by an abuser and how to adopt a trauma informed approach. 

Click here for further information including dates and costs and how to book

Domestic Abuse – empower and protect: building confidence in domestic abuse support

Increase your confidence in assessing and understanding the risk to victims of domestic abuse who you are working with and in helping to get the correct support in place.    

Click here for further information including dates, costs and how to book

Domestic Abuse – the impact on children and young people

Increase your knowledge around the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people living within the household and outline support available for families.    

Click here for further information including dates, costs and how to book

This new, fully funded, 2-hour training will give an overview of the Early Help system in the Shropshire local authority area.​

Attendees will gain understanding of:​

• The Early Help system in Shropshire.​
• The roles of different services and professionals within the system.​
• Where to find information on Early Help services and referral pathways.​
• Where to find information around Thresholds for different levels of need.​

Click here for further information, training dates and booking information.

A new, half-day training module to empower practitioners to make ‘every contact count’.

When it comes to exploitation, it is too often that opportunities are missed.  If the child is choosing to speak to you, they must trust you with their information.

Young people will be the first to say that they do not like having a change of worker or being referred, so knowing what you can do if you are presented with disclosures is vital.

Click here for further information, including dates, costs and how to book

A half-day training module to provide an understanding of young people using substances; exploring addiction, exploitation, and how artificial intelligence (AI) may influence future exploitation.

Consider tools, trends, theories and ways of working with young people in Shropshire.

Know what services and resources are available and where to signpost.

Click here for further information including dates, costs and how to book

Based on LEGO® Education Build to Express, ‘Think Bricks’ is a brilliant toolkit of Lego specially selected LEGO elements providing ready - made metaphors. It is LEGO serious play!

In this hands-on inspirational workshop, delegates will experience a solution focused, refreshing and fun innovation that will enable them to learn the basis of processes needed to facilitate LEGO sessions and will experience on an adult level the power of this approach, leaving the session inspired to use as an intervention to support young people with SEMH.

Click here for further information, including dates, costs and how to book

We wanted to share with you some recent feedback we have received from parents and children and young people who have received support from Shropshire Council’s Early Help Team.

Lovely compliments for the 0-5 team

Kerrie - improved my mental health and confidence having that extra support this has made one hell of a difference.

Jo  - The help and support we received from Jo was excellent, we really had not had such amazing support until now. 

Jennifer – comment from a school who received feedback about the Early Help support received - "I have found working with our Early Help Worker, Jennifer, so positive. She gave us the reassurance that we were doing everything as we should, and helped us to work closely with the family. Thank you for all your support."  I really mean it Jennifer, it has been an absolute pleasure working with you. I spoke to A's mum on the phone last week, and she was really sad we won't be seeing you for now. 

Debra - Nothing could have been done better, the help that we have received has been great, we feel much happier in ourselves and as a family too, we feel that the actions on the plan really related to our needs and not only that they were acted upon so we felt we achieved what we set out to do. 

Compliment for Julie, Domestic Abuse Engagement Lead, Early Help and Support Team (E-HAST) 

I truly appreciate your patience, kindness, and all the support you've given me. Your help has been incredibly valuable and reassuring.

Wishing you all the very best. Thank you.

Some lovely feedback for Anna, Family Support Worker in the south

From Mum - It was good to have support in meetings - for me it got to the point that it was very draining as a parent.

Xxx shared that Anna shared xxx concerns of feeling overwhelmed with so many people at meetings. Following meetings were reduced and this has improved my communication with school. Anna is a lovely person- incredibly lovely. I felt a tinge of sadness when Anna was leaving. What I liked was that she could observe xxx's behaviours- how he would put distractions in the way- she could see how he and I interacted. It took some pressure of me, and I felt validated as a parent. Having EH support helped propel EHCP into place for xx, - I feel if we hadn't had Anna on board we wouldn't have been at this stage - xx has been awarded his now

11 Yr old - I like when Anna comes to see me, she talks to me and helps me to understand what I’m thinking. I like doing drawing with her and talking to her. I think she has helped me a bit, I’m not as anxious as I was although I still get a bit sad sometimes, I know who to go to and who to talk to when I feel like this.

8 Yr old- I don’t know what to say, I like that my dad is doing more things with me, it makes me happy.