15 Oct 2024

Early Help Improved Practice Event 2024

Highlights from Nottingham City Early Help Improved Practice Event at the Council House on 9th October 2024.

On Wednesday 9th October, The Nottingham City Early Help Partnership hosted an excellent multiagency event for both frontline and strategic colleagues, aimed at promoting collaboration and enhancing Early Help practices. The event took place at The Council House in Nottingham City Centre. It was a day of learning and networking with great opportunities to connect with other professionals in Early Help and gain valuable insights into best practices.

Below are some highlights from the day:

Speeches

Cheryl Barnard - Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education opened the event welcoming colleagues across the Nottingham City Early Help Partnership.

This was followed by a presentation from Sarah Nardone – Interim Director of Children’s Integrated Services – NCC and Wilf Fearon – Head of Early Help NCC.

Table networking activity (my role in Team Around the Family)

To encourage networking and collaboration, a Team Around the Family activity was facilitated on each of the 15 tables in the room. Each table was given a different family and asked to describe, ‘What advice, information and support their organisation could provide’.

Notes made from each table discussion were stuck around the hall for everyone to see.

Training Workshops

A variety of workshops (see list below) were offered on the day to help partners and practitioners to be up to date with some of the latest approaches and thinking in Early intervention both nationally and locally.

Signs of Safety Workshop - Jean Faulkner
Father Inclusive Practice & Think Dads in Whole Family Working - Felicity Callon and Alison Poxon
Therapeutic parenting and Trauma Aware Care - Helen Fearn
Restorative Practice - Sarah Wright
0-5 funding….so what? - Kathryn Bouchlaghem and Caroline Vissani
Education attendance - Tracy Cross
Virtual Reality Experience (Exploitation) - Suzannah Torgbor and Angie Naaman
Solihull Approach - Dr Rebecca Johnson

VR training session

One of the workshops offered on the day was an immersive Virtual Reality training session which provided the opportunity to experience a child's perspective of neglect and reflect on how it impacts their later years and life experiences.

Participants were able to step into the world of a young person exposed to criminal exploitation, encouraging deeper conversations about the associated dangers and risks.

The session also highlighted the protective role of education for young people at risk of exploitation and helped consider ways to reduce the likelihood of permanent or temporary exclusion.

A huge thank you to Suzannah Torgbor for leading and Angie Naaman for facilitating this workshop.

Stalls for Partner Organisations

Market stalls were provided by Equation, Family Hubs, Family Information Service, Futures for You, Healthy Little Minds, Home Start/Toy Library and St Ann’s Advice Centre.

Quiz Time

In order to encourage further networking and collaboration, tables were invited to take part and submit answers to a fun and informative quiz about Early Help.

We thank everyone for taking part and congratulations to the winner of the quiz: Jenn!

Reducing Parental Conflict (Narrative Alchemy Theatre)

We saw an amazing and thought provoking performance by the very talented guests from Narrative Alchemy Theatre on the topic of Reducing Parental Conflict. The interactive performance offered us an opportunity to discuss how conflict between parents can manifest in children and the associated long term negative impacts.

A huge thanks to everyone who attended the event and for making the Early Help Partnership Improved Practice Event at the Council House such a success.

We are hoping to bring you another exciting event next year, so watch this space!

Explore more news

21 Feb 2025

Access Works - UKSPF Project

Access Works provides tailored support for residents in Nottingham City wards with the highest demand. We offer services like emotional support, skill training, accredited qualifications, CV and cover letter help, job search assistance, and mock interviews.