Sexual health and teenage pregnancy 

Introduction  

• Entitlements and Benefit advice for young parents  

  Training, education and employment support and advice services provided to young parents at local children's centres are:

  • Job Centre Plus
  • The Volunteer Programme
  • Independent Job brokers
  • Debt Management Programme (run by East London Financial Inclusion Unit; Credit Union - helping parents to borrow money in a safe way)
  • Care to Learn Scheme
  • DABD Advisers
  • Housing Benefit Welfare Team
  • 14-19 Careers Advice Service
  • Childcare Development Officer who manages a local Teen Parent Childminding Network and supports young parents to access local childcare

   

• Health Services  

  • Maternity Services at 2 Children's Centres (William Bellamy and Castle Green). Routine anti natal checks for expectant young mothers with specialist teenage pregnancy midwives, to monitor their health as well as their baby's health and development
  • Post - Natal Services at 1 Children's Centre (Abbey). Health checks and advice for new young parents and their babies (0-2 weeks old)
  • Child Health Clinic at 5 Children's Centres (Abbey, Castle Green, Ford Road, Gascoigne, Marsh Green). Health checks and advice from a Health Visitor for young parents and their children age 0-5 years
  • Play and Communication groups: Baby Massage and Babbling Babes at 2 Children's Centres (Sydney Russell and Wellgate). Groups for new young parents to learn about massaging their babies and spending special time together, exploring, relaxing and communicating
  • Sexual Health Adviser at 3 Children's Centres (Sydney Russell and Wellgate and Abbey). Free, confidential advice and information on contraception, sexually transmitted infections and local services
  • Teenage parent midwifery team at King George Hospital

   

• Sexually Transmitted Infections  

  Advice, testing and treatment

  • Barking Community Hospital, Barking Hospital, Barking: 020 8924 6250/6251
  • Queen's GUM, Queen's Hospital, Romford: 01708 708 358

  For information or advice you can also contact 

  • Brook Advisory Service 020 8276 7021 clinics available nationwide including Barking
  • Contraception Service: 01708 796 728 local clinics available in Barking, Dagenham and Romford
  • Your doctor (GP)
  • Health Information Shop: 020 8532 6200
  • NHS Direct: 0845 46 47
  • Sexwise: 0800 282 930

  Local Clinics
  
  You can also get free and confidential advice on pregnancy and sexual and other health matters from the following services. They can be used by all boys and girls up to age 25. You can take a friend, partner or adult along with you if you want.
  
  Barking and Dagenham College Clinic: 01708 796 728
  (For Barking students in term time only)
  Barking and Dagenham College D Block
  Clinic Hours: Tuesday 4.30pm - 6.30pm
  
  Healthwise at Youth Zone: 01708 768 512
  Information Shop for Young People
  10 Hedley Close
  High Street
  Romford
  RM1 1AH
  
  Bus: 5, 174, 175
  Train: Romford
  
  Clinic Hours: Monday 4pm - 6.45pm, Wednesday 3.30pm - 5.15pm and Friday 4pm - 5.45pm
  
  Brook Advisory: 020 8276 7021
  Brook Advisory Service Barking
  Central Clinic
  Vicarage Drive
  Barking
  IG11 7NF
  
  Bus: 5, 62, 162, 169, 287
  Train: Barking
  
  Clinic Hours: Saturday 12.15pm - 2.15pm
  
  Healthwise at East Street: 020 8270 4646
  Information Shop for Young People
  East Street
  Barking
  IG11 8EU
  
  Bus: 5, 62, 169, 238, 287, 366, 368, 387, EL1
  Train: Barking
  
  Clinic Hours: Monday 3.30pm - 5.15pm and Thursday 4pm - 5.45pm
  
  Healthwise at Harold Hill: 01708 343 479
  Information Shop for Young People
  110 Petersfield Avenue
  Harold Hill
  RM3 9PH

  Bus: 496, 750, 751
  Train: Harold Wood
  
  Clinic Hours: Tuesday 3pm - 5pm
  
  Get Real Health at Get Real Information Shop: 01277 249 306
  The Hermitage
  Shenfield Road
  Brentwood
  CM15 8AG
  
  Bus: 73, 77, 80, 151, 269, 350, 351, 751
  Train: Brentwood
  
  Clinic Hours: Monday 4pm - 7pm
  
  Healthwise at Be wise: 020 8596 9666
  Information for Young People
  540 Rainham Road South
  Dagenham
  RM10 7XD
  
  Bus: 365, 165
  Train: Dagenham East
  
  Clinic Hours: Tuesday 2.30pm - 5.15pm

   

• Think you may be pregnant?  

  If you think you may be pregnant you can get free pregnancy testing at the following places:
  
  These services are free. Please telephone to check for clinic hours and further information:

  • Brook Advisory Service 020 8276 7021 clinics available nationwide including Barking
  • Contraception Service: 01708 796 728 local clinics available in Barking, Dagenham and Romford
  • Your GP

  Further advice and information is available from

  • Health Information Shop, Barking: 020 8532 6200
  • NHS Direct: 0845 46 47
  • Sexwise: 0800 282 930

  Some pharmacies may provide advice (contact the Health Information Shop 020 8532 6200 for more details). You can also buy home pregnancy testing kits from pharmacists.

  Emergency contraception
  Emergency contraception can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex but may also be effective after 72 hours. For confidential advice contact the help line immediately, on 01708 796 728.

   

• How can I avoid getting pregnant?  

  Contraception services
  
  Contraception advice, information and services are available from

  • Brook Advisory Service 020 8276 7021 clinics available nationwide including Barking
  • Contraception Service: 01708 796 728 local clinics available in Barking, Dagenham and Romford
  • Your doctor (GP)

  For clinic hours and further information please contact:

  • Brook Advisory Service: 020 8276 7021 or 020 7387 8700
  • Contraception Service: 01708 796 728
  • Health Information Shop: 020 8532 6200
  • NHS Direct: 0845 46 47
  • Sexwise: 0800 282 930

  If you have had unprotected sex and you are concerned, You should contact or visit your local clinics for advice.
  
  Emergency contraception
  
  Emergency contraception should be taken as soon as possible if it is to be effective. It works up to 3 days (72 hours) after but may also be effective beyond this time. An IUD (coil) may be fitted up to 5 days and sometimes later.

  This is free for all ages from

  • Your local clinics - Sexual Health Clinics for young people: 01708 796 728
  • Family Planning Clinics: 01708 796 728
  • From your doctor (GP)

  Or you can buy from most pharmacies if you are over 16.

  For confidential advice contact the information line weekdays 9am - 3pm on 01708 796 728.

  If you are having sex you may also be at risk of getting sexually transmitted infections. For more confidential information and advice contact your local clinics.

   

• Support during pregnancy and following birth  

  Teenage parents are able to access a range of services from their local children's centre.
  
  All centres provide general information, advice and guidance to teenage parents as well as access to the wide range of health, education and family support services currently on offer.
  
  In addition, Abbey Children's Centre in Barking and William Bellamy Children's Centre in Dagenham provide specific services geared to the needs of teenage parents.

  All teenage parents should have a Common Assessment which will have been initiated by their midwife.
  
  Should this not be the case, agencies wanting to refer teenage parents for support, advice and services should use the attached children's centre referral form which should be sent either to Abbey Children's Centre or William Bellamy Children's centre depending on the young person's home address:

  • IG11 postcodes - refer to Abbey Children's Centre
  • RM Postcodes - refer to William Bellamy Children's Centre

  Health

  • Your doctor (GP)
  • Health Visitors/School Nurse: 01708 465 404
  • King Georges Teen Parent Midwives: 07974 971 848 or 07974 971 853

  Advice, information and support including education, training and employment

  • 14-19 Careers Advice Service Access Shop: 020 8591 999
  • 14-19 Careers Advice Service Personal Adviser: 020 8724 1262
  • The Vineries Young Women's Project: 020 8593 3931

  Childcare
  
  For information on childcare and early learning in Barking and Dagenham

  Teen Parent Childminding Network and Children Information

  • Service 020 8227 5538
  • Family Information Service: 020 8227 2163
  • Care to Learn
  • Grants for childcare costs for students: 0845 600 2809

  For advice and help with parenting issues
  
  Home Start: 020 8270 6614

  For young parents who live in the following areas additional services, support and advice may also be available:

  • Abbey Children's Centre: 020 8227 3377
  • William Bellamy Children's Centre: 020 8724 1924
  • Sue Bramley Children's Centre: 020 8270 6619
  • Marks Gate Children's Centre: 020 8270 6091
  • Gascoigne Children's Centre: 020 8724 1094

  Drop in Support Services

  • Abbey Children's Centre: 020 8227 3377
  • William Bellamy Children's Centre: 020 8724 1924
  • Vineries Teen Parents/Mums to be drop in sessions: 020 8593 3931

  Housing

  • Housing Advice: 020 8227 2177 or 020 8227 2536
  • Housing Benefits Section: 020 8227 2970
  • Teen Parent Housing Support Worker: 020 8724 1924

  Benefits

  • Benefits Agency advice for Barking, Dagenham and Havering: 01708 774 000
  • 14-19 Careers Advice Service, Barking and Dagenham: 020 8507 2290
  • Citizens Advice Bureau: Dagenham: 020 8592 1084, Barking: 020 8594 6715

   

• Support for young parents  

  Becoming a parent isn't always easy. If you are a young parent, you may find that the changes ahead are even more challenging. Don't panic, we are here to help.
  
  All children's centres can give information, advice and guidance to young parents as well as access to the wide range of health, education and family support services currently on offer.
  
  Abbey Children's Centre in Barking and William Bellamy Children's Centre in Dagenham are the 2 main young parent hubs and they are able to signpost young parents to specific services across the borough.
  
  If you are a young parent aged 19 and under they can help you to:
  

   

• Universal and Targeted Services  

  • Two teen parent referral hubs at Abbey and William Bellamy Children's Centre. These 2 children's centres are Young People Friendly accredited
    Tots and Teens Group at 2 Children's Centres (Abbey and William Bellamy). A peer support group for young parents to build social networks and to encourage their participation in universal services. It is an opportunity for young parents to learn about play and positively interact with their children
  • Life choices workshop at Abbey Children's Centre. This is a 6 weeks workshop designed for young people (including teen parents). The workshop is aimed to raises awareness around issues of sexual health, managing risk and staying safe in relationships, building confidence and self esteem
  • Speakeasy Parenting Programme This is a parenting programme delivered across the borough whereby parents have the opportunity to learn together and acquire the confidence and skills they need to talk to their children about sex and sexuality
  • Incredible Years (Babies) at Barking Foyer and William Bellamy Children's Centre. The purpose of this group is to build positive attachment between young parents and their babies and it is an opportunity for the young parents to increase their understanding of child development with specific focus on 0-6 months
  • Outreach and Family Support provided by Family Support Workers working from children's centres. Each Children's Centre has a designated Family Support Worker 'Teenage Champion'. Targeted Family Support Services focus on the individual needs of young parents and their children. Plans are regularly reviewed jointly with the parent/young person

   

• Useful websites and contacts  

  Local
  
  

  • London Borough of Havering
  • Havering Youth Support Service

  National
  
  Sexwise: 0800 282 930.
  Free and confidential advice on sex and contraception
  NHS Direct: 0845 46 47
  
  

  • Brook Advisory Service
  • Department for Education
  • Family Planning Association
  • NHS Direct

   

• You know you are pregnant  

  Services offering counselling
  
  

  • Brook Advisory Service, Barking: 020 8276 7021 or 020 7387 8700
  • GP referral
  • The Listening Zone at East Street, Barking and Dagenham: 020 8491 2345
  • Chrysalis Service at Youth Zone, Romford: 01708 768 512

  Services offering advice, information and support

  • Teenage Pregnancy Service, Barking and Dagenham: 020 8227 3437
  • Brook Advisory Service, Barking: 020 8276 7021 or 020 7387 8700
  • 14-19 Careers Advice Service, Barking and Dagenham: 020 8507 2290
  • Contraception Service: 01708 796 728 local clinics
  • East Street Young People's Information Shop, Barking: 020 8270 4646
  • Your doctor (GP)
  • The Information Shop for Young People, Harold Hill: 01708 343 479
  • Health Information Shop, Barking: 020 8532 6200
  • School Nurse Service: 01708 465 404
  • The Vineries Young Women's Project, Dagenham: 020 8593 3931
  • Youth Zone - The Information Shop for Young People, Romford: 01708 768 512

  Termination of pregnancy

  Free services
  Referral to Marie Stopes via a Contraception Service, clinic or your doctor (GP).

  Please telephone to check for clinic hours and further information:

  • Brook Advisory Service 020 8276 7021 clinics available nationwide including Barking
  • Contraception Service: 01708 796 728 local clinics available in Barking, Dagenham and Romford

  Services you pay for
  Self-referral to Marie Stopes 0845 300 8090 National Advice Booking Line.

  For advice on adoption and fostering
  
  

  • Barking and Dagenham Adoption Team, Dagenham: 020 8227 5854

   

• Young Parents Forum  

  We are setting up a young parents’ forum where you can tell us your views and opinions about services that we deliver for young parents in local children's centres.

  We are working closely with the borough's parental engagement officer and young parent champions to establish young parent forums across the borough.

  We are interested in what you have to say about how we run our services and how we can improve!