REFUGE - Freephone 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247

Updated guidance for parents and carers on the closure of educational settings

The guidance for parents and carers on the closure of educational settings has been updated with additional information on the resources and support available to help parents educate their children at home.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

Mental Health and Well Being

Resources to promote and support children and young people’s mental wellbeing include:

• MindEd educational resources for adults about children and young people’s mental health, which is relevant for parents and carers as well as volunteers, teachers, and other professionals working with children
• the Every Mind Matters platform which supports looking after your own and other’s mental health
• guidance on looking after wellbeing and mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
• guidance on supporting children’s wellbeing and mental health

All NHS mental health trusts are setting up 24/7 helplines, and seeking to use digital and virtual channels, to continue delivering support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

What to do if you have concerns about your or other peoples children:

What you need to do should your child become unwell:

• This poster has advice for parents when a child is unwell/injured. It has been approved by NHS England for dissemination to support parents and carers of when to seek help and advice and which service they should contact.

• This video has been produced locally by two clinicians (and approved by NHSE/I) and informs parents of the services available and when to seek help.

Both the poster and video are just a number of resources available on the Essex Safeguarding Website - ESCB’s COVID-19 webpages. As well as general information about the pandemic, there are specific resources for families including emotional wellbeing and home-schooling links and a summary of changes to children and families support services in Essex

Information on Bereavement

Child Bereavement UK

Supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.

Childhood Bereavement Network

The hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families across the UK.

Cruse Bereavement Care

Exist to promote the wellbeing of all bereaved people and to enable them to understand their grief and cope with their loss.

The Good Grief Trust

Bereavement support charity with over over 600 local, regional and national bereavement support services listed on their central database of support for those bereaved across the UK.

Information and Finance Advice

Citizens Advice has information on benefits housing, work, debt and much more https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Information on Universal Credit and other benefits https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/universal-credit

GamCare GamCare offers free information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK. It runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133). https://www.gamcare.org.uk/

Gamblers Anonymous UK Gamblers Anonymous UK runs local support groups that use the same 12-step approach to recovery from addiction as Alcoholics Anonymous. There are also GamAnon support groups for friends and family. https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/

Grandparents Plus

The national charity which champions the vital role of grandparents, especially when they take on the caring role in difficult family circumstances.

Family Rights Group

Advice for parents and other family members whose children are involved with, or require, social services.