Supporting families to Flourish

Summary of issues

Families and children in England face a range of multiple and interrelated challenges and difficulties in their everyday lives, such poverty, inequality, financial hardship, domestic abuse and violence, mental health difficulties, and special educational needs and disabilities. These challenges can affect outcomes and experiences in various domains, such as health, education, employment, and social inclusion. These challenges vary depending on the location, socio- economic status, ethnicity, and other factors of the families and children. To effectively support families, it is important to understand the nature and extent of these challenges, as well as the factors that influence them.

What are the key challenges in Norfolk?

According to the Norfolk Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership, some of the key challenges for families and children in Norfolk are:

Rurality and isolation: Many families and children face difficulties in accessing services, transport, and opportunities and may also experience social isolation and exclusion, especially those who live in remote areas or have limited mobility.
Deprivation and inequality: Norfolk has a higher proportion of children living in low-income families than the national average (Department for Work and Pensions, 2019), and many families struggle to afford basic necessities and cope with unexpected expenses. Poverty can have negative impacts on children's health, education, and well-being, as well as their future prospects. Poverty can also affects families' mental health and well-being, as well as their ability to access and engage with support services.
Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): About 16% of children in Norfolk have some form of SEND, such as autism, dyslexia, or physical impairments (Department for Education, 2020). This is higher than the national average of 14%. These children can face barriers in accessing education, health, and social care services, and in achieving their potential and aspirations. SEND can also affect families' well-being, finances, and access to support.
Domestic abuse and violence: About 13% of children in Norfolk have witnessed or experienced domestic abuse or violence in their homes, higher than the national average of 10% (Crime Survey for England and Wales, 2020). Domestic abuse and violence can cause physical and psychological harm, trauma, and fear, and affect children's development and relationships. These children may be more likely to suffer from trauma, fear, and emotional distress, and to develop behavioural and mental health difficulties.
Substance misuse and addiction: About 9% of children in Norfolk live with a parent or carer who has a problem with alcohol or drugs. This is higher than the national average of 7%. These children are more likely to experience neglect, abuse, and instability in their lives, and to develop mental health difficulties or substance misuse themselves.
Mental Health: Norfolk has a higher prevalence of adults with common mental health disorders than the national average (NHS Digital survey 2014), and many parents face stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. Parental mental health difficulties can be influenced by various factors, such as trauma, abuse, poverty, isolation, and stigma. Parental mental health difficulties can affect parenting capacity, family relationships and functioning, and children's emotional and behavioural outcomes.

What do our children and young people tell us?

According to various surveys and consultations conducted by organisations and agencies such as the Children's Commissioner for England, the Norfolk Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership, the Norfolk Youth Parliament, and the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership, some of the key challenges that children and young people tell us are:

Mental health and well-being: Many children and young people in the UK and in Norfolk report that they struggle with their mental health and well-being including feeling anxious, depressed, stressed, lonely, and isolated. They say that they need more support and access to mental health services, and more opportunities to talk about their feelings and emotions.
Education and learning: Many children and young people in the UK and in Norfolk report that they have difficulties with their education and learning, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employment and future: Many children and young people in the UK and in Norfolk report that they have concerns and uncertainties about their employment and future, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. They say that they need more information and advice on their options and opportunities, and more skills and training to prepare them for the labour market and the society.
Safety and protection: Many children and young people in the UK and in Norfolk report that they have issues and fears about their safety and protection, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. They say that they face risks and threats from online abuse, bullying, grooming, exploitation, and radicalisation and dangers and violence from domestic abuse, gangs, drugs, and knives. They also say that they need more awareness and education on how to stay safe and protect themselves, and more help and support from professionals and services that can intervene and prevent harm.
Participation and voice: Many children and young people in the UK and in Norfolk report that they have aspirations and opinions about their lives and their communities. They say that they want to have a say and a role in the decisions and policies that affect them and their futures and more involvement and influence in the local and national issues and matters that they care about. They also say that they need more platforms and channels to express their views and ideas, and more recognition and respect from the adults and the authorities.

Please see signposted support below to address these challenges.

What support is available?

National

Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) - Working with Parents to Support Children's Learning - EEF guidance report reviews the best available research, to offer schools and teachers four recommendations to support parental engagement in children's learning.
Benefits and financial support for families - Information about child benefits and financial support for families who look after children or plan to have or adopt a child.
NSPCC Learning - Information, advice and training to help education staff to gain the skills and confidence that you need to protect children from online abuse and harm and criminal exploitation.
Participation and Voice - Find further information and advice about involving children and young people in decision making and providing platforms and channels for children and young people to express their views and ideas from Emotionally Healthy Schools and Anna Freud.

Norfolk

We have a range of self-serve services and in person programmes that can support families and children and young people with key issues, such as:

Just One Norfolk provides support to families around a range of topics. Families can contact Just One Norfolk directly by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting 07520 631590 with any questions or concerns about health, wellbeing or development.
One Plus One (justonenorfolk.nhs.uk) - Resources to support families better manage conflict.
Flourishing Families Tool - This tool has been designed for families who might need a little extra help to meet their child's needs, this may be with healthy eating, fun activities or financial support. The tool helps families work out what they're already feeling confident with and how to find support if and when needed.
Just One Norfolk's FYI - FYI (for your information) provides trusted help, advice and information for 11- to 24-year-olds around health, education, friendships, mental health, additional needs and home life.
Norfolk County Council Client Hardship Service - The Client Hardship Service (CHS) aims to provide financial help in a range of ways: support with money management, budgeting support and advice, supporting grant applications, providing cost comparisons for utilities, supporting with contacting debt agencies, making referrals to support workers and supporting to get people back into work.
Norfolk SENDIASS - Norfolk SENDIASS provide free and impartial information, advice and support about special educational needs & disabilities (SEND) for children, young people, parents and carers
Services for Domestic abuse - Norfolk County Council have collated advice and guidance for those experiencing domestic abuse and list local as well as national support services.
Support around drug and alcohol misuse - Just One Norfolk provide information and advice parental drug and alcohol misuse and provide a list of support services.
St Giles Trust - St Giles SOS+ Service delivers early intervention work in educational settings, through preventative sessions on violence, vulnerability and exploitation.
Big Norfolk Holiday Fun - Active Norfolk - The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun provides holiday activities for children and young people aged 4 -16 in Norfolk. These activities include multi-sports, dance, theatre, arts and crafts, and much more! Children eligible for benefits-related free school meals can claim free spaces on the activities, whilst paid spots are available on many activities for those who don't
Participation and voice - Youth Advisory Boards (YABs) are bodies of young people and professionals that meet on a bi-monthly basis in six district areas. The aim of each YAB is to identify local issues that impact on young people and to play a strategic role in meeting these needs.

Ways of working

Family Hubs - Family hubs bring together a range of existing services, so families can access the advice and support they need, when they need it. Our family hubs approach supports parents and carers of children and young people from conception up to the age of 19-years-old (25 for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities) and includes advice around children's health and wellbeing.
Learning Together through PEEP - Learning Together through PEEP is an evidence-based programme offered as part of our Family Hub and Start for Life Programme offer in Norfolk. The Peep Learning Together Programme helps families and practitioners make the most of the learning opportunities in everyday life, supporting their babies' and young children's learning through play. Peep is a strengths-based approach to working with families, focusing on doing with rather than doing to parents, in line with our principles. Contact familyhub@norfolk.gov.uk for more information.
Solihull Approach - The Solihull Approach 'Understanding Your Child' is a free online course available for everyone who cares for children aged 0-18 years. It's there to help families recognise emotions in themselves and their child and helps families to see how these emotions can impact on behaviour.

Key contacts

Just One Norfolk - contact Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting 07520 631590 with any questions or concerns about health, wellbeing or development.
Family Hubs - Find information about local family hubs or complete the online form.