Family Support & Relationships

There are a number of professionals and agencies that you are likely to approach for support on family matters. There are likely to be people with whom you are familiar, or have a good relationship such as a health visitor, nursery or school. All children should be linked to a children’s centre, or school and its extended services and information about these will be available from professionals with whom you are in contact or the Family Information Service.

These are some additional organisations / web sites that can assist or direct you to alternative support.

Difficulties with children’s behaviour
Help and support to anyone caring for children – for families whether living together or apart.

NHS Direct
Website providing advice on health matters including checking on symptoms, advising on treatment.

Children with life limiting or threatening illnesses
Support in the home and hospice care to children with life limiting or threatening illnesses, as well as to those who have been bereaved. Birmingham, the Black Country and Worcester.

For lot of useful videos on tips on how to deal with children's behaviour have a look at the Parents Channel TV web.

For 24 hour / 7 day week support for parenting and advice on children's behaviour have a look at the Parentline web.

Services for disabled children
Provides short breaks for disabled children to allow them to have enjoyable experiences and provide their families with a regular break from the demands of caring for a disabled child.

Extra support for children
The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) provides a method for assessing needs for children and young people to support earlier intervention and to improve joint working and communication between practitioners.

Support to families where 1 child is under 5
Trained parent volunteers supporting parents struggling to cope through illness, disability, bereavement, social isolation, etc. One child must be under five.

Support to families where there is a disabled child under 5
Early Support - for parents where there is a child under 5 with a disability, including development journals, information about children’s conditions, who to seek support from and how to co-ordinate it, etc. in specific areas of Birmingham. Ensures that parents and carers are involved in the decision-making and planning for their child.

Adult relationships
Counselling organisation offering advice, sex therapy, mediations and consultations via interviews, by phone or via the website.

Separation and divorce
Network of local services supporting couples, married or unmarried, who are in the process of divorce or separation

Domestic violence
Confidential advice and access to emergency accommodation 24 hours a day via website or helpline 0808 2000 247

Relationship breakdown and your children
Whilst there is support for relationships in difficulty, this website assists where relationships have broken down to make the break up as painless as possible for the children

General advice
Assists people to resolve their legal, financial and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice

Support after a stillbirth or neonatal loss
Supporting people affected by the death of a baby and promoting research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives

The BBC Parenting and Directgov Parents web sites have a wide ranging amount of information in these fields.

Please note: Birmingham City Council is not responsible for the content of other organisations' web sites.