The latest news
Hertfordshire’s Families First Partnership Programme
Building on the back of numerous reviews and policy documents, outlining the need for change, central government issued the guidelines in March 2025 for reforms to children’s social care that it requires all local authorities to make. The Families First Partnership Programme aims to transform family support systems by emphasising early intervention to prevent crises and ensuring that every family can access the right help when needed.
Since these were issued, we have been working in partnership across Hertfordshire to co-design a system which incorporates the changes required of us. In Hertfordshire, this means merging our successful multi-agency working approach across our targeted early help and family safeguarding partnerships, encompassing assessment and specialist adolescent responses. A workforce transformation programme is in place to enable the delivery of seamless community-based support for families across four geographical areas.
We have real strength in our partnership and multi-agency approaches in family safeguarding and early help, giving us firm foundations in Hertfordshire to build upon. Throughout the process of redesign, we are working closely with partners and engaging with as many organisations and individuals as possible to reshape our services to meet the needs of families in Hertfordshire.
The first phase of this programme is complete, with leadership teams from our Children and Families’ directorate, in our Children’s Services department, moving into their new locality areas (North, East, South and West) from Monday 2 February 2026. After years of developing our Hertfordshire Families First supporting families collaboration, Karen Dorney will hand over the role of Head of Service for Families First to Jason Beaumont.
If you have any questions about what this means for you or a specific activity you are involved in, please talk to the colleague who you are working with now and they’ll be able to advise you of the relevant transition information. To report concerns about a child or request support there is no change: Report concerns about a child or request support | Hertfordshire County Council
The wider Children’s Services workforce consultations will take place in 2026 and will be planned when incoming Director of Children and Families Janet Jones has had the opportunity to appraise and lead the transformation.
Changes to the Family Help estate will be in place as each locality area stands up their community-based delivery. Programme support roles are under review to align with revised rollout plans and available funding.
Subject Matter Experts are working collaboratively in the multi-agency programme team and lead communication, engagement and consultation with their own agency colleagues and contributing to the programmes decision-making about new models and ways to working which help and protect children. The four agencies were identified by the Department for Education guidance and are:
Education and Schools – Sharon Coubray, Hertfordshire Education - Sharon.Coubray@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Police – DCI Pete Howlett-Bolton, Hertfordshire Constabulary - peter.howlett-bolton@herts.police.uk
Health – Chris Harvey and Jen Sarsby, Hertfordshire and West Essex (Central East from April 2026) Integrated Care Board - chris.harvey2@nhs.net and jen.sarsby1@nhs.net
Children’s Social Care – Jennifer Weeks, Hertfordshire Children’s Services - Jennifer.Weeks@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Announcing the new HertsHub!
Your one-stop hub for mental health advice, self-help tools, and services for children and young people!
We’re thrilled to announce that the CYPMHS HertsHub has launched! Co-produced with young people, parents, carers, and professionals, this new platform will make it quicker and easier to find the right support for children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing in Hertfordshire.
From building healthy daily habits to getting help early, HertsHub aims to empower young people and families to take charge of their emotional wellbeing - because feeling good matters!
With information and signposting to a wide range of free services, the site brings everything together in one place: self-help resources, early help support options, more specialist services and contacts for help in a crisis.
Whether you’re a young person, parent, carer, or professional, the CYPMHS HertsHub will help you find the right help at the right time.
Explore now: www.hertshub.co.uk
Please send your feedback and/or suggestions for improvements via the website or to: lisa.gazeley@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Help raise awareness of HertsHub
A communications toolkit with social media posts, images, newsletter text, printable posters and a PowerPoint slide will be cascaded to Hertfordshire's communications colleagues working in health, social care, education, VCSEs and other sectors this month (December), so that we can work together to raise awareness of the new website as a system. If you would like to be added to the distribution list for this and/or for other Herts CYPMHS key monthly messages, please E: lisa.gazeley@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
Please also like/share @JustTalkHerts social media posts about the new CYPMHS HertsHub going out from 15 December onwards via your organisation's social media channels using the links below:
Thanks for your support!
Healthy Homes for Healthier Lives Booklet and Training
To support professionals in assessing the severity of poor housing conditions, including damp and mould, and making timely referrals, we have developed a new Healthy Homes for Healthier Lives booklet.
The most up-to-date version of this booklet is available on our Healthy Homes webpage. This replaces the previous Damp and Mould in the Home booklet.
A reminder that there is still availability on our Healthy Homes for Healthier Lives training sessions. For more information or to book, please visit Public Health Training.
Introducing Dignify Workshops for schools
Dignify Workshops: Equipping Students and their Parents to Thrive in Healthy Relationships
As children prepare to transition to secondary schools and gain access to technology such as smartphones, the risk of unhealthy relationships, both online and in person, increases.
Dignify’s research involving 7,748 students, as featured on Good Morning Britain, revealed the average age children first view porn is 12 years old, with a third of these first viewing porn at Primary School age. This is often leading to harmful sexual behaviours. The latest RSE guidance has highlighted the need for such topics to be addressed at an earlier age.
One YMCA’s Dignify Project exists to help Primary schools meet this challenge head-on. Our experience shows that early intervention along with a whole-community approach is critical, and we have designed age-appropriate workshops for those in Years 5 and 6 along with their families.
What do our workshops involve?
- Informative introduction for parents/carers, helping them to be digitally aware and confident in supporting their children
- Engaging Family Workshops where parents and their children in Years 5 and 6 can co-create a family approach to digital activity.
Why Partner with One YMCA’s Dignify Project?
- Gain insight from our national research into student’s experience of sexual harassment and online harms, and how to address this
- Involve parents to increase the impact of your online safety curriculum, and in line with the latest RSE and OFSTED guidance
- Grow student engagement through our highly experienced team who can tackle questions that staff may find trickier to answer
- We have been trusted by over 30 local schools, with incredibly positive feedback from parents, teachers, and students.
- Discounted price of £300 for combined parent and family workshops
Email education@dignify.org to explore how our workshops could support your students to thrive in healthy relationships.
You may also be interested in a feature Dignify had on Sky News on 2nd January, How Britain's children are being exposed and becoming addicted to porn | UK News | Sky News
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
Rucksack - Early Years Autism Programme for Families
This course is designed specifically for parents/carers of autistic children or children on the autism pathway. It aims to provide the essential knowledge, practical strategies and valuable resources to support both parent/carer and child in navigating everyday life.
Registration form
Contact: EarlyYearsTraining@hertfordshire.gov.uk to find out more
The Neurodiversity Support Hub Advice Line
The Neurodiversity Support Hub run by ADD-vance offers support, signposting and guidance on a whole range of issues relating to Neurodiversity (including ADHD and Autism). The Hub is for parents, carers and professionals across Hertfordshire. Phonelines, emails and messages are answered by a team of specially trained call handlers who are also experts by experience as parents and carers of neurodivergent children and young people. Your child doesn't need a diagnosis for you to use this service.
The Support Hub will:
- Listen to your situation and offer you strategies, signposting and support tailored to your individual circumstances
- Help you to support your child’s development and understand their different way of thinking
- Be a non-judgemental listening ear when you need it
The hub team can help with questions relating to ADHD and Autism, anxiety, distressed behaviours, school, anger, sleep, where to find resources and much more.
The Support Hub is available to help with questions about a child's neurodiversity (age 0 - 25) with or without a diagnosis. You can call if you are a parent, grandparent, other family member, professional or friend.
Download the leaflet here
Further information on all Neurodiversity support can be found on the Local Offer: Neurodiversity Support
News from Services for Young People
Free February half term activities at Hudnall Park for young people with SEND
During the February 2026 half term holidays Services for Young People (SfYP) is offering free outdoor activities for young people aged 13-19 with SEND, including those with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.
The activities are designed to inspire and empower young people while developing their social, emotional and physical skills in a safe and supportive environment. Young people can learn archery and compete in fun games, work as a team to complete the low ropes or challenge course, enjoy the thrill of the high-level zip line and explore nature in the beautiful woodlands.
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.
Every child deserves the best start in life
Did you know? Breastfeeding not only boosts the health of babies and mothers but also reduces risks of heart disease, obesity, infections, and certain cancers.
Breastfeeding has amazing benefits for both babies and mums, and the World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continuing alongside other foods for up to 2 years or more. If you or someone you know is nervous breastfeeding out and about, see what these Hertfordshire mums have to say on this short film www.Hertfordshire.gov.uk/BFHertsOutandAbout
Join Hertfordshire's Breastfeeding Friendly Scheme
If you are a business – have you joined the Breastfeeding Friendly Scheme?
It is free to join and by evidencing that you welcome breastfeeding at your business, you empower mothers to confidently be out and about. You’ll receive free resources to display, a Certification of Participation and your business listed on the Breastfeeding Friendly Hertfordshire map.
Plus, displaying a breastfeeding-friendly sticker can attract more customers.
Sign up today at Hertfordshire Breastfeeding Friendly scheme and help make a difference!
You can learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding (nhs.uk)
Credit Union is celebrating three decades of helping local people
Stevenage Credit Union is celebrating three decades of helping local people save, borrow and support one another. Founded in 1995 by a small group of residents, the Credit Union was created to offer a fair and friendly alternative to high-cost lenders.
Thirty years on, it remains true to its founding values of fairness, honesty and putting people before profit. The Credit Union ’s journey from its modest beginnings to becoming a trusted part of community life. Over the years, it has helped thousands of members save safely, borrow affordably and find financial stability through difficult times.
Stevenage Credit Union is part of a worldwide movement a cooperative not for profit organisation running an ethical service for the people of Stevenage and North Hertfordshire. Credit Unions keep money within the community because there are no outside shareholders to pay. When members invest in their local community, they know that the only people are benefiting from apart from themselves are their neighbours' colleagues and local business.
We offer low-cost loans at fair and reasonable loan interest rates; it helps spread the cost and encourages you to save. You can get loans for household, Christmas. Home improvements, or budgeting for expensive times of the year. Members can also set up saving accounts, for Christmas, special occasions, or anything you want to.
In these difficult financial times we are living through, it’s important that people in need of seeking financial assistance don’t fall into the trap of taking out loans with high-cost lenders. Stevenage Credit Union can play its part in helping to support people by providing accessible lower cost loans. Stevenage Credit Union operates a fully accessible on-line service for members who want to join, apply for loans and request share transfers.
You can join if you live or work in Hertfordshire.
If you would like to find out more or join the Stevenage Credit Union, please see below:
Website: www.stevenagecreditunion.com
Telephone: 07895 327 826
Email: mail@stevenagecreditunion.com
Or come and visit us at 11 the Hyde, Stevenage, SG2 9SD
Opening hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday.9.00 to 12.00 pm
Download the leaflet
Family Centre: Spring Partnership Network Meeting dates
In addition to our own Families First Partnership meetings, the Family Centres also hold termly networking meetings with their partners. These meetings are a great opportunity to find out updates from the Family Centre Service as well as sharing updates from your service and networking with other professionals. Please find below the date and location of the next Hertfordshire Family Centre Service Partnership Network Meetings in your area.
St Albans & Hertsmere
Tuesday 10th February 2026, 13:30 – 15:00
The BECC Family Centre, Borehamwood, WD6 2FD
East Herts
Tuesday 10th February 2026, 13:30 – 15:30
Selections Family Centre, Hertford, SG14 2DG
Welwyn Hatfield
Wednesday 18th February 2026, 13:00 – 15:00
De Havilland Family Centre, Hatfield, AL10 8TQ
Dacorum
Tuesday 24th February 2026, 10:00 – 11:30
South Hill Centre, Cemetery Hill, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1JF
Stevenage
Tuesday 24th February 2026, 12:30 – 13:30
Bridge Road Family Centre, Stevenage, SG1 2NU
St Albans & Hertsmere
Wednesday 25th February 2026, 10:30 – 12:00
Sopwell Family Centre, St Albans, AL1 2LE
Watford & Three Rivers
Wednesday 25th February 2026, 12:30 – 14:00
Westfield & Littlebury Family Centre, WD18 6NS
Domestic Abuse Resource Pack for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities
GATE Herts, a leading Gypsy, Roma and Traveller empowerment charity, have proudly launched a groundbreaking Domestic Abuse Resource Pack. Developed in close collaboration with community members, Safer Places, Gypsy Media Company, and other specialist domestic abuse services, this pack is designed to provide vital support for Gypsy and Traveller victim/survivors and the professionals who work alongside them.
The launch took place at the Houses of Parliament, it was hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsy, Travellers and Roma and chaired by Mary Kelly Foy MP, who is the chair of the APPG for Gypsies Travellers and Roma, alongside Apsana Begum MP, Chair of the APPG for Domestic Violence and Abuse. This important initiative was made possible through funding from Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Community Foundation.
What’s inside the pack?
- Three practical guides offering clear, culturally informed advice for victim/survivors and frontline professionals.
- Two powerful new videos:
- Road to Refuge – a walkthrough of a self-contained refuge designed with Gypsy and Traveller families in mind, helping to dispel fears and misconceptions about what refuge looks like.
- Domestic Abuse Explained: Voices from Gypsy & Traveller Communities – sharing real experiences and clear information to support understanding and safety
📺 Watch the videos: https://www.youtube.com/@gateherts5418
📄 Access the guides: gateherts.org.uk/resources
Public Health at Hertfordshire County Council continue to work in partnership with GATE Herts on initiatives like this, driving forward improvements in wellbeing and health outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
Guidance for supporting young people on issues related to relationships and sexual health:
This resource is for anyone working with young people in Hertfordshire and provides practical advice, information, and links to both local services and national resources, laying the foundations for good knowledge and attitudes towards positive sexual health and healthy relationships.
It covers key topics, including:
- Safeguarding
- Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE / RSE)
- The Law and Sexual Consent
- Providing Sexual Health Information and Advice
- Harmful Sexual Behaviour and Exploitation
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- Local Services
- Contraception
- Pregnancy
- Inclusive Health
You can access the guidance here: RSHE Guidance
The guidance aligns with the national RSHE curriculum (2025) to support its delivery and ensure young people are aware of local support and services. Even if you are not working in an educational setting, we encourage you to adopt the same principles and approaches outlined in the RSHE guidance when supporting young people.
Ubunto referral pathway for Families First
Barnardo’s Ubuntu Project, funded by The National Lottery UK Fund, operates across Hertfordshire, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. We 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.
Below is the link to the main web page and link / QR code for the referral page:
www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/services/ubuntu
Ubuntu enquiry form (online form)