Since its inception ten years ago, Sure Start Palfrey has been a pioneering organisation, driven by community involvement and committed to enabling local children and families realise their full potential. Its children's centre became the first in the country to be judged 'Outstanding' in every category by Ofsted and some 10,000 parents and children have passed through its doors, a number that is still growing as the centre continues to embrace new approaches to delivering and promoting its services.
Established in 2002 as one of Walsall's five Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs), Sure Start Palfrey initially aimed to reach 685 under-fours. In 2006 it became a Phase One children's centre and, since 2008, it has managed the development and delivery of services for the Phase Three Chuckery and Paddock Children's Centre. Combined, the two centres serve some 3,000 under-fives.
The staff team has expanded over the years with additional administrative support and outreach workers, including local people and parents. However, the overarching aim remains the same: to work with both professionals and families to foster the best possible development of children and family members, socially, intellectually, physically and emotionally.
COMMUNITY-LED APPROACH
From the outset, Palfrey has championed community involvement. Lead body for the original SSLP was Palfrey Community Association, an organisation established in 1983 with strong roots in a diverse, disadvantaged but nonetheless vibrant community. This model allowed the SSLP to 'hit the floor running' by capitalising on existing community networks and developing new ones.
Such an approach was important in the early days as there was a great distrust of professionals who were seen by many as people who come to take your children into care. Parents were involved in the continuous process of shaping services through ongoing evaluation or the more formal membership of the Partnership Board.
The development towards Children's Centre status was driven by this community involvement and a working environment based on the principles of anti-discriminatory practice and social justice. The practical results of this approach can be seen by the fact that a number of the centre's present staff became involved with Sure Start Palfrey as parents, and with the support of the organisation and training, they are now delivering services to other local families.
This model has several advantages:
- It is rooted in community
- Staff reflect the local demographics, understand the needs of local people and have appropriate language skills
- There is a flexibility which means that needs can be met as they arise, not after some tortuous bureaucratic process
- Continuous engagement with community makes for more responsive and effective services.
The success of this community-led approach was noted in Ofsted's 2010 report: 'This Centre is an excellent model of practice. It has extremely successfully established itself in the heart of the community by developing partnerships with agencies and other local community and faith groups to thoroughly engage its users.'
HEALTH AND FAMILY SUPPORT
Community-based and needs-driven, the centre seeks to be preventative, responsive, flexible, focused and holistic. It aims to identify, as early as possible, children and families in need of support and provides a confidential, culturally sensitive family support service, which has been commended by Ofsted.
For example, inspectors described as 'exemplary' the safeguarding practice and protocols for making referrals, sharing relevant information and helping families in time of crisis.
The centre has also developed training courses to raise parents' and carers' awareness of child protection issues - these courses have been held in such high regard that they are now implemented across the local authority area.
Home visits by family support workers offer assistance within the home (such as increasing social support, breastfeeding support and promoting stimulating play in the home).
The centre works in partnership with health visitors and other professionals to ensure that parents and parents-to-be get introductory information about the centre. Families are registered with the centre within the first two months of their child's birth and a request for family support can be taken at this stage if required.
Information and advice is provided to parents/carers on a range of subjects including: ante-natal parent education classes; activities for dads/male carers; midwifery and health visiting services; dental care; smoking cessation; positive parenting programmes; promoting healthy lifestyles; speech and language services; and other specialist services, in particular for children with special needs. Practical support is offered to some families based on an empowerment model - doing with, rather than for, the family. For example, family support workers work alongside parents/carers to establish routines in the home.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
The centre has developed strong links with training providers and delivers a range of learning/training opportunities in the community, with the majority of childcare provided through the centre's off-site daycare at Palfrey Day Nursery.
Accredited courses for adults, such as Numeracy, Literacy, Food Safety, Paediatrics First Aid and, in particular, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), are in demand and are delivered throughout the week at Palfrey Community Association.
The centre prides itself on its student retention rate and believes that this is due to teacher and student dedication, combined with a friendly environment and good working partnerships with service providers and other organisations like Jobcentre Plus and Prospects.
Parents have been supported into training and employment through open days as well as an external parent engagement co-ordinator, who has attended the centre to speak to parents informally on a one-to-one basis.
The centre continues to work closely with learning providers to offer work experience placements for students to give them an insight into the work of a children's centre.
FATHER-FRIENDLY
Palfrey was the first children's centre in Walsall to employ a specialist fathers worker. Since then, through its eclectic menu of fun and educational activities for male carers, including a Weekend Dads & Toddlers Club, it has become renowned for engaging successfully with this group. Feedback from male service users is used to continually develop provision for dads.
The fathers worker:
- engages with dads from the moment that the family registers with the centre. For example, when registering newborn babies, the fathers worker ensures that the needs of fathers, in particular first-time fathers, are addressed (for example, the father may be given guidance on paternity rights or men's health issues)
- encourages fathers to access services such as the weekly Baby Clinic and Dads Club - a very effective approach in attracting male carers to these sessions
- works closely with professionals to ensure that the needs of fathers are addressed throughout their partner's pregnancy
- has delivered Walsall's training in Working With Fathers In Child Protection Context to raise awareness among professionals about engaging fathers in the area of family support.
TEACHER INPUT
Palfrey's services also benefit from input from the Children's Centre teacher and the early years co-ordinator, both of whom have EYP status. They support staff with the observation, planning and assessment of sessions and the teacher has successfully engaged and supported local childminders and private, voluntary and independent settings.
RECOGNITION
Over the decade, Palfrey has gained recognition from Ofsted, other professionals and its users.
Inspectors reported that the outcomes for centre users were 'outstanding', with families benefiting from an 'extensive range of excellent services that have been very carefully personalised to meet the needs of individuals and families'.
Inspectors also praised the centre's 'excellent team of very well trained workers' and their ability to match their 'thorough understanding' of the community and its families very well to the services on offer.
Since its 'Outstanding' inspection, professionals from around the country have been keen to visit Palfrey to learn more about the secret of its success. Following on from this, staff have delivered workshops at a regional and local level to share good practice and ideas.
Most importantly, Palfrey enjoys the support of users. One parent notes: 'When you walk through the door, everyone is smiling. You feel listened to and valued ... and they understand that when you say you need help, you need it now.'
It is a sentiment shared by many users. Commenting on the anniversary celebrations in Palfrey Park, centre manager Mick Davies says, 'To see close to 1,000 parents and children joining us to celebrate our tenth anniversary is a testament to the popularity and respect we have built up among the local community over the years, and we look forward to another decade of serving families.'
Rafiquel Islam is performance and information officer at Sure Start Palfrey Children's Centre.
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