Information for Professionals
The role of an Outreach Worker
They work as part of the Children’s Centre Team and offer:
- support and advice on parenting
- provide activities and services through home visiting and groups in the Centre
- offer a listening ear
- can meet face to face with families at home, at the Centre or a place that suits the family
Outreach Workers provide support, resources and advice around a range of issues, including:
- find local groups for the parent/carer to attend
- positive parenting and managing a child’s behavior, boundary setting, child development
- financial difficulties/worries
- support around transition points; i.e. birth, settling into pre-school, school
- support for parents wishing to return to education, employment or training
- working with parents/carers to manage their own well-being and to build their confidence
- support for children with disabilities or special needs
How do I arrange to make a referral?
Parents/carers can refer themselves or a professional can complete a referral form and bring/post to the Children’s Centre. Please use the ‘Children’s Centre Request for Family Support Form’ (call 01784 241407 if you do not have a copy).
Supporting parents and carers
Children’s Centres offer early intervention family support that aims to help families before problems get too big. In our work with families we use a range of approaches and resources to help improve emotional well-being, social skills and opportunities for children to enjoy and achieve. Our service is confidential and we will not disclose any information without the individual’s agreement, except when a child may be at risk of harm.
Examples of specific areas of support
- Help with parenting skills
- Support for victims of domestic abuse
- Help with debt, budgeting, benefits, housing issues
- Support to access further education and adult/family learning
- Help to find childcare, choosing quality childcare
- Information about local activities for children
- Information, advice and guidance about child safety
- Information, advice and guidance about healthy eating, oral hygiene
- Support getting children ready for pre-school, school
- Support to help children learn and develop
- Advice on potty training, breastfeeding
- Speech and language support