The St Giles Midlands team are pleased to announce they are partnering with City of Wolverhampton’s Children’s Services as part of the national Families First for Children Pathfinder Initiative.
Based within the Families First Team, St Giles will deliver 13 weeks of intensive mentoring support to referred children aged 11-18 who are at risk of harm outside of the home. This early intervention work, delivered by mentors who have lived-experience of many of the issues the children may be facing thus being credible role models, aims to deliver effective, tailored support most suited to the needs of the child needing support.
Referrals to the support pathway will come from the Family Help Team within Wolverhampton’s Children’s Services and other Local Authorities, with consent to be part of the scheme obtained by parents and the young person.
The mentoring support will cover:
- Wellbeing – (consequences, identity, positivity, emotions and identifying triggers)
- Social – (how to say ‘no,’ conflict resolution, friendships, parental/guardian, professionals, accessing support)
- Knowledge / Education (around the risks of exploitation through county lines and gangs, what grooming and peer pressure can look like, realities and outcomes and healthy relationships.
After the 13 weeks of support, an 8-week transition/ exit plan is put in place which includes: goal setting, family engagement, follow-up and aftercare and closure plan which is submitted to the Family Help Team.
Extensive 360-degree feedback on the support and progress is than obtained from the: young person, mentor, parent/guardian, Lead Practioner and focus groups (risk dependent.) This will act as comprehensive evidence to support independent evaluations of the service down-the-line.
Rachel King – Deputy Director, Families First for Children Pathfinder said:
The City of Wolverhampton Children’s Services is excited to partner with St Giles Trust as part of the national Families First for Children Pathfinder initiative. As a wave 1 pathfinder local authority, Wolverhampton is exploring innovative approaches to help shape the rollout of national reforms in the children’s social care system.
St Giles workers will join the locally based, multi-disciplinary Family Help teams. They will collaborate with partners to provide intensive, non-stigmatising, and effective support tailored to the needs of children and families. Specifically, these workers will support young people and their families when risks outside the home are identified.
Having workers with lived experience in the Family Help teams will help break down barriers with families, providing practical and insightful support to vulnerable community members.
Gemma Miller – Team Leader, St Giles Midlands said:
The team are really excited about the new project and working alongside The City of Wolverhampton Children’s Services, where every family receives the support, they need to thrive, offering comprehensive interventions that empower families in need, fostering resilience, and a brighter future for all. With the support of lived-experience staff and the Family Help team this is a great partnership, we are excited to see what the future holds for the project and the outcomes it will achieve.
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