REFERRALS TO HOME-START

Referrals to Home-Start Stirling can come from any professional working with a family and parents can refer themselves.  To discuss a referral in confidence to Home-Start Stirling please contact Rachel Keenan (Manager) on 01786 498466.  Families can also self refer using the "contact us" box or emailing admin@homestartstirling.org.uk 

We can receive referrals from all areas within Stirling and if the family meets our criteria : 

• they have one child under the age of five years
• they are experiencing stress or crisis 

We typically receive referrals from:

• GP’s and Health Visitors
• Social Services
• Schools
• Nurseries
• Community Psychiatric Nurses
• Other voluntary organisations

When a family has been referred to Home-Start Stirling, an allocated co-ordinator will visit them at home and work in partnership with the parents to identify what help would best meet their needs.  Every effort is made to keep the same Coordinator with a family throughout the duration of their support. 

The co-ordinator will then aim to match the family as quickly as possible with a suitable volunteer if Home-visiting support is required. The volunteer will be introduced to the family and arrangements made to visit weekly for as long as there is a need by the family.

Whatever support is accepted by a family, the service will be reviewed at a minimum of once every 3 months, but can be more regular if required. 

POSSIBLE REASONS FOR REFERRAL

Referral reasons vary with sometimes more than one reason for referral. However, they often include one or more of the following:

• Multiple births
• Disability/ill health
• Loneliness/isolation
• Depression/postnatal depression
• Help with parenting skills
• Relationship problems
• Domestic abuse
• Families affected by alcohol/substance abuse

FIRST STEPS TO A REFERRAL

Please contact our Manager; Rachel Keenan to discuss a referral in confidence, she will be able to give full guidance on the referral process and provide the relevant forms.  The family must consent to the submission of a referral.

FAMILY SELF-REFERRAL

A parent can self-refer by contacting us through any of the following methods; 

Phone - 01786 498466, email - admin@homestartstirling.org.uk, through our "contact us" box or a private message through our Facebook page. 

AFTER A REFERRAL 

The help offered will vary according to the specific needs of the family. Friendship, talking, listening, playing with the children, helping in the home, accompanying the family on outings, keeping appointments or other help may all be offered.

There is no limited time for Home-Start support, support is only ended when it is agreed that it is no longer required or a family no longer meets our criteria.  Whatever way, we try to do end our help in a sensitive and manageable way.