Referrals
Are you a professional wanting to refer a family?
If you are a health visitor, doctor or any other professional working with families and you feel someone would benefit from our service, you can make a referral on their behalf, with their consent. Please phone us on 01635 760310 to discuss the family situation and if a referral is thought to be suitable we will send you a referral form to complete and return or you can download a referral form. Please note we have an online Bany Bank Request Form you can locate here: Baby Bank page.
In order to make a referral, please click here to download the referral guide to find out more about making a referral, some of the limitations on our support and the services available.
Are you a parent in need of support?
If you would like a One-on-one/home visiting volunteer to give you some support or to join our Family Groups or our Perinatal Support Group you can just get in touch with us – you don’t need to go through a statutory agency, health visitor or other medical professional to do this. You can fill in our contact form here or if you prefer please call the office on 01635 760310 and one of our friendly team will go through it with you. We are here for you.
Waiting Lists
We do not operate a waiting list: family support is governed by the availability and suitability of volunteers or group space. Referrals are held for 8 weeks and we cannot match a family with a suitable volunteer or group during this time we will be in touch to let you know or offer alternative suggestions.
Our Referral Process: How We Support Families
- At Home-Start, we carefully assess each referral to ensure our support aligns with the family's needs.
- Family Visit & Assessment – We visit the family to discuss their situation and explain how our services can help.
- Tailored Support Plan – Based on their needs, we match them with the most suitable service, whether that’s a home-visiting volunteer or one of our support groups.
- Group Support – If a group setting is the best fit, we’ll arrange the family’s first visit and ensure they feel welcomed.
- Home-Visiting Support – If a home-visiting volunteer is the right option, we carefully match the family with a volunteer whose skills and experience align with their needs.
- Volunteer Introduction – Once a suitable volunteer is available, our coordinator will introduce them and accompany them on the first visit. Please note that matching a volunteer may take time, and we will inform you if one is not available.
We keep referrers updated within confidentiality guidelines, informing you when Home-Start support begins and ends. We may also request feedback to help us measure our impact and improve our service.
Referral FAQs
In the section below there are a series of questions. Click on the question or the + symbol at the end of the row to open up the answer.
Who can be referred?
It is our aim at Home-Start West Berkshire to operate an open referral policy ensuring that support is available to any family who is experiencing stress or difficulty. They must live in West Berkshire and have a child under the age of 5.
Who can make referrals?
Families can refer themselves, or be referred to Home-Start West Berkshire by any agency, e.g. Health Visitor, Social Worker, Family Support Worker, Nursery Teacher, etc.
How do I make a referral?
Before sending in a referral form families must be consulted, informed of the content of the referral form and show their agreement by signing the form.
All referrals received will be assessed to determine whether or not:
- The family has willingly chosen Home-Start West Berkshire.
- The referral falls within the remit of the charity.
- The referrer needs to provide further information prior to a visit by an Coordinator.
- The charity is likely to have the resources to support the family.
Go to the top of this page and click on either the Professional Referral or the Self Referral buttons
What happens if a referral is refused?
If the referral does not fall within the remit of the scheme or there are insufficient resources to provide support, the referral with be rejected and the referrer will be informed that Home-Start West Berkshire can not help on this occasion.
What happens if a referral is accepted?
All referrals that are accepted for Home-Start support will receive an initial visit by a Coordinator before support is offered to understand their needs and to explain the support that Home-Start can offer. Home-Start West Berkshire will then begin to plan for support to commence either by looking for a suitable volunteer for the family and overseeing the initial match or be arranging attendance at one of our groups.
Do you have a waiting list?
Home-Start West Berkshire aims to provide support to families as soon as possible. When there is not a volunteer available immediately or space at the chosen group the family will be informed. The family will then be re-contacted as and when an appropriate volunteer or space at group becomes available.
How will I be kept informed of the progress of the referral?
Referrers will be informed by the Coordinator:
- When the referral has been accepted or rejected.
- When support is offered to a family, i.e. they are linked with a volunteer or start to attend a group.
- Support to a family ends.
An email will be sent to the referrer at the commencement of support and at the end of support to a family. All other contact with referrers is usually made by either by phone or email.
How are volunteers matched with families?
The Coordinator pays matches the volunteer’s skills and experience to the needs of families. Many factors are taken into consideration, including:
- The family’s needs.
- The volunteer’s aptitudes, skills and experience.
- Practical considerations: geography, transport and time.
- Mutual interests or life experience.
- What motivates the volunteer.
- Issues around culture, gender, background and disability.
The success of Home-Start support is dependent on the relationship that develops between the family and the volunteer, Coordinators make every effort to match families sensitively and appropriately.
The Coordinator always accompanies the volunteer on the first visit to introduce the volunteer to the family and set the ground rules for visiting. The Coordinator will stay as long as appropriate to support the family and volunteer to get to know each other.
Do you have a confidentiality policy?
Yes, we have a GDPR Data Protection and Confidentiality Policy available on request. All personal information about parents and families is treated as confidential, to be discussed only as necessary with the Coordinator in support of the volunteer and to assist the family. Any disclosure of confidential information to any other person may only be undertaken with the expressed permission of the parents for the purpose of assisting the family, except where it is considered necessary for the welfare and protection of a child when information shall be shared with the appropriate authority. Please see our Privacy Noticefor the full outline of the data we collect and the purpose for its collection.
How long is support offered for?
Volunteers provide continuous, regular support for a period of time consistent with a family’s needs. These are assessed initially and reviewed periodically.
Home-Start West Berkshire’s aim is to encourage families towards independence so that the volunteer is no longer needed. The review process will determine how long the volunteer’s support is likely to be needed and clear plans will be made for ending the support in discussion with the volunteer and family.
Do you offer other support in addition to home visiting volunteers?
Families can be offered support outside their home, which complements home-visiting support, for example, family groups, outings, parenting information.
Families may be offered alternatives to home-visiting volunteers if it is felt to be more appropriate.
How are volunteers screened?
All volunteers meet safer recruitment practices. They are interviewed before being invited to attend a 4 week preparation course and will undergo a final interview before a decision is made by the Director about their suitability for placement with a Home-Start family. We take up 2 References and a complete an enhanced DBS check.
Next: Volunteering