The Early Intervention Service

The Current Situation

The Early Intervention Service is increasingly focusing on earlier identification of need. In addition to adapting and opening a second 'Acorns' centre to provide another venue for the intensive pupil support, the Service is also hosting the Teenage Pregnancy Service from that Centre at 50 Markyate Road.

Through 'drop-in' groups young parents will be able to bring along their babies and access educational, employment and counselling services. This is in addition to the provision of ante-natal and post natal health services for the young mothers.

It is to be hoped that in time the new Acorns centre will form part of a Children's Centre for the ward in 2006-10, as mentioned in the Children's Centre Strategic Plan.

Meanwhile other significant inter-agency links that have been developed include:

The collaborative arrangements with The Community Child Development Team, whose Consultant Pediatrician offers medicals to all pupils referred to The Acorns to determine if there are any medical factors contributing to the children's behavioural difficulties
The increasing links with The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service at The Child and Family Consultation Centre where pupils can be referred for further assessment and/or therapy upon leaving The Acorns, and where The Consultant Psychotherapist consults to the Early Intervention Service team
The support for local childminder networks who can access the service for a venue and contribution to training events at The Acorns Centres
The provision of training for schools, early years settings and other professionals around managing young children's emotional and behavioural difficulties and working with families
The provision of consultation and support to other staff groups

At all times the Service seeks to work in partnership with parents/carers, Schools and other Agencies and in tune with the aims of 'Every Child Matters' and the Children Act 2004. It also prioritises the needs of 'Looked after children' and works with foster carers and prospective adoptive parents of Acorns pupils.

The purpose of the intensive, time-limited 'boost of help' of The Early Intervention Service is to provide the maximum amount of coordinated support for the children, families and schools with whom we work to enable each pupil to overcome their difficulties, learn, and get along better with their families and be included in school.

Contact

Julie Hamilton

Operations Manager

Acorns 2

50 Markyate Road

Dagenham

RM8 2LD

Tel: 020 8724 1053 or 020 8724 1054

Fax: 020 8724 1055

Email: julie.hamilton@lbbd.gov.uk or theacorns@bardaglea.org.uk|