Family Support

York's Family Support Teams (0-10) offer advice and guidance on parenting, childcare and child development to families with children under 11 years. There are Family Support Teams in Clifton, Heworth and Hob Moor and they are all part of the council's Children and Families Services.
 

Family Support Teams work with all kinds of families; some families have a social worker but some just need support from a Family Support Worker. The Family Support services are free.

How to get support for your family

If you are a parent or carer and would like to find out more about getting support you can:

• visit a informal drop in session at your local Family or Children's Centre. These are advertised locally or tel: Clifton (01904) 552323, Hobmoor (01904) 555066 or Heworth (01904) 551250.
• tel: (01904) 551550
• also ask your health visitor, GP, children's school or any other agency that you are involved with to find out about support for you.

When you ask for support a social worker from the Children and Families' Services Referrals and Assessment team will talk with you. Together with you they work out if a Family Support can help you and, if so, will refer to on to the Family Support Team. The Family Support service will make an agreement with you about how that support will be given.

How we support families

A Family Support worker will work with you on parenting and can give you advice and support on other issues. They may also work with other agencies to ensure you and your family get the best possible help.

The Family Support worker can visit you in your home, at a Family and Children's Centre or at other neighbourhood venues. Family Support workers work with parents, carers and children.

You might be offered a place on a:

• support group - these include women's support groups and parenting groups. Many of these groups are 'closed groups' that you could attend if it was part of your support plan, or on a
• respite group - for children whose parents are under extreme stress. Your child could attend a respite group if it was agreed in your support plan.