Youth and young family support

Supporting families

The Supporting Families team helps families with children between 5 to 13 years old. The services aim to tackle issues affecting children at home, at school, and in the community, through early intervention and prevention. Our support helps families to become less dependent on intensive and specialist services later on.

The types of services currently included are:

• support and assessment for young carers
• young runaways project
• capacity building the voluntary sector to deliver services to support children and young people’s mental health
• safeguarding training for the children’s voluntary sector
• brokerage of family support through the voluntary sector
• intervention and support for young people at the risk of offending through the Youth Offending Unit

Early Years and children's centres

We commission services provided in Enfield's children's centres. These are aimed at children under five and their families. Services currently include:

• speech and language therapy
• domestic abuse support
• benefits, debt and housing advice
• adult learning (including ESOL)
• family support
• links to various health services, including health visiting and midwifery
• the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
• the Education Psychology Service

All services are part of Enfield’s early help offer, mostly concerning families needing tier one and two interventions. We promote the Early Years foundation stage through a focus on speech, language and communication. Centre staff are trained and advised on how to identify issues early, so they can refer families to the appropriate services, as well as supporting them directly.

Short breaks for disabled children

Children and young people are eligible for additional support and services if they have a physical or mental disability, which has a substantial and long-term effect on their ability to carry out day-to-day activities. It includes children with autism, children who have challenging behaviour as a result of a learning disability, and children with complex health needs who may have a life-limiting or life-threatening condition.

The Joint Service for Disabled Children is an important partnership that works with 'Our Voice' parent forum, and other voluntary groups and organisations, to support and promote opportunities for all disabled children and their families in Enfield.

Short breaks allow disabled children and young people to have enjoyable experiences away from their primary carers, and offer families a necessary and valuable break.

For more information, see activities and things to do.

Youth support

The Youth Support Service consists of the Youth Service, Connexions Service, Careers Service and the Teenage Pregnancy Unit.

For more information, visit the Youth Support Service.

Substance misuse

We are committed to supporting young people who are vulnerable to, and engage in, substance misuse. We provide leaflets, workshops and group programmes in schools, youth centres and other partner agencies, so young people have the information they need to keep themselves safe.

A range of training is also available for professionals to equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to offer guidance and support.

They also offer general advice, information and guidance to young people, their families and those who work with young people in Enfield. You can contact them at sortitenfield@compass-uk.org.

For more information, including a list of organisations who can help, visit Health and Wellbeing.