What to do if you need support

Parenting facts

Being a parent is one of the most important jobs there is – it is also one of the hardest.

Most parents want to do their best for their children but for many, living with disadvantage can severely compromise their ability. Poverty, unsuitable and insecure housing, domestic violence, lone parenthood, and being a young parent can all disrupt a parent’s ability to cope, and families under stress need extra support. Even without any of these factors present, sometimes a little help can go a long way in helping us to cope with the pressures of parenthood.

• 61 per cent of British parents describe parenting as ‘fairly’ or ‘very difficult’.
• 94 per cent of parents say it is helpful to talk to another person about parenting problems. (Barnardo’s, 2014)

If you are a parent and you think you could benefit from additional support in caring for your child you have a number of options.

Come and talk to a member of the pastoral team, we can help.

First of all – please feel free to talk to someone at school. We have a wealth of knowledge about local support services and we can signpost or refer you to the right place.

Family Intervention Service (FIS)

Families in Sheffield can self-refer to the Family Intervention Service (FIS) by calling 0114 203 7485 to access support for children and family needs. FIS works with families with children, offering services like intervention workers, action plans, and meetings for support. Other options include speaking to a school or health visitor for an Early Help Assessment.

How to Self-Refer to Sheffield FIS

· Telephone: Call the Early Help Hub at 0114 203 7485.

· Email: Contact the team for queries regarding support at FISBusinessSupport@sheffield.gov.uk.

· Online/Agency: You can speak with a professional already working with your family (such as a school pastoral lead, teacher, or health visitor) to start an Early Help Assessment (EHA)

FIS can support with:

New parenting skills – Helping parents to build a closer relationship with children and encourage better behaviour, including:

• Teaching new skills
• Coping with stress
• Managing problem behaviour

Being healthy and happy – Supporting families to be healthier, happier and more confident, including:

• Pregnancy support and advice about feeding new babies
• Teaching children to eat healthily
• Details about baby groups (e.g. baby massage and play sessions)
• Support at times of family crisis e.g. separation or bereavement

Help with children’s learning and behaviour – Supporting children through school which can help improve the way they behave, including:

• Supporting families when moving schools
• Helping with anger management or conflict by working with the family

Attending school – Helping to improve both children’s attendance at school and their performance, including:

• Help with getting children to school
• Working with children in school to improve attendance
• Helping integrate children back into school

Finding services – Helping families to find out what services are available, including:

• Understanding and completing forms
• Making appointments and attending them with family
• Signposting to other services within the city