Family Action has developed a wide range of services in Children’s Centres across the country. Our services meet the needs of children and their families, with a particular emphasis on user involvement, volunteering, outreach services and targeting vulnerable and hard to reach families.
We offer a range of specific support and advice services.
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Family Support and Parental Outreach Family Action provides support to the most marginalised families in a flexible, non-stigmatising way. Evidence shows that the more vulnerable families are those least likely to visit centres for support. Family Action has extensive experience of reaching out successfully to marginalised families, often with complex problems including enduring mental health problems, learning disabilities, substance misuse and families recovering from domestic abuse.
Early Learning and Childcare We enable children to access play and learning activities provided through Children’s Centres. Children’s Centres can help to support a child’s transition into school, providing information, practical advice and support.
We also work with parents to support their child’s early learning (e.g. Parents as First Teachers (PAFT) and Newpin Play Programme).
We help families to access childminding services and with childminders themselves, to support and enhance their work.
Child and Family Health Services Family Action works with health service staff to ensure that child and family health services are easy to access. Working together with service users, the wider community and health service staff, we strive to ensure that appropriate provision is available. Ante-natal and post-natal services are particularly key and are provided in a range of creative ways to engage a broad range of families.
Links to Job Centre Plus and Skills Development Family Action support parents to access work and the benefits this brings to the whole family. Practical support in accessing pre-employment training , applying for jobs and interviewing as well as advising on accessing affordable childcare are just some of the services we provide.
Working with Young Families Young parents are often reluctant to attend support services. They can feel out numbered by older parents and feel marginalised or judged. We work to ensure that all services, including home visiting, are open to young parents and that they are encouraged and supported to join in.
Our Young Parents Project in the London Borough of Hackney have recently written a useful resource and interesting resource for professionals working with young parents. Download your copy of: Young Parents: A Guide to Engagement and Support
Working with Fathers
Fathers play a critical, and increasing, role in the care and development of their children but often feel uncomfortable or marginalised in services more geared to the needs of mothers. We support fathers to set up and run groups on a range of issues and work with them so that they can access all services on offer.