Homestart, how does it work?

[waterfalls]

dts had an appointment with HV today, and at the end she said she could see how much they were mummies girls, and guessed right that they are constantly wanting attention and no-one else will do (she thinks it is alot to do with them being competative with each other)
She has asked me to think about eccepting help from homestart so I can have a couple of hours to myself, so my questions are.............

Do they take children out and about, or just stay in your home to take over for a while?

And will it be the same person every week?

It is the same person every week. I think what they do varies depending on your needs - one mum of multiples needed an extra pair of hands to go out with her to things like toddler groups, another friend who helps takes the children out by herself but she feels the mother should be coming too (because the original problem was the mum being a bit down and not getting out much)

Thanks

Hi waterfalls, I am a homestart volunteer who visits a woman with twin boys. I visit for 3 hours once a week. I just go along with what the mum wants. Sometimes she takes a shower while I'm there and I play with the boys, sometimes we go out - she finds it much easier with another pair of hands. Sometimes we just play in the house and drink coffee! When you meet the homestart coordinator and the volunteer, they will take their lead from you as to what you want.

Thanks Pollyanna.

So they would be happy if I wanted to go and get a haircut for eg? Not had a haircut in months as I have no-one to have dts and dh works long hours.

lol, it comes to something when you have to resort to such measures just to get a haircut

Hi I am an ex Organiser for Home Start

our famillies and vollies vary hugely, the point is to support the family in the way that works for them

Most don't act as babysitters, although they can takle the kids swimming etc sometimes, but on the whole the idea is to work with you to help as best you need- it's a team thing

Sory, got called away

the way it worked for us, although schemes do vary, was that as Organiser I would go and 'assess' each family and try to gain some idea not just of their needs, but who they are as people. We hten have (or hope to have, many schemes have waiting lists) a file of vollies who we best match with the family on both need and personality- there'd be no point us sending you someone you didn't like, would there?

From there, we do an introduction, and then you are given time to form a relationship. Exactly waht happens at each session is a matter of egotiation, but for example the vollie might take the girls to the park and and you gets ome rest, then spend some time talking to you over a cuppa. The onus is on supporting you, the belief being that a strong parent creates a strong family. believe me, it works.

The only thing we don't like our vollies bei9ng used ofr is housework- you'd be amazed how many famillies just want an unpaid maid! That doesn't mean they can't help, but we asked our famillies to wait for an offer for that sort of thing.

You'll get assessments every few ,months, to keep things on track, but the vollie will stay until either all your children are over 5, you decided you don't need any more help or the volunteer leaves, although we'd try and match you with another if needed.

HomeStart also offers other things, they vary but typically include family groups (a bit like a supported mums and toddlers group, but we had a playworker so mum culd rest and have a chat), Christmas parties, Summer Outings and we used to do a santa run with presents for every child- like I say it does vary though, different schemes vary as it is a charitable form of a franchise.

The one thing I learned at HomeTsart was that the Vollies are amazing (well done Pollyanna!) and they really do amazing jobs. they're all trained as well, typically 10 days on site training plus the usual CAB checks etc, and top ups for specific issues (eg we had BIBIC come do autism training)

(NB an Organiser is pretty much the same thinga s co-ordinator, another scheme variation LOL)

\link{http://www.home-start.org.uk/hope this helps a little?}

oops here..sorry

SlightlyFamiliarPeachyClair
Thanks very much loads of info there and at people wanting cleaners.

EvesMama
Thanks for the link

your welcome, i used to have one..make sure you let them know in what way you want help and theyll match you with someone who can help the most..good luck.x

wow i wish someone would suggest something like this to me. hi sorry, my name is jaime, i'm new here. i have an 18 month old and 8 month old twins and would love a bit of help, maybe we dont have it in my area cause no one has ever suggested that to me despite having 3 children under the age of 2

waterfalls - I have a homestart volunteer at the moment and it's fab. She plays with my DS while I go and do some uni work. She wouldn't go out with him without me because of health and safety rules etc. but I leave them downstairs with the trains and do my work on the lap top upstairs. I'm 33 wks pg and have chronic migraine so she's going to stay on until after the baby comes even though my course finishes next week. She says she'll be happy just to keep playing with DS and watch baby so I can have rest or do some housework - the likelihood is I'll have an almost constant headache for the first few months (did with DS) so it's really reassuring to know that at least one morning a week I'll be able to get a bit of extra sleep which is what helps me get over the pain best.

I know she also supports other families who have lots of children and mum just needs time out to keep her sanity, or people who are finding it hard to cope in other ways like with PND and she goes to be company and someone to listen and talk with.

It's a fab scheme and when my DS's are a bit older I hope to return the favour as it were!

how do you know if you are suitable for homestart??
I have a ds 2.10yrs, dd8mths and am nesar 5mths pg. Also suffer severe depression and anxiety so is it something that could help me?

Sounds like you might be eligible Nemo - my HV referred me so you could try yours. I they have a website here if that's of any help too. They don't means test at all either which was great for me because I don't qualify for any extra help usually.

Hope they can help you too.

I have a volunteer too. She also plays with the kids so I can get on with jobs etc round the house. Great company and if you need help getting out & about with the kids they will go to a playgroup with you so that you know someone there iyswim.