Support for Parents and Carers
We have many local partners who can provide support for parents, including:
Home Link support workers
Information to follow shortly (3 August 2017).
Home Start Orkney
Home-Start Orkney is a voluntary home-visiting scheme which offers free support, friendship and practical help to families with at least one child under the age of five. Families are visited regularly in their own homes by volunteers who have all had experience of parenting, and know how hard it can sometimes be. A link to the website is available from the 'Related Sites' section of this page.
Family Support Team – Orkney Islands Council
The family support team has 3 family support workers who are part of the Children and Families Service. The Family Support Team can only get involved with a child or family if a Children and Families Social Worker asks them to. Support is usually offered in the family home or in the community where the family live. They work closely with teachers, social workers, health visitors, third sector organisations, children, their parents and their wider network to make sure families get the sort of support that they need.
Health Visitors
Health Visitors provide a Universal Service, through NHS Orkney, to all families with a child under 5 years old. Their work with families begins in the ante-natal period and lasts until the child enters Primary 1. They are all trained nurses or midwives (often both), who then complete a Masters level degree at University to obtain a Specialist Certificate in Public Health Nursing. In Scotland they deliver the Health Visiting Pathway, which involves visiting families in their homes at key-points identified by the Scottish Government and enshrined in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. They work closely with partner agencies, especially Education - to support children and families using the Getting It Right For Every Child principles and the National Practice model.
Care Inspectorate
The Scottish Government set up the Care Inspectorate to provide assurance and protection for people who use care, social work and child protection services in Scotland. The workforce is highly skilled and experienced in all aspects of care, social work and child protection. A link to the website is available from the 'Related Sites' section of this page.
Relationships Scotland Orkney
Relationships Scotland Orkney (RSO) is a voluntary organisation affiliated to Relationships Scotland. RSO provides mediation and counselling and fulfils a need in the community due to the level of divorce and separation in families here in Orkney. A link to the website is available from the 'Related Sites' section of this page.
Women's Aid
At Women's Aid Orkney they provide free and confidential support to women and children who have been affected by domestic abuse. A link to the website is available from the 'Related Sites' section of this page.
Sing and Sign - The original British Baby Signing Programme
What is baby signing? Babies use all kinds of signs and gestures as a natural part of learning to talk. Encouraging your baby with extra signs like milk, more, change nappy or tired will help your baby communicate!
Baby signing with Sing and Sign is easy because it is fun to learn! Your baby will recognise important words sooner and can use the signs to talk to you before speech.
Orkney Library - Bookbug
The Aims of Bookbug are:
- To provide free resources to help parents to share books with babies.
- To ensure that all children have free and regular access to a wide range of books which are suitable for their age.
- To promote a love of books and reading from an early age which will last throughout life.
- A link to the Scottish Book Trust website is available from the 'Related Sites' section of this page.
Other forums for information and / or support.
Scottish Childminders
A Forum run by childminders for childminders. This forum was built by a group of childminders who felt there was a need for something more focused for Scotland's Childminders. Childminding can feel very lonely at times, and when starting out it can also be very confusing. The forum can help share knowledge and experience with others. On the website you can exchange views and ideas with like-minded people. You can talk freely about many different subjects, and get all the help and advice you need.
Play, Talk, Read
Easy, fun ways to help your child be happier, learn more and enjoy a better start in life. For more information go to the link in the "Related Sites" section of this page.
Solihull Approach Parenting
An exciting, well-established model that really works! We're all about emotional health and well-being. For more information go to the link in the "Related Sites" section of this page.
Parenting Across Scotland
Access the best free information in Scotland – any subject from your rights to work, becoming a parent, managing difficult behaviour to starting school and teenagers. For more information go to the link in the "Related Sites" section of this page.
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