Agenda item

The panel will continue to receive evidence in relation to this topic from the Teenage Pregnancy Re-integration Officer, the Manager of the Young Parents Support Team and a representative from the Positive Family Future Transformation Team.

Also attached is a written submission from the Carers Centre specifically young carers and young adult care workers.

The chair welcomed Sharon George and Teresa O'Toole (Positive Family Future Transformation Team), Lisa Caine (Manager of the Young Parents Support Service) and Kay Crockford (Teenage Pregnancy Reintegration Officer) to the meeting.

Sharon George explained to the panel that the Positive Family Future  Transformation Team have been working in Paulsgrove since May 2104 following some work sponsored by the public service board, which brings key partners in the city together. Despite a huge amount of money being spent on families there is sometimes very little positive change in the family status. One particular family had up to 50 professionals involved. The Public Services Board sponsored a team to look at services from a family perspective using the Vanguard Method. The Troubles Families programme was seen as an opportunity to understand what happens for families before they become troubled.

Sharon went on to explain a feature of the work that is being implemented. It aims to identify families from when they first arrive in the community. If they are not connected with the local services then things can quite quickly start to unravel. This is seen as a 'wobble point'. If they are not registered with a GP then the family might find it difficult to access any health support. The system then introduces a single case holder, from existing services, which will ensure that the right service and support is available for the family, known as the Navigator. The Housing Service now undertakes a welcome visit and identifies any support necessary at the very earliest point of concern. As an example, parents are advised about the Children's Centres, community centres and youth groups etc. Families now feel linked in and know where to go for support. The Navigator becomes a positive contact for these families. Both Radian and First Wessex housing associations are also keen to work with us. This model maximises support for families in the community from universal services which are already in place to support residents. This is a simple model based around one visit which then plugs people into the community which will reduce any feelings of isolation.

Teresa O'Toole, Positive Family Futures Transformation, explained from the 'check' phase of this work, the team identified that a family would often loop round, rather than move forward after a service was delivered to help the family make changes. Often, the same service would be re-delivered and so on, with little impact on the outcomes for the family. So the transformation team tried to look at something different. The Substance Misuse services in the city developed the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ( 'ACT') with people engaged in recovery services and delivers ACT based community groups to help sustain positive behaviour change in relation to their recovery, so the PFFT team looked at whether this could also apply to 'general' family life issues including anxiety and isolation. As an example, we have been working with one particular family and have seen a huge shift with the parent who is now engaging with the community, taking responsibility for their life and making real sustained changes. Relationship building between practitioner and parent has shown itself to be vital in the initial stages of this process. Teresa went on to explain that starting with what is important to the family is also crucial. If we can intervene earlier, we can make a positive shift much sooner. This model also helps to promote their ownership and empowerment. Teresa felt that there may be a lot of single mums living in Paulsgrove who feel or are isolated from the community, who are concerned about what might happen if they ask for help from services

It was noted that the 'ACT' model is at very early stages with the PFFT work however at a recent workshop hosted by the PFFT team, over 16 representatives from community based services including schools, housing and child development had attended and were looking at how to work with families, using this approach to enable to develop this model further.

Lisa Caine, the manager of the Young Parents Support Services ('YPSS') explained to the panel that YPSS provides support to young people who become pregnant whilst at school or in further education. The service supports young people through a positive pregnancy, parenting and future life chances, by working with schools so that they do not become disadvantaged. The service will pick up a young parent up to the end of Yr11 and will support them through further education, with childcare etc to help keep their aspirations alive. Young parenting can lend itself to feelings of isolation from their peers who are moving on with their lives. If support services are not available young parents can fall into isolation. There are easy things for schools to do to support young mums at school during their pregnancy as they are at high risk of feeling isolated. Many young mums suffer from anxiety and mental health problems particularly with drink or drug issues in their family. There has been a lot of preventative work undertaken in schools with sex education and the teenage pregnancy figures have come down significantly. However we do seem to be getting more school age dads. This can be very hard for the boys especially if they do not tell anyone. They have the same thoughts and anxieties as the girls do. Young parents do need direct support. They need someone to go along with them to an appointment as they are unsure of where to go, how they will be treated by staff etc. This all breeds anxiety and isolation.

Sharon George explained that this it is about recognising these concerns early on and working out how to support them.

Kay Crockford, the Teenage Pregnancy Reintegration Officer explained that the team provides an outreach service for young parents including working  with young dads. A group meets on a Wednesday at the children's centre in Cosham. Young parents are taught PSHE (personal social health and economic education) life skills to help support healthy eating, activities, education. Young people can attend these sessions from when they are pregnant up until Yr11. The schools support their attendance at these sessions. New mums are entitled to 18 weeks maternity leave from school but this is not encouraged as it would have a detrimental effect on their education. 'New' mums are encouraged to return to school within six weeks of their baby being born as this is a really significant period in their schooling. However this does depend on childcare and how the delivery went. The team offers one-to-one work with individuals and mentoring if required. Home visits are also undertaken as it is often the case that the parents of these young parents also need some support to alleviate those fears of being a parent at such a young age. It might take a little more navigation but the young person can still achieve their aspirations. Paid childcare is available up to the age of 20. Peer influence is a factor in the feeling of isolation in young parents. We often have young mums come back to the Wednesday group who are in college with their child in nursery, taking the course they want etc which gives the new parents something to aspire to, to see for themselves what they can achieve as young parents. The future can be positive for the young parent and their child. Young parents can also access other support services from our children's centres as they get to know what else is available. Young dads feel that they need to get a job, leave school etc. We suggest weekend work to help support financially in a small way whilst continuing school or college for the longer term. Their peer group do not understand how they feel as new parents. They need to know about labour, pain, what to expect at the birth. Young dads are given authorisation from school to go to scan appointments and a few days off from school after the birth. Peer support is very important for young dads. As an example, we have one young dad who thought he was the only 'young dad' in the city. When he was told he was one of three he was really surprised. We have offered him the opportunity to meet with the other dads so that they can talk about their feelings etc. Being able to share how they feel is incredibly important and reduces feelings of anxiety and isolation.