--- title: "Parent and Family Support" url: "https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/parent-and-family-support" school: "St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School" --- **Tel:** 01388 602 608 **Email:** admin@stjosephscoundon.bhcet.org.uk # Parent and Family Support ### Parent and Family Support Our Parent Support Advisor is Miss Harrison ![](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/images/sarah_hn_(1).png) Hello, I'm Sarah Harrison ,Your Parent Support Advisor. I am a trained Mental Health First Aider, and a qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. I work in school three days a week, and I am here to support you and your family. My role is to offer a friendly, confidential space where you can talk about anything that might be affecting your child’s well-being, behaviour, or learning. Whether you're facing challenges at home, need help accessing services, or just want someone to listen, I’m here to help. I work closely with parents, carers, and staff to make sure every child feels safe, supported, and ready to thrive. Please feel free to get in touch on **07483950012** or **wellbeing@stjosephscoundon.bhcet.org.uk**– no concern is too small. ### Local Support **1. Family Hubs** Durham has **15 Family Hubs** offering support from pregnancy up to age 19 (or 25 for children with SEND). Services include: - Parenting courses (e.g. Solihull Approach, Incredible Years) - Drop-in sessions with professionals - Peer support groups - SEND support and workshops Contact: 03000 261 111 [Help for Families – Durham County Council](https://www.durham.gov.uk/helpforfamilies) [\[durham.gov.uk\]](https://www.durham.gov.uk/helpforfamilies) ![](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/images/family_hub.png) **2. Durham County Carers Support** Offers help for **unpaid parent carers**, including: - Parent Carer Needs Assessments (PCNA) - Help with DLA forms and benefits - Support at Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings - Peer support groups and training Contact: 0300 005 1213 [Parent Carer Support – DCCS](https://dccarers.org/parent-carer-support/) [\[dccarers.org\]](https://dccarers.org/parent-carer-support/) **3. Waves Parent & Carer Support Group** - Run by **Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust**, this group supports parents of children (0–25) with emotional or mental health needs. Sessions are held monthly across Durham and Darlington. - Email: TEWV.waves@nhs.net - [Waves Support Group Info](https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/services/camhs/waves-parent-and-carer-support-group/) [\[tewv.nhs.uk\]](https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/services/camhs/waves-parent-and-carer-support-group/) **4. Early Help Services** Durham’s **Early Help Strategy** focuses on identifying and supporting families early to prevent issues from escalating. Support includes: - Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings - Named workers to coordinate support - Help from schools, health services, and community organisations - [Early Help Overview](https://durham-scp.org.uk/practitioners/early-help/) [\[durham-scp.org.uk\]](https://durham-scp.org.uk/practitioners/early-help/) **5. NCT Durham Parent Support Groups** Community-led groups offering: - **Walk and Talk** sessions - **Bumps and Babies** meetups These are great for socialising and emotional support. [NCT Durham Parent Groups](https://www.nct.org.uk/local-activities-meet-ups/durham/parent-support-groups) [\[nct.org.uk\]](https://www.nct.org.uk/local-activities-meet-ups/durham/parent-support-groups) ### Piece of Mind **What Is the Piece of Mind NHS Team?** The **Piece of Mind Team** (formerly known as the Mental Health Support Team) is a fantastic NHS service working directly with primary schools including St Joseph's across County Durham to support children’s emotional well-being and mental health. They offer a range of support including: - **Whole-class sessions** to promote emotional resilience and mental health awareness - **Assemblies and workshops** tailored to children’s needs - **Individual and small group interventions** for pupils experiencing anxiety or low mood - **Parent-led CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)** sessions to help families confidently support their children at home Their work is all about **early intervention**, helping children feel safe, understood, and supported before challenges grow bigger. They also work closely with school staff to build a whole-school approach to mental health. If you’d like to know more or think your child might benefit from support, please speak to Miss Harrison. ### The Bungalow Partnership - Supporting Emotional Wellbeing in Schools **![](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/images/Bungalow.png)** At our school, we work in partnership with **The Bungalow Partnership**, a registered charity offering specialist therapeutic support to children, young people, and families. Their team of trained counsellors and therapists provide a safe, nurturing space for children to explore and manage difficult emotions, experiences, or behaviours that may be affecting their well-being or learning. Support from The Bungalow Partnership may include: - **One-to-one counselling** for children experiencing anxiety, trauma, or emotional distress - **Play and creative therapies** tailored to younger children - **Family support and guidance** to help strengthen relationships and build resilience - **Collaboration with school staff** to ensure joined-up care and positive outcomes Their work is grounded in compassion and creativity, helping children feel heard, understood, and empowered. If you feel your child may benefit from this support, please speak to Miss Harrison. ### ELSA ELSA stands for *Emotional Literacy Support Assistant*. It is a school-based initiative designed to help children understand and manage their emotions, develop resilience, and build positive relationships. Through structured sessions, our trained ELSA works with pupils on areas such as self-esteem, coping strategies, social skills, and emotional regulation. The aim is to provide a safe, supportive environment where children can talk, learn, and grow emotionally, helping them thrive both in school and beyond. ### PARENTS & PUPILS - [Our School](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/parents/breakfast-club) - [Breakfast Club](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/parents/breakfast-club) - [School Uniform](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/parents/school-uniform) - [Term Dates](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/termdates) - [School Day](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/parents/school-day) - [Meet Our Staff](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/parents/meet-our-staff) - [School Meals](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/parents/school-meals) - [Our Classes](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/parents/our-classes) - [Parent and Family Support](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/parent-and-family-support) - [Nursery - Little Joe's](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/parents/nursery) - [School App](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/school-app) - [Key Documents](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/about-us/safeguarding) - [Curriculum](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/curriculum/curriculum-subjects) - [News and Events](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/news-and-events) ![St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School](https://files.schudio.com/st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2/images/logo/Bishop_Hogarth_and_Hexham_Logo_new_(1).png) ### St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School Victoria Lane Coundon Bishop Auckland County Durham DL14 8NN 01388 602 608 - [Online Payments](https://www.mychildatschool.com/MCAS/MCSParentLogin) - [Teams FAQs](https://bhcet.org.uk/information/teams-faqs/) - [Office 365](https://outlook.office365.com/carmel.org.uk) - [Remote Access](https://remote.carmel.org.uk/) - [Liturgy](https://liturgy.bhcet.org.uk/) ### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/StJosephsCoundon) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/stjosephs_coundon/) ### Translation ### Office 365 [Sign in to Office 365](https://outlook.office.com/) © Copyright 2025–2026 St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://st-joseph-s-catholic-primary-school-admin-stjoseph-2.schudio.com/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)