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Hertfordshire
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Hertfordshire County Council


What we do

  • We work with children and young people under 18 and families to help overcome problems.
  • We will work with you, providing you with individual and family sessions, over a period of a few months.
  • We can provide support in your own home, at our ARC base in Welwyn Garden City or anywhere that you feel comfortable. 
  • We have access to different services to provide you with information and resources to further your opportunities and potential for a bright future.
     

ARC stands for:
 

Attachment - Build on your relationships.

Regulation - Help manage your emotions

Competency - Learn new skills to cope and support each other.

 


What happens first?

Families are referred to us by a social worker who is already working with them. Please seek advice from your social worker.

After you are referred to us:

  • You will be given a named support worker from our outreach team who will support you throughout.
  • Your named worker will meet with you and listen to what you have to say. Together, you'll come up with a plan to help you reach your set goals.
  • You'll meet regularly with your outreach worker and family to discuss any problems and concerns you may have.  
  • During this time, you'll get to talk through any problems, play games, create activities and go out in the community.
  • For some older children, you might also stay with us in our residential home whilst your family gets additional support, helping you all manage better when you return home.

 


Activities and groups we offer

We organise various group activities and will invite you to take part. These include biking, canoeing, bush craft around camp fires, Halloween games and Christmas crafts. We also arrange family days which provides an opportunity to build on your relationships and to have fun together.

Parent groups

 
We continue to develop supportive groups for the parents we work with including:

  • The Family Links - this support group is aimed at parents of young people aged 9-17 and provides them with an understanding of the teenage brain, the impact of developmental trauma and strategies of support whilst sharing ideas with other parents.
  • The Nurture Group - is for parents who may feel isolated and want to socialise in a safe environment. It can also help those who are finding it difficult to prioritise time for themselves and struggling to provide a consistently nurturing environment for their children.

Parents can also get information and guidance from Parentline.
 

" It was so useful to be with parents of a similar situation. "

ARC client

 

Young people's support groups

 
During these informal groups, you'll get the chance to discuss issues affecting you including:

  • learning about the online world
  • understanding relationships and what's expected of you
  • learning ways to manage difficult emotions
  • dealing with life stresses by building resilience.

You can also contact Childline for any information, support and advice you may need.
 

" The whole experience has helped me grow. "

ARC client

 

Woodland family day

 
With support from a member of our team, you and your family can come along to our woodland day where you will focus on different tasks to build on your relationships and have fun!

These relaxed days are held regularly, and you'll get the chance to cook food over the campfire and roast your own marshmallows.
 

" It was so nice to spend time doing something different with my family. "

ARC client

 


Staying with us

Our residential programme - Families Together

Some young people come and stay with us for short stays during a 4-8 week period, for their family to receive additional support. This is an option your social worker can discuss with you.

Our home is The Lakes in Welwyn Garden City and has 3 bedrooms for young people aged 11-17. Each young person has their own room and shower room and there's also a shared bathroom for a relaxing bath.
 

Before your stay

Someone from our team would come out to meet you and tell you about the ARC and to see if the Families Together Programme is right for your family. If everyone agrees, we would encourage you to come and visit, have a look around and meet the staff and other young people. Each young person is there for their own reasons but our plan is to help improve things at home for when you return.
 

During your stay

Whilst you're staying with us, you'll still spend time with your family both at the Lakes and at home. We will also help you gradually build this time up for overnight stays at home.

You'll be supported with accessing school, activities and hobbies and we can look at arranging visits with friends. We'll help build your confidence, provide a nurturing environment and develop your skills, whilst your parents are also receiving support to make changes.

The support will continue once you are living together again. Your outreach worker will spend time with each of you weekly to continue what you have been working on, building relationships within the family and learning strategies to manage emotions to make things easier at home.

 

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