Vale Family Information Service
Putting Families First
Family and Youth Information Services Conference
Becky Wickett, Information Officer, Vale of Glamorgan Council
Aims of the presentation
• How the Family Information Service has
evolved in the Vale
• Putting Families First project & DVD
• How FIS links with the project
• Case Study
• Conclusion
How the Vale FIS has evolved
• Children & Young People’s
Information Service (CYPIS)
launched in 2005
• Extended to a Family Information
Service in 2008 as a result of the
Childcare Act 2006
• Now a one stop information and advice shop for
families with children age 0-20 years: childcare,
services and activities for children and young people
and family support
• Received over 4,000 enquiries in the past year, either
direct to the service or online childcare and family
support enquiries.
How the Vale FIS has evolved cont….
• Youth information age 11-25yrs
available online - Swoosh website
• Family Support Directory
• Disability Index, funded by Families First
 Quarterly newsletter ‘the index’
 Online directory children with additional
needs
 Regular mail-outs
 Received 96 direct enquiries in the past year
Putting Families First Project
‘Parents and carers are the single most important
factor in a child’s life’
Welsh Government Parenting Action Plan
‘Our aim is to improve support for parents and
carers in order to improve life opportunities
for children’
Vale Family Support Strategy 2010-2013
How does it work?
• Aims to empower parents through information and
positive experiences
• Run in 18 primary schools (8 in Communities First area)
and 1 in the community in Barry
• LSAs are upskilled to run weekly sessions
• All parents are invited – very informal
• Mobile crèche is available
• Programme includes:
– 10 week Nurturing Programme, 3 week Confident Families Programme, Reading
Readiness and Ready for Maths Programmes, play sessions, First Aid & Food
Hygiene training, CV writing and interview skills (all accredited), visits from FIS,
Credit Union, Citizens Advice, Health & Wellbeing Coaches and more
What has the project achieved?
2012 - 2013
• 176 Parents achieved accreditation
• 61 Parents attended a 10 week
parenting course
• 520 evaluation forms collected
• 90% parents felt more able to support
their families
• 96% parents reported that they were more
keen to engage in school activities
• 100% parents would recommend the group to others
How do FIS & PFF work together?
• FIS attends and gives info and advice on childcare,
returning to work, help with childcare costs, family
support, Disability Index and more
• Enables FIS to reach a priority audience - 81 Parents
seen in the last year
• Gives FIS a foot in the door to introduce
the FIS School Certificate – 13 out of 51
primary schools have achieved Level 1
• LSA becomes contact person and driver
for FIS School Certificate
• School will already meet some criteria:
attend a parent event, display posters
and leaflets..
Case Study
A mum approached Teresa at a school parent session to
ask about parent & toddler groups. She had a 2 ½ yr old
son who had ADHD and Epilepsy. Mum was really
struggling as her son was having seizures in the night and
she couldn’t sleep with worry. She also had Bipolar.
Teresa said firstly to see her doctor. She also referred her
to the Telecare Team and an epilepsy bed sensor was
fitted, which alerted mum if her son was having a seizure.
Teresa also accessed carers funds to pay for childcare for
a day so that mum could attend Carers Rights Day. The
son was added to the disability index and mum then
received regular information. Teresa also made a referral to
the Families First Team Around the Family (FACT Team),
who allocated a key worker.
Contact details
Becky Wickett
Vale Family Information Service
[email protected]
01446 704704
www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/fis
Twitter: @Valefis
Facebook: Vale Family Information Service
Ruth Ferrier
Putting Families First
01446 709811
[email protected]
Twitter: @Putting1st