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Health and Wellbeing in Your Family

Information to help you find out about a range of services for health and wellbeing, including getting support for specific issues

 

 

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Vale Parenting Service

Parenting Support

The Vale Parenting Service supports families with children between 0-18 across the Vale of Glamorgan in order to build on strengths and make positive changes, enabling parents to feel more confident in managing; behaviour, routines and boundaries. The service also benefits from specialist midwifery support from an under 19's midwife, in order to provide targeted support which both complement and enhance the Parenting Service.

 

We deliver parenting programmes in a small group setting, or offer a 1:1 bespoke intervention in line with what the family see as the focus of support required.

 

 Parenting Programmes

 

Please contact the Families First Advice Line:

 

  • 0800 0327 322

 

 

Parenting.Give it Time.

Parenting. Give it time.

This website has been developed by the Welsh Government with the help of a range of organisations and professionals. Every child and every parent is  unique. Parenting. Give it time. gives parents ideas so they can make decisions about what can work for their child and family. It aims to help parents to build a positive, healthy relationship with their children.

 

Understanding more about your child’s development may help you understand your child and their behaviour better. 

Parenting. Give it time      

Early Years Information Pathway 

Vale Families First Advice Line

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The Families First Advice Line is a first point of contact telephone service aimed at families with children 0 - 18 years of age who live in the Vale of Glamorgan.

 

The Advice Line offers a personal service aimed at listening and assessing the needs of each family. The Advice Line provides advice to the family that will enable them to resolve their concern independently, or will assist the family in identifying services and will support the family to be referred to them.

 

Families First Advice Line is open Weekdays:

9:00am - 4:30pm

  • 0800 0327 322

  Families First Advice Line

 

Behaviours 2

Behaviour

Most families have times that are difficult to manage. Welsh Government’s Parenting. Give it Time. Campaign has some ideas for dealing with some common parenting concerns. Every child is unique, but these tips may help.

Tricky Moments & Common Behaviours

 

NSPCC have developed a guide sharing practical advice and tips for positive parenting techniques that work well for children – from babies to teenagers.

NSPCC Positive parenting - Need-to-know: how to set boundaries and build positive relationships

 

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Additional Needs Support:

Vale Family Information Service is responsible for The Index for Children and Young People with Disabilities or Additional Needs. The Index is funded by Families First and aims to provide information to families and professionals across the Vale about the services and support available for children and young people with disabilities or additional needs.

Children with Additional Needs

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Young Carers

A young carer is someone under 18 who helps look after someone in their family, or a friend, who is ill, disabled or misuses drugs or alcohol.

 

Under the Social Services and Well-being Wales Act (2014), Young Carers have a right to an assessment of their own needs as a carer.

 

There are an estimated 700,000 young carers in the UK and a recent survey in the Vale of Glamorgan indicated that 1 in 12 (8%) of pupils in primary or secondary school could be young carers. 

 

For more information on support for Young Carers in the Vale, including information on Young Carer’s Assessments in the Vale please visit our Carers Services pages:

Young Carers

Talk with me

Communication

 

The Welsh Government has put together a list of information and resources to support parents in helping their children learning to talk, this is referred to as the 'Tallk with Me' campaign.  

Talk with Me 

 

Highlights include the Look, Say, Sing, Play campaign. A new brain-building campaign has been launched in Cardiff and The Vale to help parents support their baby’s development, developed by NSPCC Wales. To find out more you can view a short webinar introducing parents and carers to the Look, Say, Sing, Play campaign and resources. Why not give it a try and sign-up for weekly tips and activities tailored to the age of your child?

Look, Say, Sing, Play 

 

Advice from the BBC to help you develop your child's communication skills. Includes simple activities and play ideas.

Tiny happy people 

 

 

Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

Mental Health / Emotional Wellbeing

  

Mental health services across Wales have remained available throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with measures in place to reduce transmission of the virus and keep you, your loved ones and our staff safe. Whether you’re already known to mental health services, or you’re seeking support for the first time, you can find answers to frequently asked questions below. Information on additional support available in your local area is also included, where relevant.

Cardiff & Vale University Health Board - Mental Health Support

 

The Vale of Glamorgan council has launched their Barnardo's school-based counselling service website with information for young people, parents and professionals. The site contains the referral forms to access the service, which is available in schools, the community and digitally. If you're aged 10-19 and live or go to school in the Vale, you can access it for free. 

Barnado's Community and Schools Based Counselling Service  

 

The Youth Wellbeing Service offers targeted support for young people who have faced adverse childhood experiences which are significantly affecting their social and emotional wellbeing.  The main focus will be supporting young people from ages 10 to 16 years in the Vale of Glamorgan.  The core aims of support are to increase confidence; develop resilience; improve emotional and social wellbeing and protection from further adverse childhood experiences.  

The Youth Wellbeing Service 

There is a new emotional wellbeing and mental health website for children and young people in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, developed by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board alongside our Youth Board. It contains information about emotional wellbeing, mental health, services available and how to access them.

Emotional wellbeing and mental health website

 

Need help managing your mental health & wellbeing? You’re not alone. People aged 16+ in Wales, experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, depression or stress, can now sign-up for a free, 12-week course of online therapy without waiting to be referred by their GP.

SilverCloud Online Therapy – NHS Wales 

 

There are a series of mental wellbeing podcasts and audio guides you can listen to in your own time, in private, to help you through times when your mood is low or you're feeling anxious.

NHS Moodzone Mental Wellbeing Audio Guides

 

YoungMinds work to prevent mental illness from developing and to improve early intervention and care for young people living with a mental health difficulty.

Looking after yourself – YoungMinds

 

Reading Well helps you to understand and manage your mental health and wellbeing using helpful reading available from public libraries. The scheme is endorsed by health professionals and people with mental health needs.

Reading Well

 

 

Physical Health

Physical Health

Vale Healthy Living Team aim to increase the number of people taking parts in sports and play opportunities across the Vale to increase their health and wellbeing.

Sports and Play

 

When children are a healthy weight, they feel better about themselves. They find it easier to play and learn. And they’re more likely to grow up healthy too.  That’s why making sure they’re a healthy weight right from the start is one of the best things you can do to set them up for life.

 

Every child in Wales has the right to the very best start in life and to help them along the way, Public Health Wales has launched Every Child Wales.

 

The website is full of ideas to help you give your child a healthy and happy future.

Every Child Wales

 

Better Health - Healthier Families (Formely known as Change 4 Life) provides fun ideas to help your kids and your family stay healthy, the site includes information on food facts, recipes and activities

NHS Better Health - Healthier Families 

 

Healthier lunchbox recipes

Get loads of easy-to-prepare ideas as well as tips of what else to put in their lunchboxes from Better Health - Healthier Families. 

Better Health - Healthier Families

 

Free Health and Wellbeing Check

The 'Add to your life' health and wellbeing check is a free service in Wales which checks your physical health, including your food and alcohol consumption, exercise and BMI, and your mental health and wellbeing. It also provides lots of tips and information from health experts to help make you feel better. You can do the assessment on line and it only takes a few minutes:

'Add to your life' health and wellbeing check

 

The Food Vale Partnership

Inspiring healthier communities in the Vale of Glamorgan to connect with food during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. Take a look at their website advice on healthy eating, information and support for local food businesses and lots of tasty and nutritious recipes to try at home.

 

Food Vale 

 

Cardiff and Vale UHB videos on Introducing Solid Foods 

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have released a series of videos on ‘Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby’. The 5th video is about babies progressing to family meals. It explains ways to help the transition such as introducing different textures, and ways to adapt the family meals. It also describes the different cues to identify whether your baby is hungry or full. It is informative and would be helpful for any parents with babies who are progressing to solid foods. 

 

Introducing Solid Foods 

 

NHS Healthy Start vouchers

If you’re pregnant* or have children under the age of 4* you can get FREE weekly vouchers or payments to spend on:

• cow’s milk

• fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables

• infant formula milk

• fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

• You can also get free Healthy Start vitamins

 

As of May 2021 nationally only 64% of those eligible accessed Healthy Start vouchers across Wales; take-up was lowest in the Vale of Glamorgan at 57% but is steadily increasing. Eligible families could be missing out on over £1,000. From April 2021 the voucher value has increased to £4.25 a week and a pre-paid card scheme is being introduced. Please get in touch if you’d like more information on making an application.

 

*Women who are at least 10 weeks pregnant up until their child turns 4 and receive certain benefits. Pregnant women under the age of 18 are also eligible.

NHS Healthy Start vouchers 

 

Nutrition for Your Little One (NYLO) 

NYLO is a free 6 week programme that can help you feel more confident to:

Provide a balanced diet for your child and help them to be a healthy weight.

 

NYLO is open to all families with children aged 5 years and under, living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Nutrition for Your Little One (NYLO)

 

Period Dignity

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has been supporting families to ensure period dignity for women and girls from low income households throughout the pandemic. This project ensures that free period products can be delivered to pupils in a safe, practical and dignified way. 

 

Ongoing support has been provided and products have been available via schools food parcel distribution, the 15plus team, youth wellbeing service and various housing partners. Partnerships with third sector organisations, including food banks, community hubs, family centres etc. have been put into place to ensure access to period products, free of charge and accessible in the most practical and dignified way possible.

 

Period Dignity

Relationships

Sexual Health and Relationships

 

NHS Direct Wales offer a range of information pages relating to Sexual Health:

NHS Sexual Health

 

If you are a parent / carer, NSPCC has a wealth of tips and advice to give you the confidence and knowledge to talk to your children:

NSPCC - How to talk to your child about sex, sexuality and relationships

 

Relate has specific information pages for Parenting Teenagers, this includes practical advice on ways to deal with common teen issues:

Relate – Sex and Relationships

 

 

Sexual and Gender Identity

Sexual and Gender Identity

Childline offer a range of information and advice around feelings, including sexual orientation, relationships and gender identity.

Childline – Sexual and Gender Identity

 

Relate has specific information pages for Parenting Teenagers, this includes practical advice on ways to deal with common teen issues including everything from sexuality to break ups:

Relate – Sex and Relationships

 

Young Stonewall aims to let all young lesbian, gay, bi and trans people – as well as those questioning – know they’re not alone. The website provides specific advice on ‘coming out’:

Young Stonewall - Coming out as LGBT

 

Drugs and Alcohol

Drugs and Alcohol

Lots of families in the UK are living with a loved one who is using or trying to come off drugs or alcohol.

 

If you are a parent/carer concerned about your child’s use of drugs or alcohol, Young Minds can offer advice and information on where you can get help.

Parents Guide to Support – Drugs and Alcohol

 

A new Specialist Substance Misuse Service, that sits within The Early Help team. It can provide 1:1 consultations, support and guidance to anyone that is involved with a young person who is using substances. There is also capacity to work with young people directly, if appropriate. Available for young people, up to the age of 18, living in The Vale of Glamorgan.

 

Specialist Substance Misuse Service 

 

Adfam is the national charity working to improve life for families affected by drugs or alcohol.

Understanding the issues - Adfam

 

Talk to Frank provides friendly, confidential drugs advice:

Talk to Frank – Worried about a child?

 

Footsteps to Recovery through care, aftercare and recovery community support programme for substance misuse in Cardiff and the Vale

Footsteps to recovery

 

 

 

Contact Us:

  • 01446 704704
  • fis@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
  • Vale Family Information Service
  • @ValeFIS
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