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Arrival, refreshments and exhibitor viewing
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Welcome and introduction
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FAMILY HELP The future of family help - what we know so far
What is family help and why is it so important? This session will provide an overview of emerging reforms to family help, including evaluation of the Families First for Children Pathfinders, in which local authorities are testing new ways of working, and the Family Network Pilots, which are supporting extended families play an active role in keeping children out of care.
It will also capture learnings from recent changes to the Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance.
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SYSTEMIC PRACTICE The role of systemic practice in early help reforms
This session will explore how the Supporting Families Systemic Practice Pilot aims to inform the development of family help services. It will cover:
• The evidence base surrounding systemic practice and what systemic practice currently looks like in early help
• What is the Supporting Families Programme’s Systemic Practice Pilot and why it is taking place?
• Learnings so far from the Systemic Practice Pilot and the role systemic practice can play in the development of family help services
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Refreshments and exhibitor viewing
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EARLY EDUCATION Starting strong
How can we act on the insights from high-quality research into early education and multi-agency work to help every child? In this session, early years expert Julian Grenier will explore recent research and consider how professionals can work with families in a collaborative way. We know a great deal about early education, childcare, health and family support but how can we turn that into action to help children and their families?
BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose 1A, 1B or 1C)
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1A. MULTI-AGENCY WORKING
Presentation
Enabling children and young people to flourish
Partners in Norfolk are working together to deliver the ambitious Flourish framework for children and young people, which has early help at its core. It will cover:
• An overview of how Norfolk has taken a whole system approach to creating and successfully embedding Flourish as a children and young people’s outcomes framework
• How the approach is enabling collaborative leadership through creating a “Flourish movement”
• How Flourish is informing approaches to prevention and early help in Norfolk
Speakers
Assistant Director for Partnerships, Schools & Communities, Children’s Services (Partnerships, Inclusion & Practice)
Norfolk County Council
Assistant Director for Commissioning & Partnerships, Children’s Services (Partnerships, Inclusion & Practice)
Norfolk County Council
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1B. CHILDREN OF PRISONERS
Presentation
Breaking Barriers: Giving a voice to the hidden victims
Parental imprisonment is acknowledged as an adverse childhood experience (ACE). Children of prisoners are at risk of poor outcomes including ending up in the criminal justice system themselves. This presentation will give an overview of the impact of parental imprisonment, the challenges, myths and stigmas, and highlight the importance of recognising and supporting those impacted in accordance with other ACEs.
Speakers
Operations Manager and Lead for Criminal Justice and Early Intervention
Ormiston Families
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1C. YOUNG REFUGEES
Presentation
Building mental resilience in young asylum-seeking and separated children
The Refugee Council’s My View therapy service supports children and young people aged 12 to 21 who are in the UK without their families and are seeking asylum. This session will explore:
• Why it is important to provide mental wellness support for separated and asylum-seeking children and young people
• Effective strategies and how the My View model works
• How to create a compassionate and inclusive environment where mental health is prioritised for all.
Speakers
Head of Youth Services and Therapeutic Programmes for Separated Children
Refugee Council
Psychological Therapist and My View National Manager for Separated Children – Youth Services
Refugee Council
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Lunch and exhibitor viewing
Break
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YOUTH VIOLENCE Early help for children at risk of violence
Presentation
This session will lay bare the prevalence of youth violence and children and young people’s experiences of violence in England and Wales. Delegates will learn about the types of early intervention that can reduce the risk of youth violence, and policy and system changes which could make a lasting difference.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose 2A, 2B or 2C)
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2A. MENTAL HEALTH Fund the Hubs: The road to early support in every community
Presentation
Early support hubs provide somewhere for young people to go when they first struggle with their mental health. With an election on the horizon and increasing commitment from the major parties to funding the hubs, this presentation looks at what is needed to ensure a full national rollout of early support hubs and to make a success of them in the context of drastically stretched mental health services for children and young people.
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2B. DOMESTIC ABUSE The REACH strategy: An evidence-based approach to preventing domestic abuse and supporting children affected by domestic abuse
Presentation
We know the impact of domestic abuse on children is devastating and long lasting but we cannot yet say with confidence what works to support children affected or what works to prevent domestic abuse from happening. In response, Foundations has launched REACH, a five-year strategy to improve domestic abuse services. This workshop will delve into the detail of the REACH plan, outlining the importance of building evidence about what works to support children, as well as the steps required to identify proven programmes that support children and prevent domestic abuse.
Speakers
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2C. SPEECH AND LANGUAGE Improving speech, language and communication outcomes through partnership working and innovation
Presentation
This session will showcase the work of Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s award-winning early intervention speech and language team. It will include:
• An overview of the early speech and language targeted interventions offer for under-4s in Nottingham City SSBC (Small Steps Big Changes) wards
• An understanding of how to adapt and develop evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of diverse communities
• How the test and learn approach supports continuous improvement in the SSBC speech and language project team
Speakers
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Speech and Language Therapist and Home Talk Worker
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Refreshments and exhibitor viewing
Break
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DATA ANALYSIS Children at risk of poor outcomes: Can we do more with administrative data?
Presentation
A consortium of universities is working to improve knowledge of children involved with early help and social care services. This session will introduce the Administrative Data Research Community Catalyst for Children at Risk of Poor Outcomes. It will provide:
• An overview of the Community Catalyst and work to date to map and appraise quantitative knowledge about children at risk of poor outcomes
• Research priorities identified through a consultation exercise
• Plans for 2025 and how to engage with the project
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Sum-up and close of conference