Being a parent is not always easy. You are not alone if you find it difficult sometimes. There are a variety of information resources and services to support you:
East Sussex Children NHS Website
There is now a new NHS website dedicated to children and young people’s health in East Sussex – www.eastsussexchildren.nhs.uk
Here you will find everything in one place, including:
- information for teenagers
- specialist therapies
- how the NHS can support you
- Schools Nursing Team
- Healthy Schools programme
- Top tips for parents
- Supporting children to lead a healthy life
- Links to other organisations that can help your family
East Sussex County Council
East Sussex County Council’s Children’s website provides details about the Council’s services plus information about health topics from emotional and physical health and wellbeing to speech and language disorders and equipment for physical disabilities. Visit East Sussex Children’s Website.
Open for Parents
Open for Parents provide information, advice and guidance for all parents living in East Sussex. They can help if you are worried about managing your child’s behaviour, supporting their development or their emotional wellbeing or if you want support and advice to help build a positive relationship with your child. Visit their website www.openforparents.org.uk or call 01424 725800.
Child development
The Child development service run by East Sussex Healthcare Trust supports children with the following childhood conditions:
- Developmental delay
- Physical disability
- Severe co-ordination difficulties
- Communication, speech and language difficulties
- Autistic spectrum disorders
- Learning disabilities
- Vision and hearing problems
- Behaviour problems associated with developmental delay
- Statutory health assessment
- Sleep difficulties as part of a disability
For more information and useful links to other resources, visit their website Child Development Service.
Start4Life
For advice on pregnancy, babies and toddlers, visit www.nhs.uk/start4life – a website packed with NHS approved advice and tips for pregnancy, birth, parenthood, breastfeeding support 24/7, weaning and more. It puts everything parents need to know in one place.
Family Mental Health Support
Holding Space support parents, carers, children and young people who are struggling with their mental health. They provide Parent Coffee mornings, Walk & Talk and telephone support. Find out more on their website Holding Space.
Other support for children
NSPCC provide support and tips to help you keep children safe from advice on children’s mental health to staying safe online, support for parents and what to do if you’re worried about a child. Visit the NSPCC website.
Home Start East Sussex provide a ‘volunteer home-visiting service’ to support families with pre-school children be ready for school and a ‘Being Mum Programme’ which is a free 6 week programme for new first-time mums. Visit the Home Start East Sussex website.
Become offer support for children in care & young care leavers. Visit the Become website
Childline offer support for children with bullying, your body, feelings, relationships, home, school and lots more. Visit the Childline website
Contact provide support for families with disabled children. Visit the Contact website.
Child abuse
If you’re worried that a child or young person is at risk or is being abused:
- Call 999 if the child is at immediate risk
- If it’s not an emergency, call Sussex Police on 101 or contact East Sussex County Council’s Children’s & Families Team or call their Single Point of Assess (SPoA) Team on 01323 464222. You’ll be asked for your details, but you can choose not to share them.
You don’t need to be sure that a child or young person has been abused – it’s OK to report a suspicion. Child abuse includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect. You can read more about the signs of child abuse.
Contact these groups if you want to discuss your concerns and get advice:
NSPCC (for adults) Telephone: 0808 800 5000
ChildLine (for children and young people) Telephone: 0800 1111 (free)
The ChildLine number won’t show up on your phone bill if you call from a landline or from most mobile networks.
