Welcome to Home-Start Arun, Worthing and Adur

Response to COVID-19 and support to local families

Over the last two days I have met with key trustees and taken national guidance to ensure that we have thoroughly and rigorously thought through our offer of support to families in the light of the Coronavirus risks.

We will continue to support all our Family Group and 1-2-1 home supported families through this difficult time. We recognise that many of our families are vulnerable in many ways. We have 70 families receiving support at this time and 48 active support volunteers, and we may be their only support.

We have adapted our service to ensure continued support to families, whilst looking after our volunteers and staff. Having conducted a business continuity plan and risk assessment for our insurers, this is how we are currently responding:

• Family Groups held weekly in; Bersted, Littlehampton, Worthing and Lancing have been cancelled from this week, taking an early and extended Easter Break
• Home visits have been suspended this week and we are booking in regular telephone calls with parents. We are aware that this uncertainty can accelerate mental health challenges already held by many of our parents
• We have cancelled face to face events and training for the short term
• The final two days of our Volunteers' Training Course has been postponed, the remaining training is being delivered with online and telephone content by staff. This ensures that we have trained volunteers ready to offer telephone support to families
• Supporting parents to talk to their children about what is happening
• We are considering how staff can make regular visits to the homes of identified vulnerable families, i.e those with Early Help Plans. This will include only doorstep contact, with all the children seen where possible
• We will work with the MASH desk and communicate any families we feel need immediate additional support
• Staff will have minimal contact with each other, working from home, using calls and Skype for meetings and Board meetings
• Facebook messages and helpful links are being posted to reach our wider audience e.g encouraging families to get out and use open spaces/ our beautiful coastline
• Facilitate food support through the local Foodbanks/ other local providers
• Act as a point of contact for parents needing practical support around shopping – medications, nappies, baby milk, wipes, cleaning products etc.
• Encouraging parents to reach out to neighbours, local and online support groups for practical support in the short term
• Volunteers will have a new diary sheet which is to be completed after each telephone conversation with the family to ensure contact of any form, continues to be captured
• We have completed the risk assessment for our full service for our insurers and reviewed our business continuity plans.

Referrals for new families needing support will be received as normal and triaged by Charlotte Simmons, Senior Organiser, as is our usual process. Families meeting our referral criteria will be offered telephone support until the isolation phase is lifted.

We will continue to work in this way until any advice changes. We are confident that these business continuity methods will provide sustainable support for an uncertain future for our families and the safety of our volunteers and staff.

Please reach me at the office (01903 889707) or email me if you have any specific comments or queries, Bridget@home-startawa.org.uk

Many thanks for your support and co-operation.

Best wishes,
Bridget Richardson
Chief Executive Officer