At the heart of Guildford Family Centre is a holistic approach to nurturing relationships with families who require support and guidance to thrive with their children and loved ones. Having children can come with various challenges for many families and some require additional support to be the best parent they can be. Sometimes, this includes just having someone to talk to! New parents might become isolated, so seeking out connection can help them to gain perspective and have any worries put aside. Having relationships with others is so vital to having a fulfilling life and, particularly when navigating new parenthood, relationships can support parental mental health which in turn also supports children’s mental health. Speaking to someone who has been through something similar can help parents with a ‘sense check’ to ease any worries.
Guildford Family Centre offers a non-judgmental space that utilises local networks, organisations and charities that can provide specific support for the family based on their needs. They also run regular groups such as the Young Parents group and Wriggles & Giggles. These groups are aimed at providing a space for children to socialise and play, but are also a chance for parents to share ideas, meet other parents or just have a check in with a professional. For example, the Family Support Workers (FSWs) might signpost for further advice or introduce a particular service that will be able to support the parents with what they need. Most of the services are free (or at least aim to be low-cost) to support all families from different backgrounds. The FSWs are knowledgeable about the different services offered in the area and they can help families understand what is available to them.
At Guildford Family Centre, the FSWs aim to facilitate and nurture relationships with families that require more specialised support. Uptake of this support is voluntary and is offered if the family want to engage with further support. The FSW’s approach is gentle, focusing on getting to know the family and what they need whilst trying to work out how they might support the family to becoming more independent again. They take the family by the hand and lead them through this process – whatever it might be, for example: supporting a new baby, working through parental conflict, or managing a change within the family. The FSW enables the family to be independent by encouraging them to take steps that are appropriate for them. They will work with a family for a brief period of time, and their purpose is tailored to what the family needs and is underpinned by developing independence and empowerment.
The FSWs act as advocates for the children within the family, ensuring their voice is heard throughout any process of support. One family who had been working with the team at the family centre for a little while was supported through the transition from nursery to school. This was difficult for the child as they had additional needs and the school were struggling to support him properly. The FSW gently applied pressure to the school to advocate for the child and family to ensure appropriate support was in place in order for him to attend school with his peers. Having one FSW assigned to each family ensures that there is a streamlined approach – one point of contact, and one person who gets to know the family well and provides a bespoke and holistic approach to the support required.
The FSW will eventually step away from the family and close their file. There is not a specific time frame for this and it is completely dependent on what the family needs. The file is closed when the FSW feels confident that the family is self-sustaining and able to seek support in the future if required, but has the tools they need now to be more independent. When I spoke with the FSW team, they shared with me that if they were not sure of how a family would cope, they would hold on and only close the file if they felt satisfied with their work together. Closing the file doesn’t mean that they don’t see the family again as sometimes the family may need some more support perhaps after having another child, or if a situation changes.
The Family Centre team runs services that are available to everyone such as communication groups or Community Gardening. These might be something the family will attend after working closely with the FSW.
The team at Guildford Family Centre goes above and beyond to ensure the lives of the children and families are on the right track before they step back. Everyone in life sometimes needs more support, and this is exactly what the team at the Family Centre is here to provide. They give families useful information for them to be able to lean on as needed as they navigate being a family. Their approach is nurturing, they advocate for the child and family, and they work to empower families to be independent and self-sustaining.
by Rachna Joshi (Freelance Writer and Early Years Consultant)