A Reflective View from the Practitioner’s Perspective

Kay Cartmell (Health Visitor / Outreach Team Leader)

Ashley Lloyd(Play Therapist)

Howgill Family Centre

Howgill Family Centre

• 35 years of service delivery to children and families

• From Distington to Muncaster, from Whitehaven to Wasdale

• 75 staff and 30 volunteers• Group and individual

work, & Early Years Provision

www.howgill-centre.co.uk

Mission Statement

• Creating Opportunities for Children and Families…..

…..Working to build healthier, safer communities where children, young people and families are valued, respected and encouraged to achieve their potential

ethos

• One that ensures that all parents should feel able to ask for support at any time

• How parents perceive services will influence the likelihood that they will ask for help

Reducing barriers to accessing services

• Stigma• Fear of being judged• Lack of confidence• Social exclusion• Poverty

• Accessible• Non-judgemental• Family friendly• Needs driven

Core purposes

• Child Development, Learning and School Readiness

• Child and Family Health and Wellbeing

• Parenting/ Family Support

Principles

• Prevention

• Early Intervention

• Relationships are key

Barnes and Freude-Lagavardi (2002) Shonkoff and Phillips (2000) Shore (2001)

New Report:- Burlington S and Hosking G (March 2013)Conception to Age 2- The Age of Opportunity

7 Themes

• Coping and emotional wellbeing

• Family health and wellbeing

• Friends and family relationships

• Family finances

• Children’s learning and development

• Fun and leisure

• Personal growth