Referrals
What happens next?
When a referral is received a co-ordinator visits the family at home to find out what the difficulties are. The most suitable volunteer is then introduced to the family to offer support, friendship and practical help tailored to the needs of the family. The co-ordinator remains in contact throughout to review the progress being made.
For how long is Home-Start usually involved?
Some families will need to be visited for only a few months, whilst others will need support for much longer. As long as there is a need and at least one child is under five we are happy to be involved.
What about confidentiality?
It is most important that a family can rely on having privacy and respect. A volunteer will not divulge anything that a family discusses on a personal level to anyone except possibly the co-ordinator (during the volunteer’s one-to-one supervision). Only if there is concern about the welfare of the children in the family, and after discussion with the co-ordinator, would confidentiality ever be breached.
Health
- Ill health
- Disability or special needs
- Postnatal illness
- New babies
- Parenting advice
- Children’s behavioural problems
- Coping with twins, triplets or several pre-school children
- Sleeping/feeding problems
- Parental stress
Social Care
- Helping parents to nurture their children
- Providing effective role models
- Safeguarding children’s welfare
- Relationship problems
- First time or young parents
- Lone parents
Who Can Refer
- Pre-schools
- Schools
- Churches
- Friends and neighbours
- Mental health services
- Mental health services
- Other Home-Start schemes
- Parent and toddler groups
- Health visitors
- Voluntary organisations
- Social workers
How To Refer
Referrals come from many sources including Health Visitors, Social Workers, other voluntary organisations, counselling services, churches and increasingly from families themselves.
The referral form should be used to refer a family to Home-Start Southport & Formby. Please ensure that the referral is made with the consent of the family.