Home-Start Wirral is commissioned by Wirral Local Authority to work in partnership with local Children's Centres. To ensure the best possible outcomes for families, and to avoid duplication, a clear referral process for Early Intervention Home Visiting Family Support for families with a child 0-5 years has been produced.
Referrers can identify needs of family and following a consultation with the family decide which support will best suit their needs. Or if you are unsure you can contact Home-Start Wirral or your local Children's Centre to discuss.
Referrer's Page
Everyone needs a bit of help sometimes.
Many parents need a little help and support during the early years when children are young. There is no rule book for raising a family and sometimes it can seem overwhelming, particularly when families are going through difficult times.
Frequently asked questions
- Who can be referred?
- Who can make referrals?
- How do I make a referral?
- What happens if a referral is refused?
- What happens if a referral is accepted?
- Do you have a waiting list?
- How will I be kept informed of the progress of the referral?
- How are volunteers matched with families?
- Do you have a confidentiality policy?
- How long is support offered for?
- Do you offer other support in addition to home visiting volunteers?
- How are volunteers screened?
Who can be referred?
It is our aim at Home-Start Wirral to operate an open referral policy ensuring that support is available to any family who is experiencing stress or difficulty and who has at least one child under the age of five. However, funding restrictions do not always make this possible, and as a result the availability of our service in Wirral can change from year to year. For information about services currently available please ring our office on 0151 647 8369.
Who can make referrals?
Families can refer themselves, or be referred to Home-Start Wirral by any agency, e.g. health visitor, social worker, family support worker, CPN, nursery teacher, etc.
We only restrict referrals where there is a lack of resources.
How do I make a referral?
For each referral made a Referral Form should be completed.
Before sending in a referral form families must be consulted, informed of the content of the referral form and show their agreement by signing the form.
All referrals received will be assessed to determine whether or not:
- The family has willingly chosen Home-Start Wirral.
- The referral falls within the remit of the scheme.
- The referrer needs to provide further information prior to a visit by the co-ordinator.
- The scheme is likely to have the resources to support the family.
What happens if a referral is refused?
If the referral does not fall within the remit of the scheme or there are insufficient resources to provide support, the referrer will be contacted and be informed that Home-Start Wirral can not help on this occasion. We will always endeavour to signpost families to alternative organisations who may be able to provide support.
What happens if a referral is accepted?
All referrals that are accepted for Home-Start support will receive an initial visit by a co-ordinator within fourteen days before support is offered to clarify their needs and the support that Home-Start can offer.
Do you have a waiting list?
Home-Start Wirral aims to provide support to families as soon as possible, but where there is not a volunteer available immediately the family will receive fortnightly visits from a co-ordinator until a suitable volunteer is available.
How will I be kept informed of the progress of the referral?
Referrers will be informed:
- Whether the referral has been accepted or rejected.
- Support to a family ends.
A letter will be sent to the referrer at the commencement of support and at the end of support to a family.
All other contact with referrers is usually made by phone.
Referrers are given the opportunity to comment on the service offered by Home-Start Wirral at the end of support to families via a referrers’ questionnaire.
How are volunteers matched with families?
The co-ordinator pays careful attention to matching volunteers skills and experience to the needs of families. Many factors are taken into consideration, including:
- The family’s needs.
- The volunteer’s aptitudes, skills and experience.
- Practical considerations: geography, transport and time.
- Mutual interests or life experience.
- What motivates the volunteer.
- Issues around culture, gender, background and disability.
The success of Home-Start support is dependent on the relationship that develops between the family and the volunteer, so co-ordinators make every effort to link sensitively and appropriately.
The co-ordinator always accompanies the volunteer on the first visit to introduce the volunteer to the family and set the ground rules for visiting. The co-ordinator will stay as long as appropriate to support the family and volunteer to get to know each other.
Do you have a confidentiality policy?
All personal information about parents and families is treated as confidential, to be discussed only as necessary with the co-ordinator in support of the volunteer and to assist the family. Any disclosure of confidential information to any other person may only be undertaken with the expressed permission of the parents for the purpose of assisting the family, except where it is considered necessary for the welfare and protection of a child when information shall be shared with the appropriate authority.
How long is support offered for?
Volunteers provide continuous, regular support for a period of time consistent with a family`s needs. These are assessed initially and reviewed periodically.
Home-Start Wirral’s aim is to encourage families towards independence so that the volunteer is no longer needed. The review process will determine how long the volunteer’s support is likely to be needed and clear plans will be made for ending the support in discussion with the volunteer and family.
How are volunteers screened?
All volunteers meet the requirements of our personal specification. They are interviewed before being invited to attend a 12 week preparation course and will undergo a final interview before a decision is made by the co-ordinator about their suitability for placement with a Home-Start family. We take up two references and an enhanced CRB check.
Our track record
We know that our success in connecting with families that other services have difficulty reaching or engaging with is valued by professionals.
We make a positive contribution to family life and to the outcomes for children.
As always I have found Home-Start Wirral to be professional yet offering a friendly supportive service to families!
Project Worker
Very efficient - quick to communicate with both myself and the referred family.
Social Inclusion Manager
Excellent resource that needs to continue; those parents who use the service find it beneficial.
Social Worker
Excellent, Home-Start Wirral is a friendly, caring, efficient service, able to relate well to families.
VCF Sector Worker