The latest news
Hertfordshire’s Families First Partnership Programme update
The Families First Partnership Programme has welcomed a new project sponsor at Hertfordshire County Council, as Janet Jones has been appointed as the new Director of Children and Families, with a with a remit to oversee the delivery of the national children’s social care reforms in Hertfordshire, in addition to leading the council’s services which work to keep children safe and support families to stay together.
One of Janet’s primary tasks on coming into the role has been to appraise the delivery model being put forward to implement the national reforms in Hertfordshire. “This programme presents a once in a generation opportunity to strengthen how we work together to support children and families,” Janet reflects. “Great progress has been made already within the programme, under complex and shifting circumstances, that has laid strong foundations to build upon. I’m looking forward to working closely with partners over the coming year to deliver a sustainable model of seamless support for Hertfordshire’s families.
As part of the appraisal process, Janet has been taking time to understand the detail of the programme’s development and the modelling underpinning the arrangements for the Multi-Agency Child Protection teams and transfer points for children.
Our programme Subject Matter Experts are currently working to map out details around how to deliver on the multi-agency element of the social care reforms. Subject Matter Experts are organisational leads from health, education, children’s social care and police who work collaboratively in the multi-agency programme team. Their role is to co-design local children’s social care and safeguarding arrangements to reflect the national reform requirements, feeding in views, perspectives and ideas in and from their professional communities.
This involves leading communication, engagement and consultation with their own agency colleagues, and contributing to the programme’s decision-making about new models and ways to working which help and protect children. The SMES are:
For more information about the Families First Partnership Programme, contact your organisational SME.
New Step by Step Videos to Support Contact Submissions to Children’s Services
As part of our work this year in the Gateway, we have developed a new set of short instructional videos to support partner agencies when submitting contacts to Children’s Services.
I’m delighted to share that these videos are now live on our council website. They provide simple, step‑by‑step guidance and are designed to make the submission process clearer, quicker, and easier.
You can find the videos here
New eating and body image difficulties awareness campaign
Encourage young people and families to get help for eating and body image difficulties early.
With the help of Hertfordshire’s young people and healthcare professionals, Herts Children and Young People’ Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) system is on a mission to bust the myths and encourage the county’s young people to ask for help with eating and body image difficulties as soon as they notice any change.
Hertfordshire launched the new CYPMHS HertsHub website at the end of last year (2025). It has a dedicated section for eating and body image difficulties.
Links to local and national psycho-education and other useful resources and quizzes
The Be Body Positive website is an initiative from the NHS using interactive online modules aiming to support young people in developing a positive relationship with food and their bodies and addressing any difficulties related to eating and body image. The site has useful sections and modules for parents, carers and professionals too.
Animations about Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Short films to help with understanding the signs and symptoms of ARFID and where to go for advice and help for children and young people in Hertfordshire who are struggling with what they are able to eat.
Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner Service: spring programme
The spring programme of workshops from Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust's Children's Wellbeing Practitioners is available now.
Teenagers and parents and carers of children aged 5 to 19 can book on to the free online workshops supporting adolescents’ and children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health. Topics include managing anxiety, improving sleep, supporting self-esteem, and building emotional resilience.
The workshops are delivered by Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners and run through to March.
No referral is needed – families can book directly but they must have a child or young person who attends a school or is registered with a GP in Hertfordshire.
Find out more and book at: Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners service page.
Please like and share the information via your organisation's Facebook here.
University of Hertfordshire has invited you to respond to their survey: HSP Partner Survey 2026
Invitation to complete HSP Partner Survey 2026
As a key partner, we value your views and would be grateful if you could please take 10 minutes to provide your feedback on working with Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP) over the past 12 months.
The purpose of this survey is to support HSP with our approach to understand and build upon the strength of our relationships, to seek to achieve shared goals with shared accountability and to demonstrate that we value and act upon your feedback.
The deadline for submission is Friday 27th February 2026.
If you have any issues accessing the survey, please get in touch Chris Samways (c.samways@herts.ac.uk)
Respond to this survey
Ubunto referral pathway for Families First
Barnardo’s Ubuntu Project, funded by The National Lottery UK Fund, operates across Hertfordshire, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. They support communities by connecting voluntary and statutory organisations that support children, young people, and families seeking sanctuary in the UK. We use this term as we support regardless of the path taken to seek protection, including those seeking refuge and those claiming asylum.
Services offer includes:
· Youth Voice Networks
· Young Peoples Wellbeing Support
· Signposting and onward referrals to partners
· Parenting Support - One to One (holistic family support)
· Parenting Groups and Courses
· Antenatal and Perinatal Support
· Family Transitions - Support for families moving in and out of county.
· Practitioner Networks - Peer support and collaboration.
· Community Programme Development Support - sharing information, guides, myth busting sessions.
Download the Leaflet for Practitioners
Download the Leaflet for ParentCarers
Beezee Families, a FREE heathy lifestyle programme
Beezee Families, is a FREE heathy lifestyle programme that their nutritionists deliver across Hertfordshire. The 12-week programme supports families to build healthy habits around food, physical activity, and how to have fun while doing so!
The current programmes are in full swing but you can secure your FREE spot now for April. Places fill up fast so make to book soon! If you can’t wait to get started on your healthy lifestyle journey, you can learn at your own pace over on our Academy. Visit our website for more details
If you have any questions, we’d love to hear from you.
Visit our website for more details
Relationship Support Offer Professionals Survey 2026
In October 2023, we ran a survey to identify gaps in the relationship support offer and to understand any training needs. The survey highlighted the need for mediation services and SEND‑specific courses for parents and carers. It also noted the need for wider promotion of the offer and available training.
Of those who responded (156), 36% had accessed parental conflict training, and 59% felt confident in identifying parents experiencing conflict.
In response, a range of training opportunities was delivered, including access to an i‑learn module, the One Plus One digital intervention training, and bespoke awareness‑raising sessions. Mediation services were commissioned to support referrals from Children’s Services teams, and Family Lives was commissioned to deliver bespoke courses for parents and carers of children with SEND.
We would now like to revisit the survey to understand how well the current offer is meeting needs, identify any remaining gaps, and understand future training requirements to help shape the relationship support offer for 2026–27.
Complete the survey here:- Relationship Support Offer Professionals Survey 2026
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
News from Services for Young People
Services for Young People enables young people to achieve their aspirations
SfYP offers a range of employability programmes which include work experience opportunities to help young people make a successful transition into adulthood. SfYP practitioners work with young people who are not in education, employment or training, giving them all the support they need to fully engage in the programmes and then use the knowledge, skills and confidence they gain to secure paid employment that’s right for them.
In 2025, SfYP worked with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and the sustainable energy and facilities management company Equans, to provide two week-long work experience and training programmes for 11 young people. The practical experience and qualifications they gained enabled them to confidently apply for jobs in the construction industry.
SfYP Supported Internship Project Officer wins national award
SfYP Supported Internship Project Officer, Carly Knowler, won the 2025 British Association of Supported Employment (BASE) Learner of the Year Award. The BASE Supported Employment Awards highlight the best practice taking place across Great Britain to enrich the lives of disabled, neurodivergent and disadvantaged people through high quality employment.
Supported Internships are for young people aged 16-25 with additional needs who want to work but need support to do so. Carly works with parents and young people, professionals who work with young people and employers by hosting Q&A sessions and the SEND Employment Forum, as well as offering one-to-one information, advice and support. She also coordinates the placement of interns at Hertfordshire County Council.
Learning & development
Families First Dates for Your Diary!
There are many ways to stay updated with Families First News, including events, webinars, induction days, and partnership meetings. Discover what’s coming up here
Monthly Families First Keeping in Touch Sessions
These sessions are a short informal update on service news, training offers and parenting courses delivered by one of our service managers. Please email familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov..uk if you would like an invitation to join.
- Thursday 12th March 2026, 9am-9.30am
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Thursday 12 March 2026, 9am-9.30am
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Thursday 9 April 2026, 9am-9.30am
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Thursday 7 May, 2026, 9am-9.30am
Join a Families First Induction day - ideal for new starters
We host Families First online Induction days 4 times per year, where various early help services give a 20 minute whistle-stop tour of their service and are attended by new internal CS staff and external partners. The next dates are:-
- Wednesday 8 July 2026 via Teams
Please email: familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk if you have any questions on the above or would like an invite sent to you.
Families First quarterly district partnership meetings
In addition, many of you are regular attendees at our partnership meetings, which are a great way of keeping up to date with new services, updates and make connections. You can find out more about the groups here and email familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk if you would like to join.
Working Together in Early Help Events
Next round of events will take place in late Spring 2026 - watch this space!
HSCP Learning & Development Programme
HSCP provide a wide variety of learning programmes and workshops across Hertfordshire to develop skills for safeguarding children, young people and adults. We use this page to give you some quick links through to the HSCP learning programmes:-
- Take a look at the HSCP Learning Hubs. You can sign up for sessions via the website. HSAB and HSCP training and resources | Hertfordshire County Council. You can also view useful resources and 7 minute briefings on this link.
- View the HSCP Neglect Hub here:- Neglect Hub | Hertfordshire County Council
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Hertfordshire’s Continuum of Need:
The Continuum of Need is a threshold document that supports everyone working with Hertfordshire’s children, young people and families, to identify the “Level of Need” and the service responses that can be expected. It sets out how we can work together, by placing the child, young person and family at the centre, sharing information, and working with families to help them to find solutions early to prevent their difficulties escalating.
Children's Services Continuum of Need 2025-26
Book Your Free Place for Feb–Mar 2026 on My Baby's Brain training!
Support babies’ brain development by understanding how early relationships and everyday interactions shape their future. This free online training is designed for professionals working with families and children aged 0–3 across universal and targeted services:
🧠 My Baby’s Brain Universal training
Target Audience: Professionals delivering universal early years support.
What You’ll Learn: • Introduction to the Five to Thrive model • How everyday interactions support trauma recovery
🕒 4 March 2026, 9.30am-3:00pm – Virtual via Zoom
🔗 Book Your Place on the Universal training: KCA: Reg form: My Baby's Brain Spring 2026 - Universal Services Workforce
🧠My Baby’s Brain Targeted Training
Target Audience: professionals supporting vulnerable families and children.
What You’ll Learn: • Attachment and developmental trauma • Trauma-informed practice • Practitioner wellbeing
🕒26 February 2026 or 17 March 2026, 9.30am-3:00pm – Virtual via Zoom
🔗 Book Your Place on the Targeted training: KCA: Reg form: My Baby's Brain Spring 2026 Targeted Services Workforce
For queries, contact CSStrategic.Partnerships@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
📢 Please also share this free training opportunity with colleagues & partners.
Money Advice Programme - Winter 2025/6
You can now download and view the Money Advice Unit Training Programme and booking form for WINTER 2025/6.
All the courses are free of charge but please note, we will only accept bookings from organisations in Hertfordshire. Due to demand, we only allow a maximum of two participants from each organisation per course.
If you want to book for more than one person, please complete a separate booking form for each person.
Once you return the completed booking form(s) to us, the attendees will receive a booking confirmation email within 5 working days. Please check your junk folder as sometimes our emails go to the junk folder straight away.
Workforce Shadowing
The vision for Families First training and development is to create a skilled, confident and resilient multi-agency workforce that supports whole family working.
Workforce shadowing provides a great opportunity to find out more about other services, what they do and how they might be able to support you in your work. It also enhances communication across agencies and helps strengthen and develop professional relationships, building local networks.
If you would like to organise a workforce shadowing placement for either yourself or a team member please complete the form on this page stating the service you would like to shadow and the preferred district and we will match you to a shadowing opportunity.
The following services have offered to host shadowing opportunities in either in person or virtually:-
- Citizens Advice (Broxbourne/St Albans/North Herts)
- Childcare provision
- CGL (drug & alcohol support)
- District Council, ASB Team, Three Rivers
- District Council, Housing Support, Broxbourne
- Domestic Abuse Support
- DSPL (Delivering Special Provision Locally) - All areas
- Families First Panels Team
- Family Support Service, Family Centre
- Herts Mind Network
- Herts Sports Partnership
- Home-Start (Watford & Three Rivers)
- MIND in Mid Herts
- ASB Team, District Council, Three Rivers
- Housing Support, District Council
- Intensive Family Support Team (IFST)
- Local School Partnerships
- Police
- Public Health Nursing
- Re-Intergration, Virtual School
- Schools Early Years Provision
- Specialist Adolescent Services Hertfordshire (SASH)
- Services for Young People
- Supporting Families Practice Team
Additionally, if you would like to add your service to the above list, again please email us with your contact details, service and district.
Familesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Please take a look at the page, bookmark and share with teams, where appropriate.
Workforce development (hertfordshire.gov.uk)
My Baby’s Brain Targeted Training
Children’s Services Strategic Partnership have a limited number of final spaces available for the upcoming My Baby’s Brain Targeted training session taking place:
Thursday 26th February 2026 9:30am–3:00pm (Via Zoom)
Free for professionals working with families and children aged 0–3
This interactive training explores how early relationships shape brain development, with a strong focus on secure attachment and trauma‑informed practice.
You’ll Learn:
- Attachment and developmental trauma
- Trauma-informed practice
- Practitioner wellbeing
Book your place at: KCA: Reg form: My Baby's Brain Spring 2026 Targeted Services Workforce
If you have any queries, contact: CSStrategic.Partnerships@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Suicide Bereavement Training Course Offer
Public Health are offering funded places on a Hertfordshire Suicide Bereavement Training Course.
When and Where: There are five online sessions available between 19 February and 16 March. Each session lasts four hours.
Why: We are keen to ensure staff and volunteers on the frontline feel supported, confident, and equipped to manage this highly sensitive and challenging area of work.
Who for: Please do share this opportunity with your teams/partners as appropriate and encourage staff/volunteers to book as soon as possible to secure a place.
Booking: Public Health Training | Hertfordshire County Council
Healthy Homes for Heathier Lives
Free training sessions for professionals working with individuals whose health may be affected by poor-quality housing.
This session aims to strengthen learners’ knowledge, understanding, and awareness of what makes a home healthy and why this is essential for both physical and mental wellbeing.
Spaces available on : 3rd March at 10:00am
Please book a place via the Public Health Training webpage
Public Health Training | Hertfordshire County Council
Difference we're making
Families First - Performance Data Report
You may be interested to view our Families First Performance Data report for the period October 2024 - September 2025.
The report looks at Families First Assessments that took place within the period and highlights the presenting needs and outcomes broken down by district along with information about other support for families.
Families First Case Studies
Following on from a programme of Celebrating Excellence in Early Help sessions run in Children’s Services, which aimed to highlight the Families First approach and also included contributions from some of our partners, we are sharing some of the recent case below:
Case Study 1 - Intensive Family Support / Local Borough Council
Scene Setting
The Intensive Family Support team (IFST) began supporting this family of nine in Spring 2021.
As support got underway the third youngest child Tia* was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and the family are struggling coming to terms with Tia’s diagnosis and her life expectancy of one year. Tia is 11 years old.
On learning of Tia’s prognosis and following discussion with Keech Hospice an Occupational Therapist (OT) appointment was arranged for the family’s home. This assessment identified that the three-bedroom home was not suitable for end-of-life care and was not suitable for adaptation as the access was too narrow and steep for a ramp.
The Family Intervention Worker (FIW) made contact with the local Borough Council’s Aids and Adaptions Team for support.
READ MORE
Case Study 2 - Families First Assessment
Scene Setting
This case study provides some insight into the journey of Fran* and her family. Fran is an eight year old girl who worries about her mum, she knows mum is different when she is with her drinking friends. Fran’s Mum has a diagnosis of unstable personality disorder and has previously used drugs and alcohol as coping strategies, she has been in a cycle of poor mental health and whilst their wider family network have been supporting Fran and her mother they sought out some external support via a Families First Assessment.
READ MORE
Case Study 3 - Employment Adviser/IFST
Scene Setting:
This case study provides some insight into the support provided to Sanz* from one of our Employment Advisers. Our Intensive Family Support Teams include Employment Advisers who provide tailored support in areas such as employability; taking time to understand skills and experiences, any barriers or challenges preventing employment, identification of any training to support employability, preparation of supporting statements and CVs and job search support, including mock interviews.
Our Advisers can also provide guidance on how to navigate the benefits system, including benefit entitlements and claims, as well as how changes in circumstances impact benefits.
They work in parallel with Family Intervention Workers. This case study summarises support given to Sanz, the mother, to support with employability and benefits.
READ MORE
Case Study 4 - Local Schools Partnership
Case Study 5
This case study follows a mum who suffers from depression and anxiety. She was distrusting of professionals due to a negative experience with Children's Services in another local authority. Dad had recently moved out of the family home so she cares for her three children alone. Read more about the support the family received and the tools mum now takes forward in her parenting skills.
READ MORE
Please share anonymised case studies highlighting how early help and partnership working has provided support to local families with us at familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk. Please ensure you have consent from the family.