Family Partnership Service

The service will be based at three main delivery hubs at the Manor Centre, Limbury Fields Community Centre and Beech Hill.

• parenting support if you need guidance and advice, from pre-birth through to teenage years, using evidence based parenting programmes (such as parenting adolescents, parenting children with disabilities, reducing parental conflict)
• advice and support when you have relationship difficulties, or if you are in an abusive relationship
• if you are worried about your child and keeping them safe, including help to keep your child in education, concerns about non-attendance, friendship groups, gangs, anti-social behaviour, your child is running away from home, or is involved with drugs or alcohol
• life story work to support children and young people going through fostering or adoption to gain an understanding of their personal journey, to help them integrate their past, enabling them to make sense of their present and develop a clear sense of identity for their future
• work with partnership organisations to support young carers and their families
• if you are experiencing emotional or mental health issues which are impacting on your parenting abilities, or if you are worried about your child’s emotional well-being
• personalised support to prevent teenage homelessness, and supporting families at risk of homelessness
• if you would like to get back into work we can offer support with CV writing, training and employment
• support for families with no recourse to public funds including advice, guidance and limited support for people from abroad who are not eligible to receive benefits and are destitute but are ‘ordinarily a resident’ in Luton
• Supervised Family Time (Contact) providing advice and guidance to parents to help them build on their parenting skills in a safe environment
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support for children and young people and their families
• we will work in partnership with you, your family, friends and your support network offering an interpreting service if required and we will always respect your cultural needs

We will provide support to families whose circumstances indicate that without support, their difficulties could worsen and the children or young people would be ‘in need’ or at ‘risk of significant harm’. The Family Partnership Service provides support to families in the right place and at the right time.

• Families where there are intense needs - Domestic violence and abuse, mental, learning needs and disabilities, crime and anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol misuse, no recourse to public funds, NEET, exploitation, financial exclusion.
• Acute needs - If above issues are acute or chronic and impair the child or young person's health, they will be supported by children's social care service, together with Family Partnership Service.

Trained staff are on hand to provide support, advice and guidance to parents to help them build on their parenting skills.

As part of supervising Family Time (Contact) staff can assess relationships, family dynamics and monitor improvements. 

Family Time can benefit children and birth relatives in numerous ways:

• it can ease the sense of loss and provide reassurance for both children and their relatives
• it can help to maintain family relationships
• through the sessions, children are able to gain a greater understanding of their history and identity, which may enhance their self-esteem

The Manor Centre is newly refurbished and the following facilities are available:

• nine furnished rooms – all rooms have kitchenettes with microwave and sinks
• two rooms with full kitchens for baking and cooking with children
• bathing facilities available
• outdoor play area with basketball net, outdoor toys and equipment
• age appropriate toys available
• arts and crafts materials
• cots, prams, high chairs and bedding
• baby changing facilities
• bottles, sterilising equipment
• access to resources and tools for service users with learning difficulties
• disabled Access

The centre provides supervised assessed Family Time for any of the following:

• children aged up to 18 years old and their significant relatives
• children subject to court orders
• parents and children with mental health, learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities
• parents who have a history of, or are currently undergoing treatment for, drug and alcohol misuse
• families from diverse ethnic, religious and  cultural backgrounds

The Manor Centre is newly refurbished and the following facilities are available:

• Traded Services available for private individuals or Local Authorities who wish to purchase supervised Family Time Sessions

Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities (SFSC)

13 week course, face to face at Beech Hill Primary School, Luton

2024 dates:

• referral cut off date: 1 January 2025
• programme start date: 29 January 2025

SFSC is an inclusive, evidence-based parenting programme, designed to promote protective factors associated with:

• good parenting
• better outcomes for children
• stronger co-parent relationships

SFSC has enjoyed success with parents from several different ethnic backgrounds, teenage parents and parents with learning disabilities. It's for parents/carers of children aged between 3 and 18 years.

For more information, see Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities.

A Solihull approach to understanding your child’s SEN needs 

For more information, see Solihull Approach.

Keeping your Child in Mind (parental conflict)

Face to face  - Beech Hill Primary School

2024 dates:

• Referral deadline date 1: 7 January 2025
• Programme start date 1: 21 Januaey 2025
• Referral deadline date 2: 1 April 2025
• Programme start date 2: 22 April 2025

A four week course exploring how:

• positive relationships within families can be supported by effective parenting
• reducing parental conflict is beneficial to a child's wellbeing

Find out more about keeping your child in mind programme.

More about our parenting offer

For more information about the parenting offer, or if you wish to receive a referral form, please email [email protected].

Support provided by Manor Centre:

Family time sessions:

We strive to create a warm and supportive atmosphere where children and families can come together to participate in meaningful activities, building strong connections and making cherished memories. Our service operates smoothly both onsite and within the community, providing seven days a week, dedicated Family Workers to assist each family. This is a service that supports our first-time care experience young parents to manage their family time and build new parenting skills.

Bespoke support:

Understanding the unique needs of each care experienced child, we provide personalised support that is tailored to their individuality. With six weeks of personalised bespoke support, we strive to tackle parenting challenges and enhance understanding of child development, all while ensuring families receive the support they need in the comfort of their own homes.

Advocacy:

We understand the importance of working closely with the personal advisors to provide support and assistance to care leavers in need, therefore we are dedicated to promoting social justice and advocating for the well-being of our care leavers within their local community. We share the local knowledge on available resources with the personal advisors to facilitate stronger inclusion and early support for care experience young people.

Life Story Work:

Our experienced family worker will support the social workers and personal advisors to develop the skills to create life story books for care experience children and young people, helping them to understand and make sense of their experiences. Memories from Family Time sessions enhance these stories, offering a comprehensive perspective on their growth and development.

Family decision making:

The Level 2 service accessed through our integrated front door (MASH), is dedicated to empowering families and care leavers by providing coordinated support plans, family network meetings and family decision making, and fostering co-production with community resources. By proactively addressing needs, we strive to provide families and care leavers with the support they need to navigate their journey effectively.

Educational Attendance and Assistance:

Our education attendance officers assist care experience young people and care leavers accessing bespoke attendance support, tutoring, mentoring, and educational planning to ensure that our care leavers children are not only able to access educational opportunities but also excel in them. Special attention is being given to the close working relationship with Luton’s Virtual School, and other local providers so that care experience young people and care leavers efficiently transition between schools and into higher education or vocational training.

Support provided by Beech Hill and Limbury Centres:

Stable Housing Options:

Ensuring that care leavers have access to stable and affordable housing is fundamental. Family Partnership Service assists care leavers in navigating housing options and provide support in securing accommodation. Our biweekly joint housing panel focuses on addressing homelessness concerns among care leavers and care experienced young people, ensuring a proactive and comprehensive approach to promoting housing stability.

Mental Health and Emotional Support:

In addition, our Family Partnership Service Senior mental health nurse practitioner provides consultation meetings with personal advisers, offering valuable support on a range of issues related to well-being. We are planning with our CAMHS partners to deliver awareness raising workshops for personal advisors who support our care leavers to develop coping strategies and self-care solutions.

Centralised Resource Index:

Through thorough mapping of the local community resources we were able to create an effective resource folder, making it easier for practitioners and care leavers to access a wide range of services and organisations dedicated to helping those in need in our community. This includes faith groups and organisations, East European community centres, Roma, Irish Travelers organisations and others.

Career and Employment Guidance:

Our DWP stronger families employment advisers are available to provide practical assistance to care leavers and care experienced young people, offering advice on benefits, employability, and debt management.

Parenting support:

We provide a wide range of services to support parents and strengthen family relationships. Our parenting offer 2024 includes a comprehensive range of courses and workshops aimed at empowering parents and carers with the tools and information needed to navigate the challenges of parenting successfully.

Social Skills and Relationship Building:

Our courses cover a wide range of topics that focus on promoting positive relationships within families. We provide valuable knowledge to our care leavers on child development and effective strategies for managing parental conflict. Developing social skills is crucial for personal and professional success. Our programmes enhance communication abilities, conflict resolution, and effective relationship-building that empower care leavers to establish and maintain healthy relationships.

Workshops and networking events:

A space where parents and carers can connect, exchange stories, and offer each other support throughout their parenting journey. With a focus on the well-being of families, our comprehensive approach is designed to enhance the quality of life for children and young people in Luton, empowering them to reach their maximum potential.

Commitment to Collaboration

Effective support for care experienced young people and care leavers requires a collaborative approach involving the local authority, Luton’s educational institutions, mental health professionals, and the community. Family Partnership Service coordinate these efforts to create a comprehensive support network that addresses all aspects of a care leaver's life.

Conclusion

Care experienced young people and care leavers deserve every opportunity to succeed and thrive. By providing targeted support through family help services, we can significantly improve their outcomes and aid their transition into adulthood.