At one time or another, we could all do with a lending hand or a listening ear, someone who will suggest practical strategies to solve an issue or to listen to us without judgement. Our Early Help offer is just that; it is for anybody and everybody.

When things are not working well either for you, your child or your family, we will always endeavour to help. We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we will be happy to try and understand your issues and suggest ways in which we may be of help.

'Early Help’ means providing help for children, young people and families as soon as problems start to emerge or where it is likely that issues will impact negatively on children’s outcomes.

Early help…

• Is for children of all ages and not just the very young,
• Can be provided at any point of need and;
• Can be very effective in supporting a child, young person and/or their family to step down from statutory services as well as preventing the escalation of issues.
• Is important because there is clear evidence that it results in better outcomes for children.

Early help is a term that describes much of the everyday work of schools. 

Specifically within St Laurence this will look like:

• Contactable and accessible safeguarding staff, who will be able to assist families in accessing available resources in the community.
• An Early Help Programme run by P4YPS, a dedicated service that provides support to families. Our Early Help Advisor is Melissa Still.
• A Positive Play programme to provide a safe space for children who may face challenges outside of school.
• TAF (Team Around the Family) meetings, held in school, that may involve outside agencies (health visitor, school health, family support worker etc) where families have been identified as requiring additional support.
• CAMHs/Build Sound Minds/Compass referrals for children requiring support with mental health.

We at St Laurence are supported with Early Help by Laura Kaminski, our Early Help Advisor, who is part of the Erewash and South Derbyshire Transition Team. 

Where required, escalation to outside agencies may be completed. This will be discussed with you as a parent except in cases where a child is considered to be at immediate risk of harm. 

If you would like additional information about Early Help please email: safeguarding@st-laurence.derbyshire.sch.uk 

Key people involved in our Early Help are:
Mrs Shields our Head of School and Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Barker, our Executive Headteacher and Deputy Safeguarding lead
Mrs Thomasson, our School Business Officer, will answer the phone, and be happy to put you in touch with the best person.

Please contact any of these people on 01159728469 or through Class Dojo.

 

       Everyone benefits from Early Help at some time. We are all here to listen and help you.

 

Here are some useful sources of support and information:

Money 

The Trussell Trust - Stop UK Hunger – Food bank and support.

Canaan Trust  - Food bank and support.

Derbyshire Discretionary Fund (DDF) - Derbyshire County Council Derbyshire  Discretionary Fund provides grants or emergency cash payments for those in  financial crisis. Tel: 01629 533399 

Household Support Fund: The Household Support Fund (HSF) is a grant to  help vulnerable families and households facing financial hardship to help pay  for food, energy and essential living costs.  

Please contact school to make an application. 

Derbyshire Welfare Rights Service – Advice Line 01629531535 with more  information at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/welfarebenefits 

Health 

How to register with a GP surgery - NHS (www.nhs.uk) Register with a GP

How to find an NHS dentist - NHS (www.nhs.uk) Find a dentist 

Home - Live Life Better Derbyshire Health support including fitness, losing  weight and stopping smoking. 

Henry – www.henry.org.uk Helping families with under 5s live healthier lives.  

Housing 

Derbyshire Law Centre – Housing Repair Support Service – Assistance with  private Landlords not carrying out repairs – 01246 550 674/0800 707 6990  dlc@derbyshirelawcentre.org.uk

Pathways – Risk of homelessness – 01246 498204

Links to helpful organisations | Housing Ombudsman (housing ombudsman.org.uk) Housing Ombudsman – Links to advice services and  charities 

Service Results - P3 (p3charity.org) - Housing and homelessness, non clinical mental health advice and support.  

Mental Health Support and Guidance 

Mental Health Emergency Helpline Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline - P3  (p3charity.org) 

Tel: 0800 028 0077080 

SHOUT – 24/7 text messaging mental health support service 85258 

Men Talk - Telephone: 07976 315919 Email: mentalkmeeting@gmail.com mental health support for men 

Action for Children – Building Sound Minds for 0- 17 years – for help with  emotional wellbeing – for children who are not already under CAMHS – Please note that this is not a crisis service. Parents can self-refer. 

Samaritans – 116 123 for immediate distress, feelings of despair and suicidal  thoughts 

Qwell Home - https://www.qwell.io/Qwell– online counselling and support for parents and carers of  young people 

BEAT – information and support for anyone affected by an eating disorder – 0808 801 0677 

Young minds YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young  People | YoungMinds– advice and support for young people affected by  mental health – there is also a parents helpline 0808 802 5544 

CALM https://www.thecalmzone.net/ Campaign Against Living Miserably Other

Other helpful services 

Place2Be – Parenting Smart – lots of guidance and advice for parents 

The Elm Foundation – For anyone affected by or worried about Domestic  Violence including refuge support – 08000 198 668 

The Sleep Charity Thesleepcharityorg.uk – Helpline – 03303 530 541 

www.oneplusone.org.uk offers some free courses for parents: 

For new parents, for parents who are experiencing conflict and stress in  their relationship and for parents who have decided to separate. 

CGL – Change Grow Live – for help and support with drug and alcohol  problems for anyone under 19 – 01773 303 646 

Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service – 0845 308 4010 

Derbyshire Substance Misuse Service – 0300123 1201 

www.derbyshirecarers.co.uk Support for young carers in Derbyshire 

Thr1ve https://spireitestrust.org.uk/ runs from Chesterfield Football Club  and is a social prescribing service. You can self-refer and is for children  11-18 years old. Aimed at children who are perhaps not in Education or  Employment. It can help to reduce isolation and improve wellbeing. 

Hub of Hope https://hubofhope.co.uk/ If you are looking for a service in  your area you can put your postcode in and it will try and find help near to  you