Who this is for
Any mum or dad:
- that is pregnant with their first child;
- or their first child is under five.
You can be referred to HEYS by your Midwife, Health Visitor or another service, such as College or Housing Support.
Note: If you are a referring agent, please check our referral criteria.
What you can expect
A flexible and friendly support service shaped to meet the needs of you and your child.
We offer:
- One-to-one and reassurance from a HEYS Key Worker.
- Someone who will listen to you and your needs and strengths. We will agree your goals and outcomes and start working towards meeting them together.
- Practical and emotional support.
- A focus on health and well-being of the whole family.
- Help to access services.
- Support at home or in the community.
What we expect from you
- An agreement for you and your child to engage with the service.
- To be open and honest.
- To agree together with us, your support needs and work with us towards meeting them.
The team
As a small, dedicated team, we have lots of knowledge and experience of supporting families with young children. Most of us are parents ourselves too.
The benefits of having a HEYS Key Worker
Support in pregnancy
We will:
- Be there for you, to listen to your hopes and fears about becoming a first-time parent.
- Offer you support on all the things facing you when becoming a new parent, like:
- feeding your baby;
- bonding;
- and safe sleeping.
Emotional health and wellbeing
You will have lots of different feelings about becoming a new parent, it is a life changing event!
We will:
- Support you to cope with the everyday things like household budgeting, money worries and your housing.
- Help you look after your well-being, so you can support your child to grow to be healthy and happy.
Parenting and bonding
During the first weeks, months and years, you and your child will be learning to get to know one another. Spending time together reading, playing, singing or talking are all great ways for you and your child to bond.
We will be there for you along your journey together, to share tips on:
- Parenting;
- child development;
- and bonding.
We can give you tips for active play and making your home a safer place.
Being healthy
Eating healthy food and being active each day are important for your health and that of your child. We can support you with:
- Breastfeeding and responsive feeding;
- introducing solid foods;
- and practical healthy cooking skills.
What mums and dads who have been supported by HEYS have said about their experience
"I enjoyed the support, it was nice to have someone to talk to. I was reassured I was doing a good job with my daughter. I have stated attending the Family Hubs, this is something I didn't think I would do."
"HEYS Key Workers were a big part of my journey becoming a first-time mummy to my daughter. This wasn't smooth going for me and I feel they both helped me to become the mum I am today. Without their support I don't think I would be where I am today. Thank you."
"I really liked having the HEYS support, I learnt so much about my child. The HEYS Keyworker also helped to build my confidence. I realised that I have a great support network and I am a great mum to my daughter."
"HEYS support helped a lot! It gave me lots of advice and information to know what to do when my baby arrived. I am now accessing Family Hub's, Better Help – Start for Life and The Lullaby Trust."
Find out more
If you feel you want some support and reassurance from HEYS, please speak to:
- your Midwife;
- Health Visitor;
- or anyone supporting you or your family.
They can complete a referral form for HEYS with you. For more about this, please email: HEYS@calderdale.gov.uk.
Family Hubs. Information on local services for families in pregnancy and with a child aged under 18 (25 with SEND).
West Yorkshire Healthier Together. A free website developed by local healthcare professionals to help parents and carers keep their children safe and healthy. It has advice on common childhood illnesses and includes when and where to go for help.
To find out what we do with your personal details, please read: Family Intervention Team - Privacy Notice.
Referral Criteria for Healthy Early Years Support (HEYS)
- Any mum or dad that is pregnant with their first child;
- or any mum or dad with first child aged under five years old, where health and wellbeing needs are identified.
Plus any one or more of these:
- A learning need that would impact on the parent's ability to care for their child.
- Living in a workless household.
- Does not have a stable supportive relationship with the baby's father/partner.
- Where parent has had social care involvement as a child or a negative parenting experience.
- A perinatal mental health need.
- Practitioner's clinical judgement identifies the parent would benefit from support.
And:
- Not currently involved with any other services, such as:
- Family Support Worker.
- Family Link Worker.
- The Family Intervention Team.
- Positive Choices.
- Open to Children's Social Care.
Contact
For more details:
- Email: HEYS@calderdale.gov.uk.
- Phone: 07795 318654 (mobile).