Health and Family Support
Sure Start aims to improve the health and well being of children and carers, support families with friendly, accessible advice and information and to reduce hospital admissions for children under 4. We also aim to strengthen families and support them through health worries, difficult times and other problems. At Alumwell Pleck we employ a health visitor, mid-wife, speech and language team, special needs workers and family support team.

Health Services

Parent and baby Clinic
Every Thursday 1:30pm - 3:00pm, dropin clinic
Health Visitor Office, Sure Start Centre, Brineton Street, Pleck

As doctors offices get busier, it can sometimes be difficult to access on-going support for health issues and worries and some times a parent would like a second opinion about a childs symptoms before they go to their G.P. Babies and children go through many stages and Sure Start is committed to be there for parents and carers to help. Families can make an appointment at the Parent and Baby clinic to discuss any health issue or concern and get free advice and information from a qualified health visitor. Also, the health visitor can weigh babies and discuss child development and progress.

Post-natel Midwife Clinic
Every Tuesday 10:00am - 12:00pm by appointment only. Call 01922637794 to make an appointment
Health Visitor Office, Sure Start Centre, Brineton Street, Pleck

The first few weeks after child-birth are likely to be a parents most difficult time. Many issues could be affecting you of your new born baby such as illness, feeding problems, stiches and pain etc. Come and discuss any problems or issues with our qualified midwife, be they health related or emotional! and don't forget to discuss your contraception!

Baby Massage and baby Yoga
Please phone for details of the next course
Sure Start Centre, Brineton Street, Pleck

Baby Massage offers a wealth of benefits for both parent and child.
  Encourages bonding and communication between parent and baby
  Helps baby cope with colic, constipation and teething
  Helps baby gain body awareness and co-ordination
  Enhances baby’s feeling of being loved and secure
  Can help moms with post-natal depression
  Gives parents confidence handling baby
  Stimulates baby’s circulatory system
  Balances baby’s nervous system
Plus Much More...

Bumps and Babies

Bumps and babies runs every Tuesday 10:00am to 11:30am
Family area, Sure Start Centre, Brineton Street, Pleck

Bumps and Babes is a weekly group for expecting and new parents. It's a great meeting place to have a coffee and a chat about all the issues that parenting brings, and to get to know other parents. There is baby weighing and BMI checks for parents. Also the gorup has a lending library full of books and DVD's about pregnancy, baby development and parenting. There is advice, information and support for all parents at the group and special support and advice for breastfeeding parents, with trained Peer supporters and breastfeeding is more than welcome. There is soft play, toys snacks and activities provided for the babies and also for any older toddlers you have.

Families in Alumwell Pleck can access more antenatal support and advice through our Sure Start midwife, who can be contacted for help and visits. Also at the centre is a weekly pregnancy support group with refreshments, help and advice from the midwife where parents can ask any questions and talk to other expecting parents.

Family Support
Home Visits
Our Health and Family Support team can visit Sure Start families to give information or support or for listening visits - to be there for parents who feel they need someone to talk to. They can help and advise on a range of issues from benefits, immigration, family troubles, health worries, isolation, depression, parenting issues and any other worries and concerns. If they can not help you directly they are sure to know someone who can, and can find information for you and talk problems through. Sometimes its good to have someone to turn to.

Telephone Support
The family support team, health visitor and midwife can be contacted on a week day if Sure Start families need to get advice and support. Also, our friendly information team can tell you about what’s on in the area, how you can join Sure Start and tell you more about the groups and activities.

Information Support
Sure Start is committed to providing families with information in a variety of formats and languages.
Monthly news bulletins keep parents and professional in the know about Sure Start services and groups. Our Resource area and staff can give parents information on a variety of health issues: breast-feeding, nutrition, hygiene, safety, quit smoking, pregnancy, depression and much more. Also information on childcare and early learning, parenting issues, domestic violence, benefits, lone parenting, jobs, training, benefits.
Information and advice is given in a variety of ways:
Home visits and telephone support
Groups and Clinics
New member information pack
Monthly post out to all families with news and timetable of events
Resource area with leaflets and information for parents to access
Leaflets in a variety of ethnic languages
Multi-lingual staff and translators to help parents who do not speak English
Website of information and email communication
Monthly news bulletins keep parents and professional in the know about Sure Start services and groups

Information Drop-ins
Citizens Advice Bereau Drop-in - Every Thursday 10:00am - 1:00pm and 2:00pm - 4:00pm At St Johns Church Hall, Scarborough Road Pleck

Free independant, confidentila and impartial advice and signposting for any issues that you need help with. The Citizens Advice Bureau drop-in has been set up to give Alumwell Pleck parents a local venue to seek independant advice and get help with most issues and problems. Sure Start Alumwell Pleck also run regular immigration and benefits drop ins in local venues, which are advertised in the monthly news letter.

Father's Worker

As part of Sure Start's commitment to support Fathers in their role, we have a Fathers worker that offers support, advice, home visits and run's the Saturday Dad's and Toddlers group. To speak to our fathers worker about any issue or more information on the group, call vijay on 01922637794.

Home Safety Scheme

Sure Start also works with Walsall Fire Service to ensure working smoke alarms in every home. POarents are also offered free courses with childcare to study paediatric first aid and hood hygiene. Sure Start also works in partnership with the police, fire service and road safty unit, to hold workshops and awareness dyas. Leaflets and booklets of information are free and available for all families at the Sure Start Centre, and free gifts are given to all new members at fun days and awareness groups such as, room, bath and forehead thermometers and sun-hats.

Look in the What’s On section to see if these groups are running this month.
Call us on 01922 637794 for more information.

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