The latest news
Families First Awards 2023 - Nominations Now Open !
We are delighted to announce that the nominations for our Families First Awards 2023 are now open!!!!!
These awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase team and individual successes in Early Help that have made a significant impact to the lives of children, young people and families in Hertfordshire through their outstanding work and achievement of positive outcomes.
This year’s Awards will be held at the South Hill Centre in Hemel Hempstead on Wednesday 10 May at 2pm and all shortlisted candidates will be invited along for an afternoon of celebration and cake ?
There are 6 individual and 5 team categories (view list here) and we will be looking for teams and individuals that have excelled and gone above and beyond their job role. We will be looking for statement of no more than 500 words and you may want to consider the following:
- Personal qualities displayed
- A passion for outcome focused solutions for children, young people and families
- An enthusiasm for finding new ways to listen, capture and respond to the wishes and feelings of children and young people
- This year the judges will also be looking at how our Families First Pledges have been shown in the nominations.
There is also an optional button to add one piece of supporting evidence (e.g. quote, testimonial etc).
Closing date for nominations is Friday 31 March 2023.
MAKE YOUR NOMINATION HERE
Or by scanning the QR code below:
Please tell your teams and colleagues to ensure as many people as possible get the opportunity to make a nomination. (Due to data protection, please DO NOT send on to members of the public).
Call for Case Studies & Testimonials
As the Supporting Families Programme (formerly the Troubled Families) reaches its 10 year anniversary, we would like to recognise and celebrate all the great work that has taken place across the Families First partnership.
We are collating a selection of case studies, testimonials and photos from partners to showcase all the good work that has taken place.
If you would like to contribute please send any details to familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Helping Hertfordshire’s children have a HAPpy Easter!
After the success of the Christmas HAPpy camps we are delighted to be working in partnership once again with Herts Sports Partnership and Hertfordshire Community Foundation to run the HAPpy programme (Holiday Activities Programme), supporting local families at a time when they need it the most.
The programme is open to children and young people eligible for benefits-related free school meals. The aim is to help close the holiday experience gap that some families may face over this period to deliver healthy food alongside sport and physical activity in a fun and safe environment.
Hertfordshire schools will shortly be giving out codes (from w/c 20 February) to families of eligible children. Parents/carers who have not received the code should contact their school office or email haf@herts.ac.uk.
Booking opens on Monday 6 March for more than 14,000 places available at HAPpy camps running across Hertfordshire from 3 April – 14 April 2023 (not bank holidays).
We understand not all families in need meet the FSM criteria, and a small proportion of free places can be provided to families identified by those professionals working with them. A unique code can be issued only to those professionals to share with the family. Any services who work with vulnerable/eligible families and would like a code or wish to promote this further please email happy@hertfordshire.gov.uk for more information.
We will be sharing information about the HAPpy programme on our social media channels so please help us spread the work by sharing our posts.
Further details of the programme, the camps available and to book places can be found at: Holiday Activity Fund - Herts Sports Partnership (sportinherts.org.uk)
Men's Mental Health Awareness Survey
Can we please ask for your help in completing a short survey on men's mental health?
This survey forms part of the `Hertfordshire and West Essex Men’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Project. It aims to help identify men’s awareness of their mental health difficulties, where they can seek help and support and what would help or prevent them from doing that.
It is important that the experiences of men from all backgrounds is taken account of in development of future services. This survey gives you the chance to give voice to your experience. If you would like to contribute further and tell us more of your experiences or suggestions not covered by this survey, please email: Adam.Solomon@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
The information you provide will be treated in strictest confidence and none of your personal information will be shared with any other organisations or used to identify you personally based on the views you have shared.
Complete the survey here
The closing date for responding to this survey is 3rd March 2023.
Fostering Friendly Employer and Fostering Information Evening
Fostering Friendly Employer and Fostering Information Evening
We are pleased to announce that Hertfordshire County Council has been recognised as a Fostering Friendly employer. To gain accreditation, we have implemented policies that provide practical support to employees who foster, and guidance to those who wish to become or are already approved foster carers including an additional 5 days annual leave. For more information email Fosteringfriendlyemployer@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Members of staff and the public can also attend our next upcoming Fostering Recruitment Evening. Ask any questions you have about fostering at our in-person information evening, which gives anyone interested in fostering the opportunity to speak to our recruitment team. You can also hear from local foster carers. The event takes place on Tuesday 7 March from 7pm – 8.30pm at The Grove, Watford, WD3 4TG. Visit our website to book a place or call the recruitment team on 0800 917 0925
Positive body image campaign ‘Real Bodies in Herts’ has been launched by Just Talk
The Just Talk Network is working with Hertfordshire young people to celebrate the fact that we all have different bodies. They have recently launched the ‘Real Bodies in Herts’ campaign. This county-wide positive body image campaign will feature real young people from Hertfordshire speaking about their own views and experiences around body image.
Through the promotion of self-help tools and positive affirmations, the campaign will inspire young people to build skills and confidence to celebrate their own unique qualities as individuals. ‘Real Bodies in Herts’ will provide information and advice to help young people develop healthier, more positive attitudes towards the way they look. The campaign will also ensure that young people know where to go to find advice and support with their body image concerns, including access to a free body image helpline hosted by First Steps ED (08081 962228).
In addition, parents/carers will be able to sign up to a FREE webinar, delivered by Watford FC CSE Trust on 1 March (1-2pm and 6-7pm) to provide body image information, top tips, and useful guidance to help support young people. Places can be booked via the Just Talk website.
Just Talk is asking all professionals who work with young people/families to help promote this celebratory campaign through their channels. Resources will be available at www.justtalkherts.org/realbodies and shared across the @JustTalkHerts Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.
Visit the Just Talk website for regular updates on the campaign, and please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions: justtalk@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Headway : Support for children after brain injury
We are contacting you regarding a new Pilot Scheme that we are introducing across Hertfordshire in partnership with Headway Hertfordshire who are a member of the UK-wide charity that works to improve life after brain injury by providing vital support and information services to both those that have sustained the injury, their partners and families. Through the outstanding work that Headway Hertfordshire do, they have highlighted the implications that a brain injury can have for the whole family and the impact that this can have on children. From working together, we have identified that there appears to be limited support available to the children of those that have suffered a brain injury and little understanding around how the impact on these children can manifest in many different ways.
We are therefore asking you to consider and identify any children within your setting, who are living with a parent that has suffered a brain injury, be that from accidental injury, stroke or tumour, to contact Headway Hertfordshire or the Supporting Families Practice Team to highlight these children and their families for consideration of additional support. We would like to be able to offer a case discussion with you about the child and their family to identify if support can be implemented through Headway Hertfordshire or with support from Early Help Services to ensure that the whole family needs are considered and addressed to help them through such a difficult transition.
Please do take time to consider the information attached to this email and how you may be able to help a family receive much needed support. We will be happy to discuss any children and families that you may identify and work with you to provide them with support and services that can help.
You can find out more about Headway Hertfordshire on the website or make contact here: enquiries@headway-herts.org.uk
Or you can contact your District Senior Families First Coordinator who will further be able to support you.
Download the Headway Leaflet : Front / Back
HFL Education to host National Race Equity Conference: Time to Act
HFL Education will host their first National Race Equity Conference on Wednesday 15th March. Entitled “Time to Act”, school leaders, staff, EDI leads, governors and trustees keen to address racial inequity in their schools and settings will hear from nationally renowned speakers who will offer guidance, support and strategies to help create real change.
HFL Education is committed to promoting anti racism and race equity in the schools, settings and trusts with which we work. As a company, we recognise that:
- systemic race inequity exists in education, as well as society: in the progress and outcomes of learners from different ethnic groups, in the over-representation of certain groups in exclusions data, in the under-representation of people of colour in the curriculum and in books and resources in schools and settings.
- around 84% of educators in schools and settings are White, whilst a third of our pupils are children of colour.
- teachers have often not received any training on race equity.
The full programme can be viewed here and this one-day cross phase online event will include:
Keynote speakers
- Professor David Olusoga OBE, British-Nigerian Historian, BAFTA award winning producer, film maker and TV presenter and Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester. Author of ‘Black and British’.
- Reni Eddo Lodge, journalist podcaster and award-winning author of ‘Why I Am No Longer Talking To White People About Race’.
- Jeffrey Boakye, Educator, writer and broadcaster. Author of ‘’Black, Listed’, ‘I heard what you said’, ‘Hold Tight’ and ‘Musical Truth’.
- panel discussions and reflections on the presentations
- phase specific interactive workshops led by a range of national and local race equity leaders, considering
- how to diversify your Early Years / primary / secondary curriculum
- creating safe spaces to talk about race
- adopting a racially literate approach to behaviour
- supporting wellbeing of ethnically diverse students
- addressing the school exclusion problem
- recruiting and retaining staff of colour
- Practical advice and strategies from schools who are acting to improve race equity and anti-racism
- Opportunities to collaborate and build networks.
Rachel Macfarlane, Director of Education, HFL Education said: “This conference will help schools and settings across the country identify how to take meaningful action on race equity and anti-racism, within their wider equalities agenda.”
Online and with access to recordings for a further 28 days
We are holding this event online to enable delegates to attend this high quality CPD without the need to travel. This also enables us to give participants unlimited access to the recordings of all the sessions for a further 28 days after the live event on demand.
The HFL Education 2023 National Race Equity Conference: Time to Act
How to take meaningful action to achieve race equity in your school.
Wednesday 15th March 2023
To find out more and book, please visit hfleducation.org/events/2023-national-race-equity-conference-time-act
HFL Education – who are we?
HFL Education is a leading national provider of school improvement and business support services, training, and resources, which enable schools, educational settings and multi-academy trusts to deliver a great education. We support those we work with to achieve successful long-term outcomes for their children. We believe that every young person, through access to a great education, should be able to realise their potential, regardless of where they live, their background or circumstances.
Learn more about at: hfleducation.org
News from Services for Young People, February 2023
This month we’re featuring five examples of how Services for Young People works with schools and other organisations to make a difference to young people’s lives. Click on the links to read the full stories.
Youth Workers from the Services for Young People (SfYP) Hertsmere Team have been supporting the Hertswood Friday Night Project at Hertswood Academy in Borehamwood over the last two months. The young people have been keen to engage with the Youth Workers about issues such as sexual health and healthy relationships.
The Explore More! programme has been designed to raise aspirations, build confidence, break down barriers to success and encourage students to plan their future career paths.
The students meet with a dedicated SfYP Personal Adviser and can also receive additional support from an SfYP Youth Worker. A bespoke package of activities is designed for them that develops the skills and knowledge they need to make realistic and informed decisions about their future.
Young people at a new Services for Young People project are helping to spread the word about the NSPCC ‘Neglect Matters’ campaign. The SfYP NSPCC Neglect Matters Partnership Project is part of a series of countywide events and activities to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of neglect and highlight the support available if someone is worried about a child or young person.
Reducing young people’s attendance at emergency departments
Services for Young People (SfYP) Hospital Youth Workers work closely with the NHS to support young people in hospital and other healthcare settings in Hertfordshire. In 2022 the Hospital Youth Work Team supported 914 young people attending Lister and Watford Hospitals with their social and emotional wellbeing.
Parental Survey – Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership
Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership have asked if you can promote this survey with the families you work with:-
Are you a new parent/have young children? Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership would like your feedback on Safer Sleeping advice given by professionals. All new parents are given Safer Sleeping advice by professionals both in pregnancy and in the first few weeks and months of their baby’s life. This feedback can help us to improve the support and advice given and ensure that all new parents feel supported and educated in relation to safe sleeping. Your responses to the survey are anonymous.
The survey closes on Friday 24 March 2023.
Survey link: https://surveys.hertfordshire.gov.uk/s/safesleep/
Thank you!
Update for Professionals on the Targeted Parenting Courses 2023/24
We are pleased to inform you all that the Targeted Parenting Recommissioning has been successfully completed and we will be working with ADD-vance, SPACE, Families in Focus, Family Lives, Supporting Links and Families Feeling Safe to deliver targeted parenting courses on behalf of HCC to accommodate the following areas: SEN, Practical Parenting, Pre-teens/ Teens, DADS, Protective Behaviours, Autism and ADHD Workshops and Webinars. There will be a mixture of targeted and universal courses that families within Hertfordshire will be able to access.
This year families will be able to access a variety of workshops and webinars through some of the providers which will be an added benefit to the offer of the support for families across Hertfordshire.
Webinars is a new offer and will be developed further with Hertfordshire Development and Commissioning Officers working in partnership with providers and when this available further information will be shared across teams.
The targeted parenting courses and workshops on offer are commissioned to meet the demands according to the rising needs for families. We want to encourage you and your teams to make use of this valuable resource for families as we continue to work together to improve resident’s lives within Hertfordshire.
Further updates will follow next month