MORE ABOUT SIGNPOST
Signposting projects for families in Derbyshire were piloted in 2003 with money from the Children’s Fund. The aim of the projects was to provide a service for the many families who were being referred to social services by schools, health professionals and others but who did not meet the threshold of need.
The pilot projects were deemed a success and a useful preventative service to help families and keep their problems from escalating. This began a programme of rolling the projects out across the county.
Beth came to post in January 2004 when the CVS received funding from the Children’s Fund to develop the service in the Derbyshire Dales. One of the first tasks she completed was the production of the directory of services. Work began in the High Peak in 2005, and Shena joined the Signpost project in August 2006 and worked from the DDCVS outreach office in Ashbourne until November 2007 when she left to take up a fresh opportunity as Careercoach.
Referral System
Any family with a child under the age of 18 can refer to Signpost. A parent or young person can phone up Signpost directly themselves on 01629 810 900. Alternatively anybody working with a family can refer, either on the phone or using Signpost’s referral form as long as the family has been consulted. Signpost is a confidential service, except when it is thought somebody is at risk.
What happens next?
A referral for support tends to mean a family is visited at home (or anywhere they feel comfortable.) Signpost listens to the problems and needs of a family and together they try to decide what services might be able to help. Further visits and phone calls to the family follow to see how things are. However Signpost remains a short-term service- as a first port of call for a family contact usually ends once a family is receiving support from another service. In the majority of cases this takes less than 3 months.
Signpost has helped many parents and young people who have faced a range of difficulties. This help has included:
* Giving benefits advice and helping complete forms
* Making referrals to young carers, family mediation and Parent Partnership
* Finding counsellors
* Helping families find grants for holidays and suitable accommodation for those with disabilities
* Finding information on medical conditions
* Chasing up housing issues
* Finding local sports groups or other clubs for young people
* Finding support for children with disabilities or special needs
* Helping families access furniture projects
Please contact us if you’d like to know more on 01629 810 900 or email signpost@ddcvs.org.uk
