Early Child Development Conference - Calderdale Family Hubs

The Importance of Early Child Development Conference

28th November 2024 9.30am to 4pm

Venue: The Box Below, The Orange Box, Halifax HX1 1AF (next door to the Piece Hall)

Learning Objectives:

Participants will increase their knowledge of -

· the latest guidance into pregnancy and early childhood experience and its importance for development and later life chances,

· the holistic needs of babies and new parents,

· positive early development and how to promote it,

· services available locally for infants and their parents

Suitable for:

Social work students, newly qualified social workers, Safeguarding and Early Help staff requesting updates on latest guidance and information on child development.

Agenda

9.00 – 9.30 Registration and networking

9.30- 9.45 Introduction to the day – Louise Ambler (Principal Child and Family Social Worker, Calderdale Council)

9.45 – 10.10 Aiming for the best start – The Calderdale Family Hubs programme and its aims Vicky Cullen (Family Hubs Project Manager)

10.15-10.25 The Calderdale offer to parents of young children – intro to the directory/website/ online and virtual services. Where to access the latest advice Amanda Coates (Digital lead for Family Hubs)

10.30 -11. 00 From pregnancy onwards – the latest guidance regarding pregnancy, the health pathways, role of the midwifery service Joanne Machon (Maternity Matron CHFT), Alison Pollock (Safeguarding Midwife CHFT)

11.00 – 11.15 Break

11.15 -12.00 The importance of the parent infant relationship, the health of the relationship with the baby and how this may impact on parental mental health. Jane Turner, (Consultant Parent Infant Psychotherapist, Perinatal Mental Health team)

12.00 – 12.30 The Kit – what exactly do new babies need? ‘Show and tell ‘of equipment? Covering different equipment, transport, sleeping equipment, safety issues. Where to get advice. Janet Smethurst – (Team Leader, Calderdale Public Health Early Years’ Service and Safer Sleep lead)

12.30 -13.15 Lunch Break

13.15 - 13.45 Latest infant feeding information and advice Alison Walklate, (Health Visitor and Infant Feeding Lead, Locala )

13.45 – 14.15 The role of Health Visitors, service pathways, important info for Social Workers to know, early child development Janet Smethurst (Team Leader, Calderdale Public Health Early Years’ Service and Safer Sleep lead), Lisa Delaney ( Clinical lead for Perinatal Mental Health, Calderdale Public Health Early Years’ service )

14.15 – 14.45 The importance of Communication and Early Language development/Home learning environment – Susan Davies (SEND Specialist Co-ordinator - Early Years & learning)

14.45 – 15.00 Break

15.00 – 15.15 Parenting Support in Calderdale – Sharon Field (Service Manager, Early help and Targeted Support, Calderdale Council)

15.15 - 15.45 Child Development Quiz Bernadette Johansen, ( Project Coordinator Calderdale Relationships Matter)

15.45 – 16.00 Evaluation and close – Louise Ambler ( Principal Child and Family Social Worker, Calderdale Council )

N.B. Light refreshments will be provided but participants must provide their own lunch – lots of places nearby.

Aiming for the best start

Presentation will be added

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The Calderdale Family Hubs Offer

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Calderdale Digital Offer

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From Pregnancy Onwards

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The Importance of the Parent-Infant Relationship

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The Kit

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Feeding Information & Advice

Presentation is available via the link below.

Presentation

The Role of Health Visitors

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Home Learning Environment

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Presenter Biographies

Louise Ambler

Principal Child and Family Social Worker, Calderdale Council

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Amanda Coates

Digital Lead for Family Hubs

I am a digital enthusiast who thrives on connecting people and technology in pursuit of great user experiences, and strategic objectives. Through my work in local government and the non-profit sector in the UK and Canada, I thrive on collaborating with great people, surfacing data and information in creative ways to drive daily decision making and service delivery.

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Vicky Cullen

Family Hubs Project Manager

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Joanne Machon

Maternity Matron CHFT

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Alison Pollock

Safeguarding Midwife CHFT

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Janet Smethurst

Team Leader, Calderdale Public Health Early Years’ Service and Safer Sleep Lead

My background is in Health Visiting, Midwifery and Nursing, starting out in 1981 at the age of 16. I have lived and worked in London and California before moving to Hebden Bridge in 2002. I have worked in Calderdale since 2003 as a Health Visitor in Todmorden. I have been a Team Leader in Calderdale Public Health Early Years’ Service since 2017. I manage a team of Health Visitors and Community Nursery Nurses in Central Halifax. I also lead on ‘Every Sleep a Safe Sleep’ which is the sudden unexpected death in infancy risk minimisation training in place across West Yorkshire.

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Jane Turner

Consultant Parent Infant Psychotherapist, Perinatal Mental Health team

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Alison Walklate

Health Visitor and Infant Feeding Lead, Locala

I am the Infant Feeding Lead for Locala supporting families (0-5) service. I have a passion and drive for infant feeding and want to make a difference to people. Since working for Locala I have been supported to attend training and conferences run by UNICEF BFI and The Breastfeeding Course London, which has increased my knowledge immensely.

I successfully gained qualification with the International Board of Lactation Consultants of Great Britain in April 2024.

I am responsible for the project management of the Baby Friendly Achieving Sustainability Award, and Locala were successful in maintaining their GOLD status following assessment in August 2024

I have successfully completed and qualified in Infant massage with the International Association of Infant Massage. This has proved useful in setting up the Nourish and Nurture Breastfeeding Support Groups.

I am training in Newborn Observation which enables me to share with families the wonderful abilities of newborn babies up to 3 months. Thus, helping parents to understand their baby’s style and temperament and helping to empower them to respond to their babies unique cues.

I am completing the Fatherhood Champion training and my aim on completion of the training is to ensure dads feel included in the infant feeding journey.

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Lisa Delaney

Clinical lead for Perinatal Mental Health, Calderdale Public Health Early Years’ service

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Sharon Field

Service Manager, Early help and Targeted Support, Calderdale Council

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Susan Davies

SEND Specialist Co-ordinator - Early Years & Learning

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Bernadette Johansen

Project Coordinator Calderdale Relationships Matter

I am a Registered Social Worker and qualified Teacher with extensive operational and management experience of children’s safeguarding in Calderdale and elsewhere in the Yorkshire region. Professional roles have included Principal Social Worker, Service Manager Quality Assurance, Safeguarding Children’s Board manager.

The programme promotes better relationships by providing a range of accessible resources to improve communication between parents with practical strategies to positively resolve conflict.

We recognise the impact on children when there is unresolved conflict as well as the enormous benefits to children when parents can provide good examples of how to manage their personal relationships. Online and face to face training is available to both parents and the practitioners who work with them.

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