main content
A guide to the family resources service
The Family Resources Service comprises several different support services aimed at helping families and children in need. These services provide a major part of the preventative work carried out by Bromley Council's Children and Young People Department.
Who can benefit from/use this service?
Children and families living in the London Borough of Bromley who are in need of social services support and who meet the appropriate eligibility criteria.
For more information about eligibility for services please select these links for Social Services Support for Children and Families and for children with behaviour/emotional problems.
Details:
The Family Resources Service includes the services listed below.
Aides help families during periods of crisis or with particular difficulties, such as children with special needs or where parents need help with parenting. Carefully vetted and mature, they aim to establish a rapport and offer practical help. They also provide "contact" supervision for "Looked After" children and their families.
- The Sessional Driver Service
This service provides transport to children in need referred by social work teams. For example children may be taken to CAMHS appointments, hospital check- ups and family centre groups. It is also used to transport "Looked After " children to school and, in special circumstances, children in need are transported to nursery.
Costs
There is no cost for advice, information and support provided by the Family Resources Service.
Next Steps
The family centres do not take self-referrals. Referrals need to be made by social services area teams as well as by specialist teams. These teams also make referrals to the Family Aide and Sessional Driver services.
If you are interested in obtaining support provided by the Family Resources Service please contact your local social services office at either Penge or Orpington and ask to speak to the duty social worker in the Children and Families Referral and Assessment Team. Referrals for Acorn Groups and some of the parenting groups at the family centres can be made by your health visitor.
or
Contact the Child and Adolescent and Mental Health Service (CAMHS) if you think you may need help from the CAMHS Tier 2 service. The CAMHS Tier 3 service is by professional referral only.
Referrals to CAMHS are discussed in a multidisciplinary setting but social work staff at CAMHS are happy to discuss possible referrals from social work colleagues.
Contact Details
Children and Families Referral and Assessment Teams
Family Centres Contact Information
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Tier 2
Further Information
In addition to the main services covered above, the Family Resources Service has close links to other services listed below. For more information please contact the Family Resources Service Group Manager at the Orpington Family Centre (see Contact Details section).
Sure Start Penge: provides support for families with children under 4 years, who live in the Sure Start Penge catchment area. It aims to improve the health and well-being of families and children before and from birth, so children are ready to flourish before they start school.
Bromley Traveller Community Project: an independent, voluntary agency which provides advice, information, counselling and support to the traveller community around the St Mary Cray area.
Home-Start Bromley provides support to families with at least one child under 5 years of age. Volunteers visit families at home to provide advice and help build self-esteem and confidence.
Bromley Children Project: provides support with parenting, personal, health and general concerns to families with primary school age children (4 -11 years old).
Early Years Child Minding Networks: The Early Years Team provide networks of childminders who specialise in working with children in need.