Supporting Families
The Castle Family Support Team (We Can Help)
Being a parent can be one of the best jobs in the world - but also one of the hardest, and few of us get training. Most of us just do the best we can. If we're lucky, we learn good parenting from the way we were brought up, or we have friends and family around to talk to and support us when we're finding it hard. But if we didn't have positive parenting ourselves it can be hard to know how to do the best for our children. And even if we did have a loving childhood, life is very different now to when most of us were young.
We at the Centre therefore place a high value on supporting the parent / carer and child relationship by having a sound ethos and philosophy of parental involvement and partnership. We also strive to develop a range of services and activities which are needs led and aim to strengthen family relationships and overall well being, supporting families through difficulties, encourage family learning and celebrate families successes and strengths.
Team Profile
The team is made up of a Social Work Co-ordinator and seven Family Workers who have over 16 years experience in supporting children and their parents with everyday stress and pressures associated with family life. The team is made up of workers who provide general parenting support and some members of the team provide more specialist help and support for parents and their children.
The Family Support Team
My name is Mark Duffy, I am the Social Work Co-ordinator with responsibility for the Family Support Team. I am also involved in delivering the parenting programmes that run from the Centre and facilitate a group for fathers and male carers. I also work with parents and children offering general and specialised familiy support services.
E-mail: mark@castlecc.wakefield.sch.uk
My name is Nichola Boyer, I am a family worker working within the Snowdrop Project. My role within the team is to provide specialist help and support to families who are experiencing attachment and bonding issues, to help parents to develop a more positive relationship with their child/children.
E-mail: nichola@castlecc.wakefield.sch.uk
My name is Kim Liddle, I am a family worker based within the team. My role is to work with parents who have children with social and communication difficulties. I also host a support group for parents.
E-mail: kim@castlecc.wakefield.sch.uk
My name is Sarah Parton and I am a family worker. My role within the team is to support parents and children who have general support needs, I am also involved in delivering some of the groups that we run for parents and children at the Centre.
E-mail: sarah@castlecc.wakefield.sch.uk
My name is Angela Shaw and I am a family worker who also offers general family support to parents and children. In addition I help facilitate and support a variety of groups within the Centre.
E-mail: angie@castlecc.wakefield.sch.uk
My name is Diane Townend I am a family worker, working with the Gypsy and Traveller community who live on the Heath Common Traveller Site within Wakefield. I organise and run toddler groups for pre-school children and help run a coffee morning for parents. I have also just completed Baby Massage training and will be involved in running a new group in 2010.
E-mail: diane@castlecc.wakefield.sch.uk
My name is Michelle Bradley and I am a family worker working within the Snowdrop Project, my role within the team is to provide specialist help and support to families who are experiencing attachment and bonding issues, to help parents to develop a more positive relationship with their child/children.
E-mail: michelle@castlecc.wakefield.sch.uk
My name is Ali Wilson and I am a family worker responsible for the Parent and Toddler Group which runs on a Wednesday 9.00am until 11.00am and Portobello Playtime which is held at Portobello Community Centre on Friday 1.00pm until 2.30pm. I have also just finished Baby Massage training and will be running a new group in 2010.
E-mail: ali@castlecc.wakefield.sch.uk
My name is Alice Bedford and I am a Parent Support Worker. I support Parents and their children who have general support needs and I also help with some of the groups that run within the Centre.
E-mail: alice@castlecc.wakefield.sch.uk
My name is Sharon Borkwood and I am a Parent Support Worker who works with parents and children with general support needs both as individuals and in groups.
E-mail: sharon@castlecc.wakefield.sch.uk
What We Can Offer
The way the Centre supports families can be through:
1) Working directly with parents or their children on an individual basis, either in their home or at the Centre.
2) Informal support in Nursery and across the Centre
3) Working with other people to provide services for families, such as Health Visitors, Job Centre Plus and Adult Education.
4) Providing childcare to assist parents to work and train.
5) Providing a parent's library with a specialist library for parents of children with social communication difficulties.
6) Providing computer / internet access.
7) We can offer group work for parents or children to provide learning opportunities and support. groups that we run in the Centre include:
Birth to Walking Group - This is a new group which is due to start on 24th February 2010. It is aimed at parents and carers and their children (aged birth to when they are walking). The group is run by Family Workers Ali Wilson, Diane Townend and Michelle Bradbury. Amanda Welcher from Sandal Medical Centre will also be on hand to offer advice and support. Held on Wednesday afternoons 1.00pm until 2.30pm.
Parent & Toddler Group - Held on a Wednesday morning 9.00am until 11.00am. A chance to meet other parents/carers and let your child play in a safe environment.
Webster Stratton Parenting Group - Our groups have run for the past seven years. The course runs over twelve weeks and helps parents to deal with children's challenging behaviour and increases the attachment between parents and their children (by referral only, contact the Centre for details).
S.P.A.C.E. Support Group - For parents who have a child with social and communication difficulties. groups are held monthly. For more details contact Kim Liddle.
Men Behaving Dadly - This is held on the last Saturday of the month 10.00am until 12.00pm. This group is aimed at Dads and Male Carers and children under 9. It is an opportunity for Dads to meet, socialise and for children to learn & play together. Contact the Centre for details.
Childminders - Thursday's 9.00am until 11.00am, Term time only. A chance to meet other Childminders and learn how to work with the EYFS effectively in a stimulating, child friendly environment.
Family Support Drop-in - The last Friday in the month 9.15am until 11.15am. The drop in offers informal support to parents awaiting a place on the family support programme and those parents who have finished working with the family support team but still wish to gain support in a relaxed environment.
Bright Owls Library - This is open at various times throughout the week when groups are running. We have an extensive range of both childrens story books and adult information books on child development, parenting skills and other related subjects. Anyone can join once you've registered with the Centre.
Portobello Playtime - Fridays 1.00pm until 2.30pm at Portobello Community Centre. This is a Parent & Toddler Group and is only 50p per family. Come and join us for a cuppa and a chat.
Bosom Buddies - Held on a Friday morning 9.30am until 11.30am. This is a Breastfeeding Peer Support Group offering advice and support about breastfeeding, whether you are thinking about it or already breastfeeding.
Homestart - Homestart run a variety of groups within the centre. These groups are for families who have been referred to Homestart so for more information contact them on: 01977 603860.
Midwives Drop-in - This group is on a Friday between 10.00am and 12.00pm. Midwives are available to discuss any aspect of your pregnancy, antenatal or postnatal from having an antnatal check up to weighing your baby.
Speech & Language Drop-in - Last Wednesday of the month 9.00am until 11.00am. Are you concerned about your child's speech and language development or has someone else discussed your child's speech and language skills with you? If you are not sure whether to ask for a referral or would like to see a therapist without an appointment then the drop in sessions are for you!
How Do I Access The Support
To attend any of the groups or for one to one support you will need to register with the Castle Centre - just ring, drop in or ask for a form to be sent to your home. If you live in the Portobello, Agbrigg/Heath Common or Sandal area and have a child between 0-4 years you could also ask your Health Visitor or Midwife for a form. Some groups run all the time and some run at different times throughout the year, What's On leaflets available throughout the centre will give you more information.
For 'one to one' support a 'Referral Form' needs to be completed so that we can learn more about your specific needs and how we may be able to help. Please ask to speak to a member of the Family Support staff if you feel that one to one support would help you and your children.
What Parents Say About The Support They have Received From The Centre
"I saw big improvements within a couple of meetings and decided to stick at it, the workers were great, they gave me great suggestions and the tips and advice were wonderful. Me and my daughter get along better now, we play, sing, dance, even cuddle one another which wasn't happening before."
"There is always someone there who will listen and try and help me to resolve my problems."
"I have been able to meet parents who are having similar problems to me and make lots of friends"
"They arranged for us to go away on holiday as a family for the first time in seven years and we had a fantastic time."
"I felt like committing suicide with all the debt we had, but they helped me to get rid of nearly all the creditors, it made such a difference, like someone had lifted a huge weight off my back."
About Annual Dad's Day - "I have really enjoyed having the opportunity to come here this morning and see exactly what goes on and have a good time with my daughter....really good idea to have a Dad's day and I hope you do it again!"