The latest news
Update on Hertfordshire’s Families First Partnership Programme
An update on the development of Hertfordshire’s Family Help service
The plan and structure for integrated Family Help teams, bringing targeted early help and statutory social care together in Hertfordshire, has been developed through extensive co-design with the council’s workforce, and with children, young people and families. This has included detail around role clarity, practice foundations and team structures.
The model is currently going through the council’s governance structure and is anticipated to be in delivery by the end of 2026, supported by a comprehensive mobilisation and transition plan.
Wider programme development
Whilst we’re at the cusp of change delivering Family Help in Hertfordshire, work is continuing apace on developing the other elements of the Families First Partnership. We are fortunate in Hertfordshire be building on strong, well established multi-agency child protection practice. We are building on the principles of the Hertfordshire Family Safeguarding Model to create a single, unifying practice approach.
Work is continuing across our safeguarding partnership to scope out roles needed in the new Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT), ensuring alignment with the recently revised guidance from the Government. Our subject matter experts are playing a key part in scoping out roles, advising on how to embed best practice, and ensuring that the model aligns operationally for all lead organisations.
National programme updates
The Department for Education recently released updated guidance on the national Families First Partnership programme. The 2026-27 guidance marks a formal transition from design and pathfinder learning into full delivery across all safeguarding partnerships, with mandatory systemwide implementation expected by March 2027.
The new guidance sets out expectations for Family Help, Multi-Agency Child Protection and Family Networks. It also includes accountability mechanisms, detailed workforce expectations (especially around multi-agency and new roles), stronger statutory alignment and increased emphasis on Safeguarding Partnership accountability. We’ve produced a summary of the key elements that have been updated which we have been sharing with partners.
The Government has also recently updated two pieces of statutory guidance for Children’s Social Care and partners working to safeguard children. It has just published the Children’s Social Care National Framework (2026) and it has made a targeted update to: Working Together to Safeguard Children, reflecting its ongoing commitment to strengthening multi-agency help, support and protection.
Sharing updates
As we move into the implementation phase of these national reforms, the Families First Partnership Programme team are looking for opportunities to share updates with partners about the changes being implemented.
If your organisation has a regular newsletter, or run network events, where it would be good to share FFPP updates please contact our communications lead (contact details below) who will provide any resources you need or arrange a speaker.
Our subject matter experts are also a great source of information about the programme and will continue to cascade news and updates with colleagues in partner organisations.
Contact details for SMEs:
Communications lead: Rebecca.cussens@hertfordshire.gov.uk
You can download a copy of the updated guidance from the DfE for the Families First Partnership Programme.
Young Carers Offer - now delivered by Hertfordshire County Council
From 1 April 2026, Hertfordshire County Council is proud to be delivering young carers support in-house, bringing this vital service fully within council provision as the contract with Carers in Hertfordshire came to an end. This change strengthens our commitment to young carers by embedding support directly into council services, helping us work even more closely with children, families and partners across Hertfordshire. Support for adult carers will continue to be delivered by Carers in Hertfordshire, with no change to that service.
How can you help?
We are asking all partners and professionals working with children, young people and families to continue playing a key role in identifying and supporting young carers. Our new Young Carers webpage provides new tools and guidance to help you identify and register young carers.
To ensure accurate and consistent information is available across the system, we ask partners and stakeholders to:
- Display the ‘Could you be a Young Carer?’ poster (available in the professionals area of the website under resources)
- Update your webpages, resources, and internal procedures to reflect this change.
- Link any references to Young Carers to the new Young Carers webpage.
- Include information about these changes in your communications (e.g., newsletters). Suggested wording is available below.
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2026
As we approach Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week (4th–10th May), Talking Therapies would like to reconnect with local partners and services to highlight the free mental health support available through NHS Hertfordshire & Mid Essex Talking Therapies.
We know that the perinatal period can be a time of significant change and vulnerability. That’s why we prioritise all parents—whether biological or adoptive—for timely assessment and compassionate, evidence-based treatment.
You can download a leaflet outlining our perinatal support offer. Please feel free to share this with the families you work alongside. If printed copies would be helpful, we’d be very happy to arrange delivery—just let us know.
Throughout the week, we’ll also be releasing three short videos across our YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/@HPFTTalkingTherapies) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/hpfttalkingtherapies). Each video explores an important aspect of early parenthood, from the transition into becoming a parent or caregiver, to understanding baby blues, and the emotional side of motherhood. We’d really appreciate your support in helping these messages reach a wider audience, so please feel free to share the videos across your own channels and networks.
FREE NHS Mental Health Awareness Training – register today!
Working together to improve mental health
Join Hertfordshire Talking Therapies for a free online Mental Health Awareness Training session during Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, taking place on Wednesday, 13th May (10-11am). This session will help raise awareness of common mental health challenges and equip you with practical tools and techniques to support colleagues struggling with pressures at work, service users navigating challenging lives, and friends or family members in need.
Improving your understanding of mental health problems could benefit many people around you. Click here to register.
In addition, we are hosting a programme of free live and interactive webinars throughout the week. Please see the attached poster which you are welcome to print, display, and share with your colleagues to help spread the word.
For more information, please visit: www.hpft-talkingtherapies.nhs.uk/mental-health-awareness-week
Together, we can help ensure that no parent feels they have to navigate this time alone.
If there’s anything more we can do to support you or your team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch—we’re always here to help. Contact: hpft.talkingtherapiescomms@nhs.net
New Hertfordshire Teenage Pregnancy and Young Parents strategy
We are pleased to share the new Hertfordshire Teenage Pregnancy and Young Parents Strategy 2026 – 2028. The strategy sets out our shared ambitions to reduce unplanned teenage pregnancy, support young parents, address inequalities, and strengthen the confidence and skills of our workforce.
This strategy has been shaped through strong partnership working and the voices of young people and young parents across Hertfordshire. It outlines practical actions for prevention, support, education, and workforce development over the next two years.
To support professionals when working with young people around relationships and sexual health, you can check out our dedicated guidance hub here:
https://publichealth.hertscc.gov.uk/enews/rsheguidance/introduction/introduction
Please share with colleagues and don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further in any operational team meetings.
Thank you for your commitment to young people and young parents in Hertfordshire.
Supporting a Healthy Pregnancy Masterclass
Beezees are excited to be offering support to women in pregnancy to lead a healthy lifestyle with our first ever masterclass:
Supporting a Healthy Pregnancy Masterclass on Monday 11th May 6pm - 7:30pm
- Guidance on nutrition during pregnancy
- Advice on how to stay active
- Tips on managing commons issues, including morning sickness, sleep and indigestion
- Signposting to other support services
- A chance to ask our expert team any questions
Sign up here now for free if you’re an expectant mum in Hertfordshire!
You can also get a wider range of support and advice from the Love Your Bump team here
Find out more about Beezee by maximus here: Beezee Hertfordshire - Free Healthy Lifestyle Programmes
Safer Sleep to be added to EYFS
The Government is expected to update the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework in September 2026, setting out clear standards regarding safe sleeping for all infants and children.
Key messages for Early Years providers are to ensure babies are:
- Always placed on their backs to sleep on a clear & firm flat mattress
- Checked regularly while sleeping & dressed appropriately to avoid overheating
Providers should
- Be familiar with the Lullaby Trust guidance on safe sleeping
- Review and update your safer sleep policy in line with Lullaby Trust guidance
- Ensure all staff, including new starters, receive safer sleep training (such as that provided by Lullaby Trust or SANDS)
- Check sleep environments throughout the day to ensure they are clean and clear
- Keep up to date with national guidance and EYFS updates
(Department for Education article: Help for early years providers : Safer sleep)
NHS England: Encouraging people to use the right NHS service at the right time
As part of a series of campaigns by NHS England encouraging people to use the right NHS service at the right time, a suite of downloadable resources has been created. These resources help people get the care they need while easing pressure on both primary and emergency services:
- NHS 111 campaign raises awareness of the 111 service when someone has an urgent but not life-threatening medical need
- Think Pharmacy First campaign highlights how pharmacists can now provide treatment or some prescription medicine
- NHS Talking Therapies campaign encourages people struggling with obsessions and compulsions, anxiety in social situations, flashbacks of a traumatic event and more
- NHS App campaign encourages use of the NHS App, by increasing awareness of the App and its functionality and driving knowledge of the key benefits to using it to access NHS health and care services at your fingertips
- GP Online Access campaign to encourage use of online forms to simply, securely and conveniently submit requests and symptoms to your GP practice online, through the NHS App or your GP practice website.
For any campaign specific queries, please contact england.campaigns@nhs.net
Introducing the NHS Healthy Start Scheme: Nourishing Families for a Healthier Future
Are you helping families you work with to cope with the rising cost of living and keeping to a healthy diet? Did you know you can encourage them to apply for a weekly payment for fresh fruit, vegetables and milk through the NHS Healthy Start Scheme?
The Healthy Start Scheme is a government initiative aimed at providing essential support and funding for vulnerable and low-income families. The scheme's primary goal is to ensure that every vulnerable family, particularly those facing economic hardship, has access to healthy and nutritious food.
Nearly £1million of the NHS Healthy Start scheme in Hertfordshire, is still unclaimed and more families need your support to benefit from this funding How to apply – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
How the scheme works:
Money is added onto the Healthy Start card every 4 weeks and recipient receives:
- £4.65 each week of pregnancy from the 10th week
- £9.30 each week for children from birth to 1 year old
- £4.65 each week for children between 1 and 4 years old
Families can also obtain free vitamins from their local family centre in Hertfordshire – find out more at www.hertsfamilycentres.org/healthystartvitamins
More information available at Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
You can also email healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk or call 0300 330 7010 for information.
The Bridge is back!
Our Intensive Family Support Team in Welwyn Hatfield will be restarting The Bridge, which is a support group designed for parents, carers and young people in school years 6,7 and 8 who are struggling with school attendance. This includes those who are not attending school at all or on a significantly reduced timetable. Some of the topics covered are:-
- Anxiety and worries related to school
- Friendships and social dynamics
- Health and wellbeing
- Neurodiversity
- The Future
You can find out more on the attached leaflet and sessions will run for 12 weeks starting on Thursday 16th April 2026—9th July 2026, 12:30pm-2:30pm at Welwyn Garden City Cricket Club, 288 Knightsfield, WGC, AL8 7NQ (NOTE: Although these sessions have already started, there will be future sessions run so it's worth registering an interest if you have a family in mind).
Please contact Alison.cowie@hertfordshire.gov.uk or karina.saunders@hertfordshire.gov.uk if you have any questions.
Download the poster here
News from Services for Young People
Latest update from our youth councils for young people with SEND
As part of Hertfordshire County Council’s commitment to listening to the voices of young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and involving them in shaping and improving services to meet their needs, Services for Young People (SfYP) has been running youth councils exclusively for young people with SEND in all districts of Hertfordshire since 2024.
Supported by professionally qualified SfYP Youth Workers, the youth council members have been engaging in many consultations and co-productions. They have worked with commissioners, councillors, senior leaders and other professionals and organisations to give their feedback on a wide range of services and campaigns across education and healthcare.
They have also identified and explored issues important to them, participating in discussions and activities through which they learnt new skills and increase their knowledge, confidence and self esteem.
All young people with SEND aged 11-25 can have their voices heard by joining an SfYP youth council near them. Find full details here:
Get September Ready with Services for Young People
Services for Young People is offering ‘Get September Ready’ sessions throughout the summer to help Year 11 students feel more confident and prepared for their next steps after school. The free sessions are open to all young people in Hertfordshire who are finishing Year 11 and who would benefit from support with the transition to their next step.
Whether they are going into sixth form, college or don’t currently have anything in place for September, they can get individualised support from qualified Services for Young People CEIAG Advisers. The informal sessions are particularly beneficial for young people who have been out of education, are home-educated, or have special educational needs and disabilities, including those with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Read the full story with dates and locations of the 2026 Get September Ready sessions
Find out more about the Family Support Service at Hertfordshire's Family Centres
We are pleased to share updated information about the Hertfordshire Family Support Service (FSS) and how you can refer families who may benefit from our support.
The Family Support Service works with families from pregnancy until their child starts primary school (0–5 years). Our aim is to ensure every child has the best possible start in life, supporting their development, wellbeing, and resilience. We offer a blend of universal, emerging needs, and targeted support, tailored to each family’s circumstances.
What the Family Support Service Offers
Universal Support (available to all families)
We provide a range of accessible services, including:
- Free antenatal sessions such as Preparing for Parenthood, plus community events
- *A wide selection of drop-in groups and activities, including Baby Groups, Active Rhyme Time, Stay and Play, and Physical Fun
- Support with breastfeeding and introducing solid foods
- Self-Weigh Stations for babies at key ages (16 weeks, 20 weeks, 8 months, 12 months)
- Free vitamin collections from Family Centre Hubs and some groups
- *Family First Aid courses
- Regular updates, information, and guidance via our Facebook and Instagram pages
*Some groups have a small charge; however, free access is available where cost may be a barrier.
Support for Emerging Needs
We offer short-term, tailored 1:1 or small-group support for families experiencing:
- Social isolation, low confidence, English as an additional language, or low-level mental health needs
- Challenges with healthy eating, toileting, or sleep routines
- Support with Speech and Language development
- SEND support via SEND Champions, drop-in sessions, and small-group programmes
- Support for parents of children aged 0–2 or 3+ to build communication, independence, and school readiness
Targeted Family Support
Families with more complex or sustained needs may be offered 1:1 support or small-group sessions on:
- Perinatal support
- Infant Massage
- Parental Emotional Wellbeing
- Domestic Abuse
- Physical health, home safety, and supervision
- Routines, guidance, and boundaries
We also offer a range of parenting courses, where parents can learn new strategies and receive valuable peer support.
District Contact Numbers (Professionals Only)
You are welcome to contact the service directly for advice or to discuss a family’s needs.
Also, find out about your local partnership meeting here: Partnership Newsletter, Summer 2026 Landing Page
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District
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Telephone Number
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Hertsmere
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0203 751 4540
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Watford & Three Rivers
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01923 728840
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Dacorum
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01442 916646
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St Albans
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01727 641590
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North Herts
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01438 870916
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Stevenage
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01462 659039
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Broxbourne
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01992 475262
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Welwyn / Hatfield
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01707 629359
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East Herts
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01992 475261
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How to Refer a Family
Families must be aware of the referral and give consent before a request for support is submitted.
Referrals can be made online via:
Hertfordshire Family Centre Referral
hertfordshire.gov.uk: Family Centre Referral
Check out Hertfordshire's Spring 26 Parenting and Relationship Courses
You can view the Spring 2026 Parenting and Relationship Support Offer Newsletter which will provide you with information and details on Parenting Courses and Relationship Support offer. Please can you ensure you cascade to your teams. If you have any questions please email CSStrategic.Partnerships@hertfordshire.gov.uk .
We have listed a few of the current courses below, but please visit the Hertfordshire Directory for the full listing.
Is your Service listed on the Hertfordshire Directory?
Providers, services, groups and individuals can request a login and once approved, they can create a comprehensive listing and receive direct referrals if they wish. This can include key information such as what they do, who they support, when and where they work and their website for more information.
There are some short YouTube videos to help people get started:
There’s also a How to step-by-step guide online
If you have any questions, queries or feedback about the Directory, or need support accessing it, please email:
anne.ardley@hertfordshire.gov.uk or web.team@hertfordshire.gov.uk