Supporting Families with Young Children

Family Support: This contract will include the provision of family support services to families with a Kirklees address, with a young child (under 11 years old). Families identified as appropriate for support will have levels of need above universal needs. Services will be flexible in timing and location, and include flexible needs based individual and group support and, where appropriate, access to structured interventions including parenting courses. Initial assessment will be used to identify need and prioritise the most vulnerable. Services will include access to timely information and advice to support day to day living, and enable families to build resilience to avoid, reduce or delay dependency on health and social care services. The service is intended to encourage stronger parent child relationships and to develop parenting skills and strategies and positive behaviours around sexual health, parenting skills, care and healthy child development, lifestyle choices and planning for the family and child's future. It will offer emotional support and strategies to support good mental health and emotional wellbeing for children and parents. Cost of living support and referral will be offered. Families will be supported to reduce social isolation and support school readiness and transition.

Volunteering: recruit, train, supervise and manage a team of volunteers as a core element of their delivery model. Training and development will provide volunteers with knowledge of child development and their role as a volunteer. Management and supervision arrangements will be in place to support volunteers, encourage and maintain good practice and respond to volunteer needs. Volunteers will be supported to enter the children's workforce and into learning and employment.

Partnership working: participate in and represent families' interests and experiences in Partnership boards and structures when invited, including the Starting Well Board and its sub boards and workstreams, Families Together Area Partnerships and the Tackling Poverty Partnership. Developing effective working partnerships with key organisations and community and voluntary groups will be essential to provide effective support and referral for families. Any services that are developed will complement and take account of complementary provision to avoid duplication and address gaps. Information sharing and effective data controls will be required. The provider will participate in family reviews and support early help assessments - e.g. in TAF meetings, core group meetings, case conferences etc - to support and represent the best interests of vulnerable families.