As Home School Support Officer (HSSO), my aim is to support parents/carers and children at Miers Court Primary School.  My role is varied, and I have been involved with a diverse range of interventions with children and their families in my previous role of Pastoral Support Worker.

My primary role is to focus on early intervention and preventative activities with the view of empowering children so they are able to achieve to the best of their ability.

I am a contact for parents and families who are experiencing difficulties.  These include issues around domestic abuse, housing, parental separation, attendance, health, social services, early years, police, counselling etc.  I am also one of the school's ELSAs and can provide therapeutic interventions for children who need a little extra help in these areas.  I work in close partnership with professional agencies to ensure the best outcomes for children and families.  Whilst parenting is an amazing experience, it can also at times be very challenging!

One of these partnerships is Family Solutions (Early Help) who provide early intervention for families when a need has been identified and I can be the lead practitioner if requested.

I am also one of the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL) and liaise with Children's Services to ensure all of our families are safe.

It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that children are kept safe.  If you have immediate concerns about a child's safety, you should call 999.  You can also call Medway's Children's Services:

• Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm on 01634 334 466;
• out of hours on 03000 419 191.

OR

Complete an online form here.

As one of the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL), I attend  Child in Need and Child Protection meetings on behalf of the school.  I act in the best interests of the child and will support the wider family where needed.

I work closely with the Early Help Coordinators at the Wayfield Hub and attend regular Early Help Area meetings to gather up-to-date information on organisations and services across Medway that can support you and your family to address worries.

Early Help provide support as soon as it is needed to help you and your family thrive and resolve any challenges you may be facing before they become too difficult to manage.

Early Help can support you with difficulties you're having with:

• school, education or training;
• home and life relationships;
• health and emotional wellbeing;
• work, finances or housing;
• domestic abuse;
• social isolation;
• crime or anti-social behaviour.

You can receive Early Help in Medway from an identified lead practitioner or from Family Solutions. A lead practitioner could be someone you already know well, and you have a good relationship with. Examples include:

• someone from your child's school;
• a health practitioner;
• someone from a partner agency.

You'll receive support from a worker who will:

• work with you to understand what works for you and your family;
• learn what your worries are and the support you may need. 

An assessment will lead to an intervention plan, or an intervention plan can be completed first by an Early Help worker. 

Early Help Assessments

Early Help Assessments allow you to note:

• what is going well with your family;
• what you can do to improve.

You'll then agree how you and your family can reach your goals.

Your Early Help worker will: 

• talk through what is going well to identify strengths in your family;
• gather information from you, others in your family, friends and services;
• look with you at the concerns or worries you and others may have;
• complete an assessment putting information together in one place;
• develop an intervention plan.

Intervention plans

Intervention plans are used across Early Help partner agencies including Family Solutions. 

Plans are designed to:

• be timely;
• focus on the strengths in your family;
• make sure you can access support and services to address any concerns. 

They are not as complex as a full Early Help assessment.

For intervention plans, your lead practitioner will:

• develop a plan of different interventions, including support from other agencies;
• review your plan to make sure any concerns are reduced, and life is improving for you and your children.

Review meetings

Early Help review meetings take place every 6 to 8 weeks. The main aims of the meeting are to:

• bring together children, young people, parents, and practitioners;
• look at the plan in place and consider any changes that have happened since the plan started. There is a focus on the positives as well as areas where support is still needed;
• make sure parents, carers, children, and young people have an equal role in agreeing goals and how to meet those goals;
• make sure everyone involved in the plan is completing the intervention they agreed to do.

There may be instances where the person working with your family needs to share information, with or without your consent. For example:

• if someone is at risk of harm;
• to help prevent or detect a serious crime. 

Family Solutions 1 to 1 intervention

There are times when families need some extra support. Family Solutions help to understand:

• how things are for your family;
• what support you may need to improve your circumstances. 

This voluntary process starts once you've signed a consent form giving permission to collect and share information with other professionals. This will be to get you the support you need. 

By going through this process, you will not have to share what's happening with different services or ask for their help. 

Someone from Family Solutions will work with your family and complete an Early Help assessment or intervention plan. This will be completed with:

• you;
• agencies working with your family;
• agencies identified as being able to offer support. 

All Early Help assessments or intervention plans are about your family. Their main aim is to improve family circumstances. An Early Help worker's intention is to involve you in every step of an assessment and every decision. 

Helplines

Family Solutions helplines are there to offer advice and support whether you're a professional, a parent or a young person needing early help.

You can contact the helplines Monday to Thursday from 8am to 5pm or on Fridays from 8am to 4.30pm. The helplines are closed during weekends.

Chatham All Saints Children and Family Hub: 01634 338 833
Gillingham Children and Family Hub: 01634 338 877
Strood Children and Family Hub: 01634 335 533
Wayfield Children and Family Hub: 01634 337 733

Please see our Health and Wellbeing and SEND pages for further information:

HWB click here.

SEND click here.

Awaiting content 

I aim to be at the gate before and after school, should you need to speak to me.

My office hours are:

Monday to Thursday: 0815 - 1545

Friday: 0815 - 1230

Out of office hours you can leave a message on my mobile, email or contact the school office and leave a message. I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.

I can be contacted on:

Office - 01634 388943 

Mobile – 07704 993890

Email – hsso@mcps.school