Maternity care

Information about maternity care during coronavirus from Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust can be found here.

Free online antenatal and understanding your baby courses

The coronavirus pandemic means face to face parenting classes cannot run at the moment. However the courses can be accessed for FREE on-line by:

1. Clicking here.
2. Then put the access code DARWIN18 in the box
3. Choose the course you would like to do

The course has also been translated into Welsh and Urdu and you can use the Google translate feature, which has recently been added to translate the webpage and any of the online courses into more than 100 different languages.

Coronavirus infection and pregnancy

Information for pregnant women and their families can be found on the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists website.

Baby buddy app

Free multi-award winning, interactive pregnancy and parenting guide

Early parenthood

Lots of information from the Institute of Health Visitors, including; getting to know your baby, coping with a crying baby during the COVID-19 Pandemic and information for parents with babies and young children. Contains links, videos and written resources.

Maternity Voices Partnership Shropshire Telford and Wrekin

Follow them on Facebook for the latest information.

The Parenting Team has resumed delivery of Understanding Your Child groups. However these are being delivered virtually through MSTeams. More information can be found on the Family Information Service Directory

Please have a look at the online courses, which are free to access to all Shropshire residents (see instructions below). The courses can be translated into over 100 different languages, using the Google translate function.

Family Information Service as well as the Shropshire Council webpage have a variety of information for families as well as support and resource packs which might be useful to you and your family.

If you think a child or young person is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed you can report your concerns by calling 0345 678 9021.

How to access the online courses:

1. Click here
2. Then put the access code DARWIN18 in the box
3. Choose from the following courses
• Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby
• Understanding your baby
• Understanding your child
• Understanding your teenager’s brain
• Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby: for women couples

Support is still available for children and families during the coronavirus pandemic

• Single Point of Access (SPOA): 0333 358 3654
• Health Visitors: Text Health Visiting Under 5's: 07520 635212
• School nursing (5-19): Text 07507 330346

Or by text:

• School Nurse Chat Health 5-19 yrs: 07507 33034
• Parenting Chat Health Line 0 -5 yrs: 07520 635212

Have a look at our poster for more information.

More information about health for children and young people:

Kids
A fun way to learn about health www.healthforkids.co.uk. View the poster.

Teens
Everything you want to know about feelings, lifestyle, relationships, health, growing up and sexual health www.healthforteens.co.uk. View the poster too, it shows how to contact your school nurse.

You can find a full guide of resources and support groups on our Mental Health and Wellbeing page.

Sport England: Stay in, work out

Handwashing

We have produced a short video to remind the county’s young children about the importance of washing their hands – and washing them properly: 

• Shropshire libraries: eBooks

Please visit the Coronavirus Section of the Shropshire SEND local offer for information, resources, guidance and FAQs in relation to the Covid19 coronavirus pandemic. 

If you have any queries in relation to a child or young person with SEND in Shropshire and with provision they are receiving during this time please contact the SEN Team.

Shropshire Advice Support Service (IASS) is a free, confidential and impartial service for children and young people aged 0 – 25 years, with SEND, and their parents, living in Shropshire. 

Advice and support from Autism West Midlands

Autism West Midlands continue to offer advice and support over the phone and via email. Parents and carers can contact the small team directly as follows and for phone calls either speak then or arrange a call back at a more convenient time. Video calls can be offered if required.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, please contact Wendy Cowton on 07900 784186.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, please contact Emma Hegenbarth on 07881 109480.
Email shropshire@autismwestmidlands.org.uk

Information, resources and upcoming virtual events at www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk

Carers

Visit the Carers UK website

Young carers

Shropshire Young Carer groups are not running during this time, but support is still available. If you are a young carer, or think you may be, contact Simon at Crossroads Together on 07801 576326 or email Simon.Jones@crossroadstogether.org.uk

If you think a child or young person is being harmed or at risk of being harmed you must contact us and tell us your concerns. It might be you that's being harmed. Don't delay, please contact us straight away - we're here to help you.

Please report your concerns to FPOC on 0345 678 9021.

If you need to report concerns out of office hours then please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0345 6789040.

If you are a professional reporting concerns then you will need to follow this up in writing using the Multi-agency Referral Form (MARF). Alternatively, you can report your concerns online to the NSPCC via the 'Report child abuse online - NSPCC website'. You can also speak to:

• Protecting Vulnerable People (West Mercia Police): 0300 333 3000
• NSPCC: 0800 800 5000
• Childline: 0800 1111

If a child is in immediate danger

If you think a child is in immediate danger, call the emergency services on 999.

A wider list of helpful services to help with food, housing, council tax and utility bills can be found on our dedicated 'Other sources of support' page.

Coronavirus Helpline

Dedicated helpline for those who are vulnerable and in need of help. Call 0345 678 9028 8am to 6pm weekdays, 9am to 1pm Saturday.
Please note: The helpline is for council services only - for any health-related queries and issues please use the NHS 111 online service.

COVID-19 Help with food

Help for those on a low budget or those who need help accessing free or low cost food.

Housing support

For support with housing issues take a look at our housing options and homelessness webpages or call 0345 678 9005.

Council Tax payment difficulties

If you're having difficulty paying council tax during the pandemic, please call 0345 678 9002 to discuss your circumstances.