Portage is a home teaching service for children and families 0-5 years who have additional needs. We provide regular weekly visits working with parents in developing play, communication, relationships, social skills and learning.
Our aim is for parents to take the lead role in the partnership that is established. Working with parents, we identify what is important to them and their child in order to plan targets for learning and participation.
Our aim is to respond flexibly to the needs of the child and the family in order to provide the skills and support that they feel they need.
We have an open referral system, which means anyone can refer, but we expect there to have been consultation with parents before a referral is sent by a professional. Please contact us leaving your name, address and a contact number and we will send you an information pack with a referral form which you can fill in and send back to us.
When we get a referral, we will contact you and arrange to make an initial visit. On this visit, you will be given an introduction to Portage and we will explain what happens during the visits. We will talk to you to make sure that what we offer suits your needs. If it is, we will discuss days and times when visits will fit best with your routine. There may be a waiting list but we will try and start the visits as soon as we can.
Your weekly home visit will last about one hour. We will call at the same time and on the same day each week and will bring a selection of toys with us to encourage your child to play. Over time, we will help you work on your child's development in all areas and can arrange for you to borrow the toys you have been working with if you would like to do this.
With your permission, we would like to build up a record of your child's progress which may include photographs or video. Photographs will be given to you as a record of your child's achievements and you can also have a copy of the video if you supply a blank tape. You will be asked for permission for your Home Visitor to give information about your child to others. This may happen after the 20 week review period, after taking a video or photographs or if your child has reached an important milestone.
However, in the case where there are child protection incidents, we are obliged to follow council policy and notify the appropriate authority.
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