Children and Families
Belvedere Family Resource Centre
How can you contact us?
Manager |
|
Natalie Reynolds |
Telephone |
|
020 8311 7508 |
Fax |
|
020 8310 5815 |
Address |
|
1 Station Road,
Belvedere, Kent.
DA17 6JJ |
What facilities do we provide?
This centre works with children in the 0-8 years range and their families for a period of up to 12 weeks.
As well as providing daycare facilities for children aged 2-5, the centre runs a group for children under two and their parents/carers, and provides activities and outings. Staff also visit families in their own home to work on specific issues of parenting or child development.
Children are referred to the centre by social workers.
The core services are as follows:
Fun for Families Group
A nine week programme which looks at various topics of parenting and raising children. This is held twice a week, Wednesdays - parents only, creche for children and Fridays for parents and children together. Topics covered are parent led, but generally include children's behaviour and setting boundaries, mealtimes, bedtime routines, play budgeting and a look at individuals' needs.
Milestones (Thursday 9.15am - 1pm)
This group is for children under two and their parents/carers and looks at the foundations of parent/child relationships. The group provides activities, a time for discussion, outings, guest speakers and home visits.
Day Care (Tues 9.15 - 1.30pm)
This provides good quality play opportunities for children (aged 2 - 5) years in a group of up to 12 children with up to 4 qualified staff. Big emphasis on socialisation, caring and sharing and self help skills.
After School Club (Mon 3.30 - 6pm)
The club is a time for parents and their children (5 - 8 years) to spend together after school in a fun atmosphere with activities, time to read and play games together with support and advice from staff.
Direct Work (any day/time)
Staff may plan to visit families in their own home to work on specific issues of parenting or child development.
Where are we?
The Centre is located in Lower Belvedere in the North of Bexley Borough. It is surrounded by a small parade of shops, just in front of Belvedere Railway Station. The Centre has its own large car park for staff and visitors.
We are accessible by Public Transport:-
By Bus: on the 401, 469 and 229 bus routes which stop outside the Centre.
By Rail: on the Dartford to London line via Greenwich (operated by Connex).
Building Access
The Centre is a single storey building enabling wheelchair and pushchair access. The Centre has a CCTV door entry system and all visitors are required to use the door bell. Unknown visitors will be greeted in person at the main entrance where appropriate ID will be requested.
Layout of the Centre
The Centre consists of a kitchen, a laundry, a sluice room/changing area, a small carpeted room, three group rooms, three children's bathrooms and a hall area. The Centre is decorated with Children & Parent work, information posters and is bright and inviting and full of positive images.
Outside is a canopied safety impact surface which enables the garden to be used come rain or shine. There is a fenced off section housing a climbing frame and stepping logs. The remainder is currently laid to lawn with some outbuildings - a new sensory area has been created, a path, bridge, flower beds and a gazebo has been added.
Opening hours
The Centre operates between the hours of 8am and 6 - 7pm. It is available for use in the evenings and weekends.
The Centre operates throughout the year and does not have set holiday periods apart from Bank Holidays. The Centre may close for staff training events for which advanced notice is given.
The Team
All nursery staff hold a relevant child care qualified - NNEB or BTEC or DipSW.
How do we work with families?
How long do we work with families?
We offer families a package that is time limited to 12 weeks. In certain circumstances this time limit may be extended to a maximum of 24 weeks.
How do we begin to work in partnership with families?
Referral to the Centre is via a social worker in one of the Child Care Units. We visit families in their own home to gather basic details. We then invite the parents to an Agreement Meeting at the Centre
where we formulate a package for the family. Other professionals involved with the family are invited to attend.
After 6 weeks we review the initial plan and amend it as necessary.
How do we end working with families?
We hold a 12 week review to ensure that the plans made at the agreement meeting and 6 week review have been followed through and then we arrange a four week follow up home visit. We endeavour to introduce families to community resources before we cease our involvement.
Who else do we work with?
We have good links with many other professionals from various backgrounds, which include a clinical medical officer, health visitors, educational psychologists, BGCAMHS speech therapists, adult education and especially social workers in the department. New links are being forged all the time.
Reviewing, monitoring and evaluating
We continually review our services to families through staff meetings, supervision and client feedback. We welcome suggestions from visitors and service users. We are inspected by both OFSTED and Social Services.
Our Aim
Our goal is for the welfare of the child to be paramount at all times. We will work alongside families to assess, inform and evaluate individual circumstances. Our aim is for families to remain intact wherever possible and we will work in partnership with families in a variety of ways to achieve this aim.
Referrals via Child Care Unit
There are two child care units, East Child Care Unit and West Child Care Unit. Please click on the link for more details.
Any further enquiries please contact Natalie Reynolds, Manager on 020 8311 7508 or by fax on 020 8310 5815.
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