Supporting children, young people and families to recover
A guide for parents and carers
Your family have been through something difficult, and we are here to help support you all to understand what has happened and to help things to get better for you as a family.
This can be a difficult and upsetting time for everyone involved. We are here to help you and your child find your feet in this new and sometimes confusing situation. We understand that the people who care for a child; parents, extended family, or carers may themselves need support to deal with the impact of their child’s experience on their family life. We are here to help answer your questions, help you understand what may happen next and to support you to help your child and whole family to recover from any experience that may have caused hurt or harm.
Common questions families have are about:
- How can I get help for my child?
- What should I tell other people about what is happening?
- How do we manage social media?
- How can I help my child return to school?
- How can I support my child when they are angry, confused and/or scared?
- How do I keep my child safe from any future risks?
Ongoing Support
Our focus will be to meet the emotional needs of your child, starting by getting to know them and your family and others that may be important in their life. We will do this at a pace that is comfortable for you all. We will be guided by you about what feels best for your family. We will help your family to develop and strengthen your relationships and provide support and guidance so your child can recover from their experience and move forward.
Children’s behaviour can change when they have been hurt or harmed. This can be distressing and hard for parents/carers to manage. We can help you to find ways to manage this change and make sure that you get access to any specialist support that your child may need. Whatever the issue, we will support your young person, as well as your family, to cope with these challenges.
If court processes are part of your experience, this can take time to progress. We understand that this wait can feel difficult and can connect you with those relevant to your child’s individual case to keep you as informed as possible about progress. It is normal for a young person to feel anxious about being part of a court process, we can help, alongside people in the court to prepare and support all of your family during this time.
The experience that led to your child or young person being referred to social work may have a long-term impact. We understand the importance of ensuring that the people who care for a child; parents, extended family, or carers may themselves need support to deal with the impact of their child’s experience on their family life. We will work with your family to develop a plan to help you all recover and move on as a family when the time is right for you.
About the Bairns' Hoose Team
Bairns’ Hoose is delivered in Aberdeen by Aberdeen City Council, Children First, Police Scotland and NHS Grampian in conjunction with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
If you need to get in touch email BairnsHoose@aberdeencity.gov.uk