The latest news
Working together in Early Help
Our ‘Working Together in Early Help’ learning events for people working with children, young people, parents and families took place in May. We had over 100 frontline workers from HCC and other organisations in attendance. It was great to be back holding events in person and a fantastic opportunity to hear all about Early Help in Hertfordshire.
We would like to say a big thank you to the following services who took part:
- Intensive Family Support Team
- Local School Partnerships
- For Baby’s Sake
- Family Support Services
- School Nursing
- Health Visiting Service
- Safer Places
- Citizens Advice
We will be holding more events later in the year, so please get in touch with the Families First Development team if your service would like to be involved - familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Your input is needed!
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) has recently updated the Early Help System Guide (EHSG) to help local areas with their self-assessment to support the refresh of their early help strategies and their future plans for early help. All upper tier local authorities in England are required to work with their partners to complete the EHSG by 1 July to inform future plans alongside the revised Supporting Families framework.
To aid local areas in this process they have provided a template with a set of questions that need to be given consideration. The framework has been designed through consultation with local authorities and other partners. The DLUHC requires each area to provide a summary of its responses; however, the results of the assessment will be used locally to enable the further development of early help in Hertfordshire.
To help us with this assessment, we would be grateful if you could consider the questions in the below survey:
The information you provide us with will be analysed and used by the Families First programme Board to assess our three key priorities for the next 12 months. This is an opportunity for you to influence our future direction.
The survey will remain live until 13th June 2022.
We would like to thank you in advance for supporting this work.
Help to manage the cost of living
You may find this page useful when supporting families, it contains good resources which offer advice and practical help to manage finances and make savings and tips in managing the cost of living increases:-
Hertfordshire County Council | Help to manage the cost of living
Remember we also have a free online Universal Credit course available at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits
Also if families are struggling, they can get in touch with HertsHelp - trained friendly advisors are on hand to offer confidential assistance and can put you in touch with helpful services and support locally - call 0300 123 4044, email info@hertshelp.net or visit www.hertshelp.net
Building Life Chances Grant - deadline approaching
Building Life Chances is a multi-agency programme addressing the impact of Covid-19 on those Hertfordshire residents already vulnerable, whose life chances have worsened during the pandemic.
They are offering Grants of up to £5,000 to Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) groups that work with or support vulnerable adults who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID Pandemic. This is for groups working with the following groups:
- ethnic minorities including BAME, Gypsy & traveller communities and other groups
- harder to reach vulnerable adults with sensory or neurodiverse needs
- people with limited eligibility for public support such as refugees and asylum seekers.
The deadline is midnight on Monday 13th June 2022
Further details and application form can be found at https://www.hertscf.org.uk/blc
Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson: National review
The national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published its review into the tragic deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson.
We have provided a link to the report here: National review into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The report makes a number of local and national recommendations. It also contains a set of important practice issues that all Safeguarding Partners need to consider and assure themselves that they are being dealt with effectively in their local area. These are:
- Robust multi-agency strategy discussions are always being held whenever it is suspected a child may be at risk of suffering significant harm.
- Sufficient resources are in place from across all agencies to allow for the necessary multi-agency engagement in child protection processes e.g., strategy discussions, section 47 enquiries, Initial Child Protection Conferences.
- There are robust information sharing arrangements and protocols in place across the Partnership.
- Referrals are not deemed malicious without a full and thorough multi-agency assessment, including talking with the referrer, and agreement with the appropriate manager. Indeed, the Panel believes that the use of such language has many attendant risks and would therefore discourage its usage as a professional conclusion.
The Panel is organising three webinars to help disseminate learning and key messages from the national review.
The first of these webinars is for multi-agency safeguarding partners in local authorities, the police and health who are working at a senior-level and have accountability for child safeguarding. It is taking place on Weds 29th June, 2pm to 3pm. Please register your interest by using the link here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/webinar-for-multi-agency-safeguarding-partners-tickets-349596481487
The other two webinars will be for business managers and frontline practitioners respectively. Further details on each of these events will be shared in due course and we would appreciate it if you could cascade them to your networks.
Places for the webinars are limited in order to facilitate meaningful discussion, so please limit the number of representatives from your local area to ensure there is a balance across the statutory partners and across England.
De-normalising pornography
Dignify is working to help de-normalise the narrative that pornography is presenting to children and young people to help them thrive in healthy relationships. The challenge young people are facing is immense – and we are working to find fresh ways to help them. One way we can help young people is to empower their parents. So, with this in mind we have created a pilot series of podcasts for parents to help them in raising digitally resilient humans.
It is a pilot series and we’re keen to get some feedback to help us shape resources that are really helpful. More information can be found here:- www.dignify.org and Parents (dignify.org)
If you would like to be involved in reviewing the podcasts then please contact helen@dignify.org for more information
How to make the most of your local family centre
Updated leaflets explaining how the Family Centre Service can support professionals are now available online in the Family Centres professionals pages family-support-service-leaflet-for-professionals-2022.pdf (hertsfamilycentres.org)
A comprehensive leaflet outlines:
- what services are available to you and the families you work with
- how to sign up for partnership newsletters
- local telephone numbers for referrals
- available parent courses
and much more . . .
Also available online and printing if required, is the leaflet to find out “What’s on offer for families”
Both leaflets are also available on the Hertfordshire Grid
Or telephone 0300 123 7572 to speak to a family centre member.
Lots happening at Step 2 Skills
Lots of new Step2Skills short courses and workshops launched for Hertfordshire residents this summer, many of which are fully-funded and free to join.
Step2Skills has just added lots of new learning opportunities across the summer months, in the form of 2-hour taster sessions, 1 and 2-day workshops and short courses.
Highlights include:
- How to Write a Business Plan (2 hour taster session) - ONLINE – 20th July at 1pm or 27th July at 10am
- Explore your Sewing Machine (2-day workshop) – Borehamwood – 18th and 21st July at 10am
- Top Tips for Writing a CV (2 hour taster session) – Online on 1st June at 10am or in Stevenage on 27th July at 10am
- Healthy Living Made Easy (2-day workshop) – Online - 28th and 29th July at 10am
- Build Your Skills in Word & Excel (3 sessions of 3 hours) – Online – 12th, 13th and 14th July (£15 fee for this course)
- Tunisian Crochet – An introduction (A 2-day workshop) – Stevenage – 28th and 29th July
- Family Learning summer holiday workshop: Story Sacks – (2-day workshop) – Stevenage - 25th and 26th July
- Family Learning summer holiday workshop: Nailing Numbers – (2-day workshop) – Stevenage – 25th and 26th July
- Family Learning summer holiday workshop: Hertfordshire Hedgehogs – (2-day workshop) – Stevenage – 28th and 29th July
Browse and book Step2Skills short courses, workshops and tasters: Our courses (hertfordshire.gov.uk)
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A Step2Skills Supported Employment job fair is coming to Hoddesdon this July, part-funded by the European Social Fund Inclusive Employment project
Thanks to the European Social Fund, Step2Skills has secured part-funding for an Inclusive Employment project.
It’s an amazing service that can help someone with learning and physical disabilities, mental health conditions, sensory needs and neurodiversity into employment, education or training.
This July, the Supported Employment team will be holding a third Supported Employment job fair at the Spotlight Theatre in Hoddesdon.
Save the date of Friday 1st July in your calendar and we’ll see you there!
In the meantime, if you want to apply to join the Inclusive Employment project, please visit www.step2skills.org.uk/InclusiveEmployment
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Building Better Opportunities – Job support for Ukrainian arrivals – Please share
Please share this with anyone who is housing Ukrainian families in Hertfordshire.
The Building Better Opportunities project from Step2Skills is here for Ukrainian arrivals, thanks to the joint funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund.
The application system is always open for new participants so if you’re unemployed and would love the support of a mentor to help you tackle any barriers and help you back into employment, visit the website to apply or refer someone today.
Herts for Learning 2022 summer term online safety newsletters
HfL 2022 summer term online safety newsletters for school/setting staff and for parents/carers.
The Herts for Learning summer term online safety newsletters for School Staff and the Parents and Carers edition both feature a range of guidance, news, links and updates about online safety for all phases, with particular reference to the current situation, recent developments and concerns. We hope they will prove helpful and informative.
Please feel free to share them with your personal and / or professional networks and to your parent body.
Our newsletter for staff includes reviews and details about:
- Professionals Online Safety Helpline
- Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service
- Just a joke? – Childnet
- Be Internet Legends - Confident Explorers
- Moving on up! - Childnet
- Dove’s Selfie - Self Esteem campaign.
- Dates for your diary, including
- The 2022 Wellbeing Conference - Wednesday 15th June 2022
Building futures: Growing pupil empowerment and agency
Our newsletter for parents and carers includes reviews and details about:
- Talking to your child about online sexual harassment, Children’s Commissioner Guide
- What to do if something goes wrong – Childline
- NSPCC online safety hub
- Helping children cope with media coverage of traumatic events – Parent Zone
- What is ‘Genshin Impact’? – Parent Zone
- Search engines and what you need to know about safer searching – Parentzone
- Setting up parental controls – NSPCC
- What is Yubo? – Parent Zone
For more information, advice and training about online safety across the curriculum and embedding this within a wider whole-school approach to include mental health, positive relationships and safeguarding, please contact the HfL Wellbeing team at wellbeing@hertsforlearning.co.uk or visit Herts for Learning | Online Safety.
The Herts for Learning Early Years National Debate
Following the huge success of our national early years conference in March, the Herts for Learning Early Years team have invited some of the thought-provoking and inspirational speakers to return to lead a discussion on the status of play in the early years.
A convergence of minds about the status of play
- Is play being eroded from early childhood education?
- Is our education system driven by outcomes and taking away the playfulness of learning?
- How can we ensure that play maintains its value in curriculum implementation in the EYFS?
Our speakers will include:
- Tamsin Grimmer, Early Years Consultant
- Greg Bottrill, Author and childhood advocate
- Ben Kingston-Hughes, Managing Director, Inspired Children
- Shaddai Tembo, Lecturer, Doctoral student, writer for Critical Early Years.
Delegates will be able to gain a greater understanding of the key issues around the debate on the importance of learning through play in the EYFS, including practical suggestions and strategies for ensuring every practitioner finds a balance that works for their cohort of children.
“Play is critical because it helps children learn about themselves, the world and each other. It is naïve to think that we will aid children’s development with a focus on a structured approach to teaching alone, so how can you ensure there is a shared understanding about the importance of play as an integral approach to learning?“ Mireille MacRaild, Education Services Director - Early Years, Herts for Learning.
EYFS practitioners, teachers, leaders, and managers wishing to become advocates for play, are invited to join this lively and engaging online session and be part of the convergence of minds.
The Herts for Learning Early Years National Debate
A convergence of minds about the status of play
Friday 10th June 2022 online 1:00pm - 3:00pm.
All sessions will be recorded to allow delegates who are booked on to an event, to watch them for 28 days after the event, if they are unable to participate in some or all of the live event on the day.
Cost: £49 (excl. VAT)
For full details and how to book, please visit, hertsforlearning.co.uk/events/herts-learning-early-years-national-debate
JSNA Briefing: COVID-19 Pandemic
This JSNA Briefing aims to identify the causes and risk factors for COVID-19 and assess the impact of the pandemic locally. This will inform recommendations that will seek to prevent COVID-19 infections, hospitalisations and excess deaths whilst addressing health and wellbeing issues and health inequalities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
It contains some good information on Children and Young People so we thought it would be worth sharing:-
Full doc. is here covid19-pandemic-jsna-briefing-2022.pdf (hertfordshire.gov.uk)
On a page doc… es-covid19-pandemic-jsna.pdf (hertfordshire.gov.uk)