Home-Start Exeter, East & Mid Devon
There for parents when they need us most, because childhood can't wait
Home-visiting volunteer referrals
Are you a professional wanting to refer a family?
If you are a health visitor, doctor or any other professional working with families and you feel someone would benefit from our Home-Start Volunteer visiting service, you can make a referral on their behalf, with their consent. If you wish to call in advance of completing our referral form to discuss a family, please phone 01395 542298 or you can download a referral form using below.
We do not operate a waiting list: family support is governed by the availability and suitability of volunteers. We will always give you guidance as to the current situation regarding volunteer availability.
What happens next?
- We assess each referral to ensure the support required falls within Home-Start’s remit.
- We will visit the family to discuss their needs and tell them about Home-Start’s service.
- We will then identify a suitable volunteer whose skills and experience match the needs of the family.
- As soon as a suitable volunteer is available, the co-ordinator will introduce them to the family and accompany them on their first visit. It may take time for a volunteer to become available and if a suitable match cannot be made then you will be informed.
- We will let you know when Home-Start support starts and ends and may ask you for feedback about the impact our service had on the family.
We will provide regular updates, within confidentiality guidelines, on our progress with the family.
Referral FAQs
In the section below there are a series of questions. Click on the question or the + symbol at the end of the row to open up the answer.
Who can be referred?
It is our aim to operate an open referral policy ensuring that support is available to families who are experiencing stress or difficulty and who have at least one child aged five or under. We are unable to take referrals where there is an open Social Services case such as ‘Child Protection’ or ‘Child In Need’.
Who can make referrals?
Families can refer themselves, or be referred by any agency, e.g. health visitor, midwife, family support worker, nursery teacher, housing officer etc.
How do I make a referral?
Before sending in a referral form families must be consulted, informed of the content of the referral form and show their agreement by signing the form (verbal consent is acceptable during Covid-19 restrictions).
All referrals received will be assessed to determine whether or not:
- The family has willingly chosen Home-Start Exeter, East and Mid Devon.
- The referral falls within the remit of the scheme.
- The referrer needs to provide further information prior to a visit by a Volunteer Co-ordinator.
- The scheme is likely to have the resources to support the family.
What happens if a referral is refused?
If the referral does not fall within the remit of the scheme or there are insufficient resources to provide support, the referral will be returned and the referrer will be informed that we cannot help on this occasion.
What happens if a referral is accepted?
All families that are accepted for Home-Start support will receive an initial visit by a Volunteer Co-ordinator before support is offered to clarify their needs and the support that Home-Start can offer. Home-Start Exeter, East and Mid Devon will then look for a suitable volunteer for the family and oversee the initial match.
Do you have a waiting list?
Home-Start Exeter, East and Mid Devon aim to provide support to families as soon as possible. When there is not a volunteer available immediately the family will be informed. The family will then be re-contacted as and when an appropriate volunteer becomes available.
How will I be kept informed of the progress of the referral?
Referrers will be informed:
- When the referral has been accepted or rejected.
- When support is offered to a family, i.e. they are linked with a volunteer or start to attend a group.
- An update will be sent following a family review.
- Support to a family ends.
How are volunteers matched with families?
- The family’s needs.
- The volunteer’s aptitudes, skills and experience.
- Practical considerations: geography, transport and time.
- Mutual interests or life experience.
- What motivates the volunteer.
- Issues around culture, gender, background and disability.
The success of Home-Start support is dependent on the relationship that develops between the family and the volunteer, so co-ordinators make every effort to link sensitively and appropriately.
The co-ordinator always accompanies the volunteer on the first visit to introduce the volunteer to the family and set the ground rules for visiting. The co-ordinator will stay as long as appropriate to support the family and volunteer to get to know each other.
Do you have a confidentiality policy?
Yes we have a Confidentiality Policy. All personal information about parents and families is treated as confidential, to be discussed only as necessary with the co-ordinator in support of the volunteer and to assist the family. Any disclosure of confidential information to any other person may only be undertaken with the expressed permission of the parents for the purpose of assisting the family, except where it is considered necessary for the welfare and protection of a child when information shall be shared with the appropriate authority.
How long is support offered for?
Volunteers provide continuous, regular support for a period of time consistent with a family’s needs, typically 6-9 months. These are assessed initially and reviewed periodically.
Home-Start Exeter, East & Mid Devon’s aim is to encourage families towards independence so that the volunteer is no longer needed. The review process will determine how long the volunteer’s support is likely to be needed and clear plans will be made for ending the support in discussion with the volunteer and family.
Do you offer other support in addition to home visiting volunteers?
Families may be offered alternatives to home-visiting volunteers if it is felt to be more appropriate.
How are volunteers screened?
All volunteers meet the requirements of our personal specification. They are interviewed before being invited to undertake our volunteer training course and will undergo a final interview before a decision is made by the co-ordinator about their suitability for placement with a Home-Start family. We take up 2 references and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Next: Volunteering
