Family Support Services
Mid & North Devon
Deputy Family Services Manager: Margaret Simmonds
Westexe Children’s Centre
Cowick Street
Exeter
EX1 1HL
Tel: 01392 279361
Referrals:
Are made to the service by Social Workers based in the locality childcare team.
Aim:
Our job is to support families with young children, helping parents to enjoy life with their children, taking an active part in their growth and development, keeping them safe in their own homes with their own family. Together, Family Support Workers and parents can look at practical issues such as budgeting, food shopping, value for money, household routines.
We offer support and encourage parents to gain confidence in setting boundaries for their children's behaviour: Confident parents can make for competent children. All the elements of daily life involved in keeping children active, busy, healthy, comfortable and safe are addressed and encouraged.
Links:
The team's workers have well-developed links with other community resources such as: local pre-school childminders, nurseries, primary schools, foster parents, Health Visitors, Care Management Teams, Mental Health Community resources, Housing Departments, CAN Bureaux, WRVS resources stores, Volunteer Bureaux, and GP surgeries.
All Family Support Workers are trained in Child Protection issues, assessment of attachment and parenting skills, Child Development, and Courtwork skills, and many have special skills in debt management, counselling, pre-school groupwork, working with disabilities and playwork.
