Referrals to Home-Start Stirling

Criteria For Referral

Thinking of making a referral? Please contact us in the first instance to ascertain the availability of volunteers. First time referrer? You may be interested in looking at our booklet A Referrer's Guide to the UK's leading family support service.

Home-Start Stirling will accept a referral from any source as long as

• The family has at least one child under the age of five
• The family is suffering stress or experiencing difficulties (whatever the reason)
• The family have given their consent
• The family feels valued and in control of the decision to accept the support being offered.
• The family lives in one of the following areas:
• Stirling
• Raploch
• Cornton
• St Ninians
• Bannockburn
• The Eastern Villages
• Bridge of Allan

Home-Start Stirling works alongside other agencies from both the statutory and voluntary sector, and receives referrals from:

• Health Visitors
• Social Services
• Education
• Nurseries/family centres
• Community Psychiatric Nurses
• Other voluntary organisations, for example:
• Stirling Women's Aid
• Stirling District Association for Mental Health
• Victim Support
• Open Secret

Families are also able to refer themselves.

Once a family has been referred and a referral form has been completed, the co-ordinator will arrange to visit the family to discuss their needs and answer any questions they may have.

The co-ordinator will then endeavour to 'match' the family as quickly as possible with a suitable volunteer, who will be introduced to the family and will visit weekly at an agreed time for as long as there is a need.

Reasons for referral

Referral reasons vary - sometimes there is more than one reason for referral. However, they often include one or more of the following:

• Multiple births
• Disability/ill health
• Loneliness/isolation
• Depression/post natal depression
• Help with parenting skills
• Relationship problems
• Domestic abuse

The help offered will vary according to the specific needs of the family. Friendship, talking, listening, playing with the children, helping in the home or accompanying the family on outings or for appointments may all be offered. The length of time that a volunteer offers support will also vary, with some families only needing support for a short time whilst others may need help for much longer.

All our volunteers are parents who understand the stresses family life can bring. They will have had a criminal records check (enhanced disclosure) done, attended a preparation course and will abide by the Home-Start Stirling rules of confidentiality. Once a volunteer is matched to a family, the referrer will be given written confirmation that the family is receiving support from Home-Start Stirling.