Area Family Support Coordinator Michael Dennis and the team of home visitors (pictured), are providing vital early help to families in Burngreave to make sure children reach their full potential and that difficult situations don’t get worse.
Michael Dennis is convinced that ‘early intervention’ works but it relies on allowing the children’s voice to be heard; building up a trusting relationship with schools, health workers and housing staff and working closely with the voluntary sector. The commitment of the four locally recruited home visitors who speak seven languages between them is also key. Without this work, children might end up in care, causing great emotional pain for children and parents as well as huge financial costs.
The project offers support around bereavement; mental health problems; acute behaviour and communication difficulties; drug or alcohol abuse; helping those with no English access services; bullying; exclusion and special educational needs.
Michael also works with Burngreave Sure Start; Refugee Housing; Burngreave Drug Project; Sheffield Multiple Heritage Service; Black Palm; Burngreave Domestic Abuse Project; Cellar Space and alongside North East Family Support team to ensure families in crisis access statutory service.
The Family Support Co-ordinator’s work is funded through the Council’s Area Panel and Burngreave New Deal. This funding will continue until October 2006, when it will be looked at in the wider context of how to support families.
You can contact the Family Support office on 273 5446 or Michael Dennis on 0775 378 0227.