Coronavirus: keeping children safe online

On Thursday 25th June, the DfE updated its advice and guidance to help parents and carers to keep children safe online during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The updates include new information on apps to help children stay safe online.

Click here to read the guidance in full.

Starting Well Partnership - Support for families and young people

School Health Nurses provide a wide range of services to meet the needs of school-aged Children, Young People and their families. Teams can be contacted for advice and support in your district – visit https://www.startingwellworcs.nhs.uk/services for contact details and more information.

The Starting Well partnership has been offering one-to-one telephone support to parents during the government Covid restrictions, giving help and advice about issues such as behaviour management, wellbeing, activities, practical support. Parenting groups are now being delivered virtually. These groups support parents with strategies to develop positive relationships with their children and use evidence-based tools to manage behaviour. Parents can self-refer, or professionals can refer with consent, by going to https://www.startingwellworcs.nhs.uk/covid19.

If you need any support with finances or emotionally during this time with reduced access to school support and free school meal vouchers, the following websites can help. Here2Help and Starting Well link families with support in their own communities with support around finances, managing children’s behaviour, mental health, employment, food parcels and more.

Parents can request support during the Covid-19 outbreak and also request to join a parenting group. While face to face groups are currently postponed, some groups are being run over Microsoft Teams. Please see the leaflet below for more information.

Free online course for Worcestershire Residents

The course is provided by Solihull Approach which is a national NHS organisation. The course was developed 20 years ago by health professionals. It is for all parents and carers of children aged 0-18 and covers:-

• Responding to how your child is feeling
• How your child develops
• Different styles of parenting
• How your child communicates
• Understanding your child’s behaviour
• Sleep, Self-regulation and anger

Please click on the flyer below for more information.

Early Intervention Family Support

EIFS works with Primary, Middle and Special Schools (including their nurseries) to provide support and guidance for children and their families when the needs are first identified at an early stage. The needs can be identified by parents, schools or other professionals.

Children’s Social Care

For all social care related concerns and access to a variety of support.

Worcestershire Young Carers

Supporting children and young people between the ages of 7 and 25 who help to look after a parent, guardian or sibling.

Tel No: (01905) 619886

Foot Steps Worcestershire

A service to support bereaved children and families in Worcestershire.

Winston’s Wish

Giving hope to grieving children by supporting them through the loss of a sibling or parent.

Cruse Bereavement Support

The leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Cruse offers face-to-face, telephone, email and website support. Cruse has a freephone national helpline and local services, and a website (Hope Again) specifically for children and young people.

Phone: 0808 808 1677

The Bridge Counselling Service

This is a counselling service for the whole community and is based in Worcester City Centre.

Reading well, books on prescription

Reading well promotes the benefits of reading for health and wellbeing. Mood boosting books provide additional motivation for all ages.

Relate

Offers help with relationships, family life and parenting, help with separation and divorce, and help for children and young people.

The Solihull Approach (Parenting Support)

Online course for parents to support their parenting styles. In turn helping to nurture and develop their children effectively as they grow.

Safeguarding Training - The Key

This provides parents with knowledge and understanding of how to keep their children safe online. It also offers crucial information for the most commonly used apps and games.

New Road Parents Group - Transunite

A group of parents in South Birmingham and Worcestershire whose children have ‘come out’ to us as gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT). Monthly meetings.

Email: newroadparents@gmail.com

Phone: 01527 832492

Mermaids

Mermaids supports children and young people up to 20 years old who are transgender and/or gender diverse, and their families, and professionals involved in their care.

Victim Support

Support for anyone affected by crime. Victim Support services are free, confidential and available to anyone in England and Wales, regardless of whether the crime has been reported or how long ago it happened.

Phone: 01905 726896

The Freedom Programme

A free course designed for victims of domestic abuse. It examines the roles played by attitudes and beliefs on the actions of abuse and the responses of victims and survivors. The Freedom Programme also covers how children are affected by exposure to abuse and how their lives are improved when the abuse is removed.

Email: chris@fpcharity.co.uk

Phone: 01942 262270