Mission Statement and Service Standards
Our Vision
We are committed to the provision of A Quality Support Service to Families with Very Young Children in Midlothian.
Our Mission
Midlothian Sure Start exists to provide:
- A local community-based confidential service for parents and young children in need of support – targeting the areas of Midlothian in greatest need.
- A safe and stimulating environment that is fun, non-judgemental and non-stigmatising.
- Parenting skills, counselling, group support and a learning-through-play environment for children under the age of 3.
Midlothian Sure Start is committed to ensuring that:
- Project Users are at the heart of our service. All efforts will be made to ensure that they are totally involved and can participate in developing the services and managing the organisation.
- We offer a caring and supportive service that is person-centred and open to people from all walks of life.
- We will show that everyone is valued and has something to contribute, with all treated equally.
- We offer a service which respects the rights, responsibilities and needs of both parents and children.
Our Services
- Service Aims
- Service Objectives
- Children's Services
- Services to Parents
- Intake Criteria / Allocation
- Interagency Working
Service Aims
- To promote social inclusion through a positive start in young peoples' lives... (focusing on) the promotion of personal growth and development of the very youngest children (0-3) before they have the opportunity of pre-school education.
- To provide community-based, family-focussed resources, including high quality childcare and direct support to parents which, through a variety of mechanisms, will strengthen parent's ability to maximise their children's potential.
- To enable parents to increase their confidence, skills and understanding so that, as more fulfilled adults, they are better able to meet the needs of their children.
Top of PageService Objectives
- Overall service provision and ethos.
- To provide support, which is targeted at areas of greatest need including innovative outreach to families not otherwise likely or able to seek services.
- To provide an inclusive service which is culturally appropriate and sensitive and takes account of any particular requirements of parents and children.
- To provide a multi-faceted service, which encompasses individual and group self-help, drop-in facilities, planned parent-toddler initiatives and individual access to support.
- To provide a service which demonstrates that innovative models and flexible methods are encouraged.
- To promote inter-agency and cross-disciplinary work in support of children and parents.
- To provide a non-stigmatising service.
Children's Services
- To provide a stimulating environment in which very young children can, and are, helped to grow and develop in a rounded way through play.
- To provide trained staff who will support the development of children's confidence, awareness and social and individual skills in ways appropriate to their age.
- To take full account of any special needs of the children.
- To involve parents and maximise their ability to support their children's development.
Services to Parents
- To ensure that referral to Sure Start is as easy as possible for parents, for example by providing home visits to new referrals so that uptake of available places is maximised.
- To provide opportunities for parents to learn new skills which will help their children's development, improve their understanding of child development and assist them to deal with issues which cause concern, so ensuring that the child's development is assisted.
- To provide a range of supports for parents to help them cope with difficult circumstances and maximise their ability to provide a healthy upbringing for their child. These will include advice, support, counselling and advocacy.
- To promote parents self-esteem, confidence, communication and decision making skills.
- To enable parents to maximise their access to further training, employment opportunities and other structures and networks as required.
- To involve parents in the planning and delivery of services, maximising opportunities for individual and group self-help.
Intake Criteria / Allocation
- The provision will ensure that there is a mix of self referral and referral by (inter-alia) Social Workers, Health Visitors and G.P.'s.
- The service will be open to all main carers, ensuring that the provision is culturally sensitive and meets the needs of ethnic minorities.
- The service will be aimed at families with children, predominantly under age 3.
- Spaces will be provided in accordance with the first-come first-served principle, but will allow the Co-ordinator to make provision based on the determination of priority need.
Interagency Working
As an Organisation Midlothian Sure Start prides itself in working in partnership with other organisations such as the Council, Health, other charitable organisations and statutory bodies.