Kathy's Blog

This will be a regular feature from 

Kathy Slinn, Head of Service for Engage.

Welcome to the very first Engage newsletter.  The development over the last 10 months of the Early Help approach in Solihull and the new Local Authority offer ‘Engage’ has been incredibly exciting.

We have recruited a strong team, put into place systems and processes and begun many projects, starting valuable work with children, young people and families. Read More.. 

Vicki Spall's Blog 

Vicki Spall is our Collaborative Lead for Direct Work. Currently on secondment her role for the next 12 months will be covered by Sally Green.

Who are we and who do we work with?

The Direct Work Team consists of Family Workers and Children and Young People Workers who will work with residents in Solihull. 

Direct Workers have skills in whole family working to include delivering evidence based parenting support, working with families who have experienced domestic abuse, work with children and young people around anger management, self-esteem and confidence building, delivery of bespoke programmes around sexual health and work with young people who have disabilities and learning difficulties.

Further examples of skills, knowledge and abilities of the Direct Work Team include work around healthy relationships, addressing change within a family, supporting mental health impact on a child or young person, attachment and bonding work with parents and engaging young people to improve school attendance and prevent NEET.

Our practice aims to empower Families, Children and Young People and help them to develop the capacity to resolve their own problems. Read More...

Engage working with partners

‘Early Help is everyone’s business’ is one of the fundamental messages that is reinforced at the level one ‘Early Help’ LSCB training. This training is for anyone who may come into contact with families, children and young people and who could either be the ‘trusted person’ for that family or could request support for a service from Engage. 

This service could be direct support or a service from the Empower or Enable teams to ensure there will be positive outcomes.

Read More…

Enable

We are one of three teams within Engage, the service that delivers the local authorities early help offer.  Enable is working hard to strengthen communities to be resilient and provide high quality services and activities based on the needs of the children, young people and families that live there. 

Our work has three main themes.  These include:

• Development of high quality provision
• Information, Support and Signposting 
• Partnership Working 

Read More...

The Enable Team co-ordinate community events to raise awareness of Engage's top five priorities, which are mental health, healthy relationships, addiction, domestic abuse and parenting. Events will be across Solihull working with both internal and external partners. Information and sign posting will be available at all events. 

One of the projects was the Health and Wellbeing Days. A total of 7 sessions were planned aimed at young people aged 11 – 15 years. During these sessions the planned outcome was to increase confidence levels regarding transition to secondary school.  The days also raised awareness and helped develop an increased understanding of what to expect and where to find support from a range of services. Read more... 

‘History is very important for understanding who we are, what’s happening to us today and where our vision is for tomorrow’ Peter Stephenson.

In the spring of 1963 Guy Baily an 18yr old walked into the office of the state-owned Bristol Omnibus Company and informed the receptionist he was here for a job interview, to which she replied ‘I don’t think so’. Guy thought it must be a mistake stating he was Mr Bailey and had an appointment. The receptionist went to the manager’s office where she informed the manager that his 2 o'clock appointment was here and he is black. The manager replies ‘tell him all vacancies are full’. Read More... 

The Enable Team are working across schools in Solihull, focussing on spreading the awareness of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation (PACE), to parents and families of the school. We also present this awareness presentation to some of the staff in each school who are working with families on CSE in order to continue to spread awareness to parents.

PACE is an awareness training that offers guidance on where to seek support, how to notice signs and symptoms, to understand how this abuse happens and directions of support for parents and guardians. Read More...  

From personal experience, we recognised that although there was support for young people with additional needs there was very little support for the families in Solihull.

We believe that in order to help children with additional needs and disabilities, the whole family has to be the focus. 

Research shows that families with children with additional needs and disabilities are far more likely to breakdown.  Supporting the whole family is the key to a better future, improving family dynamics and relationships.  So in April 2011 we set up a community interest company initially to offer support to the family. One of the main issues that came out of these early meetings was the lack of family activities so we gained funding from Children in Need and the National Lottery to meet these needs. Read More...

Time for Me (2 x 2 hr sessions)

Time for Me is an informal 2 week programme of personal development workshops aimed to develop self-awareness, communication skills and self- confidence.

The programme nurtures the individual and takes them on a journey that supports them to;

•  Identify their own skills and talents
•  Explore a range of informal and formal volunteering opportunities
•  Create a personal development plan for the future. 

Read More