Big Steps Little Steps Project in North Essex, is an intensive early help offer for parents who are pregnant and have previously had children separated from them/or are considered at risk of this happening/or long term intervention is required.
Their aim is to provide a holistic package of support to help promote positive outcomes. The project will not complete Pre-Birth or Parenting Assessments.
Their referrals
- Referrals accepted between 8-20 weeks of pregnancy.
- Baby at risk of separation from parents at birth.
- Either parent has been separated from their other children, through court proceedings.
- The parent/s are consenting to work with the project.
- Any parents not meeting criteria, but where support is considered likely to prevent baby coming into care at birth, can be discussed on an individual basis.
Support will be delivered through the following pathways
- Preparing for Baby (Pre-Birth)
- New baby 0-6 months
- Infant and Toddler 6-18 months
Support provided
- Preparing for baby, accessing housing, grants, benefits and budgeting.
- Support for parents in building confidence in working with involved agencies such as social care, peri-natal teams and substance misuse agencies.
- Support when baby is born with routines, managing parenting worries and ongoing support to build upon parenting skills needed as baby develops.
- Stay and Play’ sessions to help mums and dads become confident about offering their baby what they need to develop and meet their milestones. Supporting parents to understand, connect with and sensitively respond to their child.
- Learning how to manage emotions and build resilience.
- Support to develop healthy relationships and maintain a positive and healthy lifestyle.
- Assisting parents to build local networks.
New baby 0-6 months
- Support when baby is born with routines and managing parenting worries.
- Support to build on parenting skills needed as baby grows.
- Ongoing support to work with professionals such as health visitors and social workers.
- Weekly, ‘Stay and Play’, sessions at the Family Centres which will support baby’s development, build parents confidence and understanding of their baby’s needs.
- Emotional and practical support for parents.
- Supporting parents to build positive support networks.
Infant and Toddler 6-18 months
- Support surrounding weaning and reaching milestones.
- Infant and toddler groups and play sessions to help mums and dads become confident about offering their baby what they need to develop and meet their milestones.
- Supporting the development of parents local connections.
North Essex Family Centre
Tina Moore
07747486365
Heather Churchyard
07827976433