Kent Family Hub | Youth Canterbury

The Kent Family Hub offer is to support children, young people and their families and consists 15 core service areas;

1. Infant feeding

2. Parenting support

3. Home learning environment

4. Perinatal mental health

5. Education for parents on child development

6. Activities for children aged 0-5

7. Activities for older children and young people

8. Information, advice, guidance about support services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

9. Information and signposting to mental health services (children and adults)

10. Support for parents/carers of adolescents (teenagers)

11. Online safety for children and young people

Including additional areas of specialist advice and support:

12. Support for young people with substance misuse (alcohol/drugs)

13.Domestic abuse support

14.Debt and welfare advice

15.Signposting to information to support separating and separated parents

This offer has been developed and agreed by Family Hub District Mangers, Digital Manager and Partnership and Participation Manager and is an internal document only. The offer described relates to the core delivery of 0-19 (25 SEND) services by KCC Family Hub staff and volunteers, including joint delivery with partners.

Infant Feeding

Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI)

The UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) accreditation supports breastfeeding, responsive infant feeding and nurtures parent-infant relationships. Family Hubs work with health partners to provide up-to-date guidance ensuring families consistently receive high-quality information and care, helping improve outcomes for babies and young children across Kent.

Breast Pump Loan Scheme

Family Hubs are a distribution point for breast pumps, where mothers meet one of the following criteria:

Eligible for the Healthy start scheme
Premature birth
Infant/s with ill health
Mother is receiving feeding support from a health or social care professional.

Midwifery Services

Family Hubs provide venues for the delivery of midwifery services including antenatal courses.

Health Visiting

Family Hubs provide venues to support the delivery of health visiting services including infant feeding and introducing solid foods.

Digital Offer

Kent family Hub website signposts to sites such as:

Embedded Practice

Infant feeding is embedded within all interactions with parents of 0-2 years of age supporting the Best Start in Life programme.

Home Learning Environment (HLE)

The Communication Tree

A 4 week, referral only, highly structured course for children aged 2 plus that sits within the Balanced System. Each week parents will be given information to increase parents’ knowledge and understanding around the roots of a child’s communication development, different types of communication and how to support its development.

Little Talkers

A 6 week course for children aged 2-5 years that sits within the Balanced System. It is for those children who may have difficulties understanding or using language, where their speech is unclear or where there are weak attention skills.

Making it Real

A targeted evidence- based intervention aimed at children aged 2-4 years. The Making it Real programme is designed to increase parental confidence in supporting their child’s literacy development in and around their home, with the aim of getting the parent and child prepared for when they start school.

Bookstart Little Bookworms

A BookTrust early years targeted offer for 1-2 year olds and 3-4 year olds. It includes a free book pack and dual language books for those living in the most deprived areas.

Digital offer

A range of HLE topics is offered via:

The Kent Family Hub website https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/kent-family- hub and the EasyPeasy app EasyPeasy | Kent County Council

Information is also available via the the Kent Community Health Foundation Trust Kent Family website https://family.kentcht.nhs.uk

Born to move | Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is threaded throughout delivery.

District Conversation/Focused Support

Please see information in ‘Pathways and access to the Family Hub offer’ section of this document.

Parenting Support

Baby, Family and You (based on Triple P for Baby)

This is an evidence based course open to all parents who are either expecting a baby or who have a baby in its first year. Baby, Family and You helps parents and carers navigate the challenges that come with having a new baby. The course provides a toolbox of proven, positive strategies with a variety of practical ways to promote baby's development, build a stronger bond and support their emotional and physical health.

Togetherness Courses (Based on the Solihull Approach)

Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby- A 5 week antenatal journey to parenthood. It is for anyone expecting a baby and anyone around the mother, e.g. father, partner, grandparents, birth partner, etc.

Understanding your baby- A 6 week postnatal course for any parent of a child aged 0- 6 months

Understanding your child: from toddler to teenager- A 10 week parent group aimed at anyone with a child aged 6 months to 19 years. The group can be customised for parents of children with Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and disabilities including learning disabilities using the specific addendum. These tailored groups will be run according to district need and in line with other SEND parenting support available to families in the district.

Parenting Support and Advice Drop In

This a regular session where any parent or carer can attend for discussion and advice on any of the 15 core services provided by Kent Family Hub. These can be delivered at different times and/or venues to support district needs.

Walk – ins

Family Hub teams will respond to any presenting parents when they walk in for advice or support, and utilise the family hub offer to meet the need. These will be considered to be an ‘in person’ District Conversation following the same signposting guidance.

District Conversation/Focused Support

Please see information in ‘pathways and access to the Family Hub offer’ section of this document.

Digital offer

A range of parenting topics is offered via:

The Kent Family Hub website https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/kent- family-hub covers topics such as:

Setting boundaries for your child
Dealing with tantrums
Support your childs speech and language development
Information on becoming a dad
Mental health and family relationships

The Kent Community Health Foundation Trust Kent Family website https:// family.kentcht.nhs.uk/ links to online Togetherness courses such as:

Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby: including a course for female same-sex couples.
Understanding your baby including courses for parents caring for a preterm or sick baby in hospital.
Understanding your child from toddler to teenager
Understanding your child with additional needs.
Moving up to secondary school for children with additional needs -
Understanding your child's feelings (a taster course)
Understanding your child's mental health and wellbeing
Understanding the impact of the pandemic on your teenager Understanding your teenager's brain: and a course for teenagers themselves.
Understanding your relationships:

These courses help to develop parent skills. They are available in 15 to 20-minute chunks, perfect for busy parents and carers. Families can visit www.inourplace.co.uk and register for a free account with the access code ‘Invicta’. Courses can be completed at an individual’s own pace.

Perinatal Mental Health

0-5 Activities and Perinatal Parenting courses

Perinatal mental health feeds through all interactions with parents who are pregnant or with a child up to 2yrs, however it is more prevalent in the following groups and services:

Baby Group
Baby Massage
Stay and Play
Perinatal parenting courses

Partnership Work and Specialist Spaces

Family Hubs provides space for Health visitors and Midwifery services
Spaces provided with Family Hub for specialist Perinatal Mental Health Interventions by partners.
Co-delivery of Introducing Solid Foods with Health Visitors

Chill and Chat

Held in libraries or other community venues, these sessions provide a convenient and accessible support for parents and expectant parents. The drop in sessions offer a relaxed space for parents to engage in meaningful conversations around improving their mental health, infant feeding and parent infant relationships.

Education for Parents on Child Development

Child development education is threaded through all our service delivery and groups, please see further detail in Parenting Support, Home Learning Environment and the Digital Offer sections of this document.

Baby Massage (Hands on Babies)

A five week course where parents learn a new set of massage strokes to perform on their baby. Each week parents learn the benefits of baby massage including helping baby to relax and sleep better, alleviating colic, constipation and teething, as well as bonding with their baby to support perinatal mental health.

Baby Group (0-1 Years)

The main focus of this group is on perinatal mental health, parent infant relationship, attachment and bonding and healthy child development. It provides activities for babies that cover the 3 prime areas of the EYFS: Personal, Social and Emotional development, Physical development, Communication and Language development.

Stay and Play (0-5 years)

A group to encourage socialisation, play and interaction with others. Includes singing, story, developmentally appropriate activities and opportunities to explore different areas and new experiences e.g. messy play, outdoor/active play.

Time to Shine

Time To Shine is a time-limited closed group offer, split across ages groups, 4-7 years, 7-11 year olds and 12+, with flexibility with regards to the individual’s needs, working more at stage than age. It is for children and young people with SEND that struggle to cope and access mainstream groups such as Beavers, Dance, Football etc and aims to support them to develop the necessary skills to manage in those environments and ultimately move on to those services. The group numbers are lower to meet the needs of everyone attending and to create a calmer environment.

Compass

A KCC developed Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)- informed programme, which focuses on four skills: mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. By helping young people navigate emotions, relationships, and life’s challenges, the programme aims to reduce the longer-term need for mental health intervention. Compass is for young people aged 11-19 (up to 25 SEND). The Compass course is structured to be delivered over 10 sessions although districts may choose to have an additional introduction session, a celebration session for completion or adapt delivery for within schools.

Stepping Up

Stepping Up is a 6-week group programme designed to support children aged 5 to 11 (school years 1 to 6) in building confidence, improving social skills, and managing emotions within a group setting. Each week focuses on a different aspect of emotional regulation, helping children understand and cope with their feelings, and develop personal strategies for self-management. The final session celebrates their progress, with parents invited to share in the learning and support continued development at home.

Speak Out Youth

Speak Out is a fortnightly 2-hour group for young people who are current or aspiring Youth Peer Mentors, particularly those known to specialist services. It empowers them to co- design, deliver, and evaluate youth-led initiatives, contribute to community projects, support district youth forums, and participate in staff recruitment. Sessions focus on developing key skills such as resilience, confidence, leadership, empathy, and social interaction, with planning led by young people and guided by SMART targets to ensure clear goals and inclusive participation.

Signposting and SEND enquiries hub

See the parent signposting service delivery plan, which includes a range of services Family Hubs can signpost to.

For SEND specific support signposting includes:

SEND Roadshows

Family Hubs actively support the district SEND roadshows.

Parental Support

Parental support is threaded through all work via groups, drop ins and 1-1 work. Family Hub staff have a knowledge of available SEND support to signpost children and parents to.

Digital offer

Digital offer provides a range of topics for children with SEND via the Kent Family Hub website:

https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/special-educational-needs-and-disabilities

Information is also available via the the Kent Community Health Foundation Trust Kent Family website: https://family.kentcht.nhs.uk/support/your-family/special-education-needs- and-disability-send/

Information is also available via the the Kent Community Health Foundation Trust Kent Family website and Kent Resilience Hub.

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