Family Support
Intent
The North Leamington School Family Support team helps children, their parents, carers and teachers develop and build strong connections and healthy relationships so that they can feel safe and secure. We help to increase skills and awareness to bridge the gap between families and the school or organisations, working with a variety of other professionals such as social workers, teachers and specialist services. Our intent is that all families referred will receive the help as part of a graduated approach, to overcome problems, whether they are experiencing poverty, breakdown in family relationships, concerns around attendance or other problems that may affect the child and family. By offering this support to families we hope to empower parents and carers and ensure they are listened to, helping them to look forward to the future.
We also work with a range of external agencies to offer parent and carer workshops which are regularly signposted on the website and via whole school communication.
To request family support
Our Referral Form for family support service in school can be accessed here
Once you have completed the form, the Family Support Team will be in touch within 3 working days.
Family Support Team Contacts
| Role | Name | E mail Address |
|---|---|---|
| IEN Team Lead - Family Support | Dina Mistry | dmistry@northleamington.co.uk |
| Family Support Worker | Jessica Lignier | lignier@northleamington.co.uk |
Websites Signposting Support
Understanding Your Child Solihull Approach - online courses for parents
Warwickshire County Council - Family Information Service
Relationships
We understand that each family is unique and is made up of different people, with different needs and behaviours. Often family members are a source of support, love and encouragement but sometimes these relationships are put under pressure through a variety of issues i.e. divorce or separation, or when siblings are not getting on, which can lead to the family not always getting on well with each other. Blending a new family can be challenging and can take time for everyone to settle.
Whatever the reason, when life is tough we are here to support you, or we can connect you to the right people who can help you.
Some useful organisations who can offer information and guidance on relationships:
Relate:- Can offer support and information for all relationships. They offer counselling for individuals and couples, Family Counselling, Mediation, Children and Young People's Counselling.
Care for the Family:- Is a national charity who aims to strengthen family life and to help those who face family difficulties.
Young Carers:- Can support children and young people who care for a family member or a friend who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction
Parenthood
Parenting can be a tough job but we are here to support you. Simple things like friendship groups and/or more complex issues like drug misuse, can have an effect on your relationship with your child. We can support you directly offering positive parenting sessions, Triple P and signpost you to other parenting programmes that Warwickshire County Council offer. Some of these are group based programmes and run for a number of weeks. They help build on what you already know as a parent and support you to find positive ways of dealing with challenging behaviour.
We can open up an Early Help for when your family needs a multi-agency approach to ensure that support is being offered at the right time by the right professionals. Through the Early Help we can access services like targeted youth and Life Space mentoring.
As Family Support Workers, we can support you with referrals practically or with listening visits so that you have someone to talk to. Sometimes just being listened to and reassured in your decisions as a parent can make all the difference. We can also support with school processes and safeguarding procedures if necessary. You may have to attend meetings in the school or with other agencies which can be daunting, we can attend with you or go through the procedure so that you feel more prepared.
Here are some organisations who can also help:-
Parenting Project: - Are a voluntary organisation, providing support services for children and young people from 0-19 years (25 years SEND) and their parents/carers
Warwickshire County Council: - Family support helpline and face to face consultations, to speak to a family support worker over the telephone, call 01926 412412, Monday to Friday between 9am - 4pm.
Children and Family Centres in Warwickshire:-
Family Information Service:- Provide information, advice and one-to-one support for families with children and young people aged 0 to 25 across Warwickshire on issues including, family relationships, finance, housing, parenting support, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), childcare and health and wellbeing.
Phone:- 01926 742274
Parenting Courses:- Free parenting courses available throughout Warwickshire.
Connect for Health:- Connect for Health is a school nurse-led service that supports children, young people and their families in Warwickshire. Connect for health works to meet the health and wellbeing needs of school-age children and to give individuals the best possible start in life.
Housing
If you find yourself in a housing crisis, whether this be unexpected or planned and you find yourself homeless or threatened with eviction, as a tenant you have rights and there is help for you. Some people find themselves in rent arrears and are struggling financially. We can support you in finding the appropriate help as everyone needs a safe place to live.
If you decided to leave an abusive relationship and need safe accommodation, we can support you to get in touch with organisations that will do this.
Other housing issues that you may need support with are overcrowding, landlord disputes, debt, repossession and claiming Housing Benefit. There are organisations out there that can help, including your local Job centre.
It can be difficult knowing where to start, but that is where we can help. Below are links of local and national organisations that can give you more information.
Warwick District Housing:- Support and advice can be offered related to housing or eviction or homelessness
Shelter:- For free advice and guidance on your rights as a tenant and housing support.
P3 Charity:- Warwickshire floating support in the community for adults who need help and advice with their housing situation.
Finance
Money can be a huge source of stress for families and debt can really impact on your quality of life and relationships. There are organisations that can support with debt issues including budgeting and paying off existing debt.
If you find yourself out of work or unable to work, we can support you with benefit claims and together we can find out what benefits you are entitled to claim and support with paperwork. There are organisations like the FIS brokerage service who are able to help you if you are a carer or have an illness or disability that may be impacting on your finances and ability to provide for yourself and your family.
There may be times when some people find themselves with a temporary problem, perhaps where benefits are being re-assessed or you have an unexpected bill to pay. We can help with things like food bank vouchers, so that you can feed yourself and your family during this period.
Below are links to local and national organisations that can give more information about money worries.
GOV.UK:- information of all available benefits and a benefit calculator.
Citizens Advice South Warwickshire:- Support and advice around benefits and debt advice and support
Job Centre:- For universal credits claims and support.
Act on Energy - Support and advice on fuel debts and managing energy bills
Advocacy
It can be daunting for families and can cause major stress when you are unsure of what is required of you, when talking or writing to authorities and/or organisations which are there to help you. As Family Support Workers, we can sit with you privately and go over any issues of your family situation and support you in presenting your case to those who are asking the tough questions.
Having a familiar and friendly face with you can be a huge support during such times, especially in stressful meetings. We are happy to meet to support with paperwork, then go along with you, as needed, to ensure all your points are clearly communicated. We can help make sense of questions and patiently explain, in easily understood words, what is required.
However, we are not legally qualified and cannot give you legal advice.
For more targeted support here are some useful links that will be useful:-
Warwickshire County Council:- For advocacy for adults and children
Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) Information
Information regarding the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) can be found here
Ukranian Helpline
Domestic Abuse Helpline and Refuge
Refuge Domestic Violence and Abuse Service is a countywide service offering help and support to women, men and children experiencing domestic violence in Warwickshire. They have a 24-hour national helpline, safe house accommodation, advocacy and outreach support. Drop-in sessions are provided around the county.
If you live in Warwickshire, you can call 0800 408 1552 to speak to a support worker.