Overview
Alloa Family Centre is the home of the Early Help Team.
Getting early help means getting the right support at the right time before problems become more serious.
Early help focuses on identifying concerns early and working with families to build on strengths, prevent difficulties from escalating and improve outcomes for children and young people.
It is based on the principles of Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) and promotes partnership working between families, schools, health services and social work.
Vision
The early help team vision is to provide a strengths based, accessible and responsive children and families social work service at the point of need, focused on building the strengths of each family network to prevent an escalation of need and risk.
The key aim of the early help team is to provide an early community focused response to families in need of support and assistance. In partnership with community and third sector services we will work together so that families receive the right help at the right time and circumstances do not escalate.
Family group decision making and kinship support are also key drivers in our team. The expertise of these services is pivotal in delivering the aims of The Promise and keeping children within their supported family network where it is safe to do so.
Family group decision making is a family led process that empowers extended families and networks to create plans to protect and support children, often during challenging times. It focuses on family strengths, allowing relatives to lead in decision making which can improve stability and strengthen safe connections.
Kinship support offers information, advice and signposting to kinship carer’s so they are better equipped to meet the needs of the children and young people in their care. Support is available 1-1 and/or in a group setting.
As well as providing support to families at home, the team welcome families into Alloa Family Centre and other venues across the Clackmannanshire area to join in some of our group programmes.
Eligibility
This service is for
- children and young people under 18 living in Clackmannanshire
Signposting
For further information and support, please access the community directory.
Below are some of the groups brought to you by the early help team working in partnership with universal and third sector organisations.
- Puddles and Play (pre-school age)
- Children have the opportunity to take part in role play, sensory play, messy play, arts and crafts, games, songs and dance.
- Contact the early help team on 01259 225000 for more information
- Baby massage sessions are held based on referral need at various locations across the Clackmannanshire area
- Benefits of baby massage include improved bonding and attachment, helps with digestion, constipation and colic, improved sleeping patterns, teething, pain and discomfort and strengthens primary systems and supports with weight gain
- Contact the health visiting support team on 01259 290508 for more information
- THRIVE to Keep Well (by referral)
- Tuesday and Wednesday 10am-2pm
- This 16-week programme is designed to build on confidence, motivation, self-esteem as well as providing opportunities for volunteering, learning and employment
- Contact the early help team on 01259 225000 for more information
- Delivery of Mellow programmes
- Programmes are facilitated based on family and referral need
- Contact the Early Help Team for more information on programme dates, times etc
- Mellow Caring for Young People:
This 12-week programme is intended for parents or carers of young people, p7 and high school age. Parents and carers who would benefit most are those who require support that is more than universal, ie family support services etc. Topics including young people’s brain development, emotion systems, co and self-regulation, window of tolerance, empathy and empathic parenting approaches, trust and connection, gratitude, therapeutic parenting approaches, resilience, family strengths and life story conversations are weaved through the programme.
- Mellow Growing Together:
This 8–10-week programme is intended for parents or carers of children aged from 0-5years offering an informal and non-judgmental space for navigating your child’s new phases whilst taking care of yourself, build relationships, reflect and find comfort knowing you’re not alone. Parents and carers are supported to notice, understand and respond to their child’s signals in a timely and loving manner.
- Awareness Programme
- This 6-week early intervention group is intended for young people coming into conflict with the law and picking up low level offending. The aim being to provide opportunity and a safe space for reflection and promote positive outcomes and future decision making. The group offers an informal, non-judgemental and relaxed environment to participants.
Service specifics
The early help team is based at Alloa Family Centre and works with families at the point of need to prevent escalation of difficulties.
The team consists of a team leader, a senior practitioner, 3 social workers, 5 intensive family support workers, 3 family group decision making coordinators.
Early Help may involve
- providing support to families at home, including advice and information
- provision of group programmes for families at the Family Centre and other venues across Clackmannanshire
- practical parenting support
- help accessing education, health or wellbeing services
Process
How it works
- Contact/getting support
- If you’re worried about a child or family, or feel you need support yourself, you can speak to a professional you trust (such as a teacher, health visitor or support worker) or contact the early help team directly. You can also visit a family wellbeing hub.
- Initial conversation
- A member of the team will talk with you to understand your concerns and what support you may need.
- Assessment (if needed)
- With your agreement, we may complete an early help assessment. This helps build a clearer picture of your family’s situation and what support would be most helpful.
- Support plan
- You will work with professionals to agree a plan based on what matters to you. This may include support from different services working together.
- Support provided
- Support can include practical help, advice, parenting support, group programmes, or help to access services such as education, health or wellbeing support.
- Review and progress
- Your support will be reviewed regularly to make sure it is helping. Changes can be made as your circumstances improve or if different support is needed.
- Next steps
- When things improve, support will gradually reduce. If more help is needed, we will work with you to make sure you are connected to the right services.