FAMILY MENTORING SERVICES

1. The Executive Member was pleased to endorse the introduction of a plan to introduce "Family Mentoring" services in Hampshire to support parents and carers experiencing extreme difficulties in coping, and to augment the services provided by Social Services Family Support Teams.

2. Family mentoring has been described as:

¬ taking time to listen, encourage and help the family identify solutions or ways through difficulties and to walk with them on the journey for a little while or


¬ Mentors build committed, trusting relationships. They listen, offer understanding and respect and help families overcome challenges and disappointments and celebrate success.

3. The proposed service model involves using a mentor in the manner of a supportive friend to parents or other formal carers who are struggling to cope and in that sense the focus is not one to one but of a more family group inclusive nature.

4. The key objectives of the mentoring programme include:

¬ Intervention in family dysfunction at an early stage before issues become chronic.


¬ To provide follow-up support after intensive social work intervention.


¬ To help parents and carers to:


o Discover solutions and ways of managing issues confronting them.


o Develop skills and resources so that their families are strengthened and they can nurture and care for their children successfully.

5. The intention is to work with voluntary organisations to run family mentoring programmes.

6. The detailed service specification is currently being finalised and it is envisaged that the first pilot schemes will get underway in late autumn 2005.

7. This supports Aims 1, 4 and 5 of the Corporate Strategy.

FELICITY HINDSON, M.B.E.

Executive Member

For Social Care.