Who are we?

Our Listening Ear service supports parents and carers of children and young people who are themselves, in need of short-term social, emotional, and practical support. By using a holistic, person centred approach, the service works alongside parents/carers to identify issues, develop tools of support and work towards achievable goals.

Many parents / carers have support needs of their own, with mental health and emotional wellbeing being impacted by social and practical pressures. This may include parental anxiety about their child’s presentation, access to treatment services or worry over paying bills. We aim to help empower parents to access the support they need for themselves and their families.

 

What do we offer?

By building a relationship with you and using a person centred approach, the service will provide tailored support to help you identify, set and achieve “what matters to me” goals to tackle issues in your life that are having a negative impact on your wellbeing.

Listening Ear support can help with a range of issues:

• Direct mental and emotional health and wellbeing support such as coping strategies and ground techniques
• Signposting to self-help materials
• Help to access social and leisure activities in the community
• Information and guidance around services for the child / young person/ family
• Advice/signposting or advocacy for practical issues such as housing, finances, work etc
• Carer Support
• Education, reassurance and support regarding mental health presentations and treatment options

 

This service provides direct support to adults living with additional challenges in their family circumstances, such as housing, financial worries or their own mental health needs and will help people to access relevant specialist services.

Support from this service focuses on the needs of the parent / carer and is not intended as an advocate or support role for children and young people.

 

Who is this service for?

This service is for anyone who is:

• Aged 18 or over
• Living in Sunderland or South Tyneside
• Is a parent/carer of a child or young person who is currently engaged with or waiting for mental health support, who in their own right, struggling with their own mental wellbeing

By taking a whole family approach, the service aims to improve parental mental health, engagement with Primary Care and community services and help boost social connectedness with a “big picture” goal of improving outcomes for children and young people as a result.

This service accepts referrals from Primary Care Teams, Sunderland Community Children and Young People Mental Health Service, Schools and Talking Therapies in Sunderland and South Tyneside. If you feel you would benefit from this support, please discuss this with your relevant source.

 

Where is it based?

Depending on your needs, we can offer support to you remotely via online video or telephone sessions. We can also offer face to face support at our main building in the centre of Sunderland, your GP Surgery or from a selection of community centres or public spaces across Sunderland and South Tyneside including the Bedewell Unit.

 

Children & Young People Link Work

Who are we?

The Children and Young People Link Work Service offers support to children and young people living in Sunderland and South Tyneside who are struggling with their mental health and emotional wellbeing. The service provides non-clinical, holistic, goal focused practical and emotional support to those who may be on a waiting list or who are currently accessing mental health support.

We understand experiencing things like anxiety, depression and social isolation can have a huge impact on our mental health and that this can affect our ability to engage in learning, stay social, and take part in everyday activities.

 

What do we offer?

By building a relationship with the young person and using a person centred approach, the service will provide tailored support to help you identify, set and achieve “what matters to me” goals to tackle issues that are having a negative impact on a young persons wellbeing.

CYP Link Work support can help with a range of issues:

• Direct mental and emotional health and wellbeing support such as a listening ear
• Self-help materials
• Support to access social and leisure activities in the community such as football groups, drama classes, exercise/fitness programs
• Information and guidance around services for the child / young person
• Education, reassurance and support around common mental health issues faced by young people
• Support with education and employment such as support to write a cv

Our approach to support is rooted in a strength-based model, emphasising each persons individual strengths, capabilities and resilience.

 

Who is this service for?

This service is for anyone who:

• Aged 11 and over
• Living in Sunderland or South Tyneside
• Is on a waiting list for or is currently receiving mental health support from primary care services

By using a person centered approach, the service aims to improve the mental wellbeing of children and young people, engagement with Primary Care and community services and help boost social connectedness with a “big picture” goal of improving outcomes for children and young people as a result.

This service accepts referrals from Primary Care Network Teams and Schools in Sunderland and South Tyneside. If you feel you would benefit from this support, please discuss this with your relevant source.

 

Where is it based?

The service aims to be as flexible as possible so depending on your needs, we can offer support to you  in a variety of locations across Sunderland and South Tyneside as well as remotely via video/telephone call. Our face to face sessions can take place at your school or  GP Surgery,  or even from a selection of community/public spaces or hubs.