HM Probation Service - Colchester Probation Office

Provides Probation Support Services

Jobcentre Plus - Loughton

Combined jobsearch and benefits service for people of working age. Personal advisers assist with jobsearch activities and benefits claims. Access to Jobpoint terminals for information on job vacancies. Part of the Department for Work and Pensions' Jobcentre Plus network.

TransLiving International

Helpline, advice, information, counselling and a self-help support group for transvestites, crossdresers, transsexuals and their partners and families. Helpline, monthly social functions and a quartly international magazine for members.

Chelmsford CVS – The Centre Supporting Voluntary Action

Supports, promotes and develops local voluntary action and services. Offers information on a wide range of local voluntary organisations, community and self-help groups.

Buckhurst Hill Money Advice Service

BHMAS is a local service that aims to help those who have got into debt. We are manned by a team of trained volunteers who can help you sort through your debts. BHMAS is a personal service available free-of-charge to try to bring order where there's chaos. This can only work by co-operation so we would start by coming to an agreement over sharing the facts of the case and ensuring that there is a will to make changes to bring about a resolution. We are here to help, not to judge. We are also here to help you sort out your situation.

Together Advocacy Centre

Advocacy services for adults (18+) with mental health problems. Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) for adults aged 18+ who lack the mental capacity to make a specific life changing decision, Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) for residents of Southend that are sectioned. Advocacy for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome.

DIAL South Essex- The Disability Helpline

Advice and information for disabled people, carers, relatives or anybody with a disability related issue. Subjects covered include welfare benefits including appeals, community care, aids & adaptations, transport, mobility and anything relating to disability.

Barnardo's Link: Adoption and Family Support Service

Adoption Support Therapeutic services for prospective adopters, adoptive families, adopted children and young people, adopted adults, birth family members and, in recent years, families where children are placed under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). The Attachment Focused Therapy (AFT) service is designed to encourage the attachment or bonding between the adoptive parent/s and the child/ren in order to build the beginnings of a trusting relationship which gives mutual attachment, predictability, esteem, and pleasure. This therapeutic parenting model is underpinned by Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, promoting the principles of PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy), as developed by Dan Hughes. AFT can be modified in its delivery to address particular challenges the family may be facing at the time, for example:My Life therapy is undertaken with the parents and child together exploring the relationship between the child’s past and present lives. Age-related tools such as Life Roads or a Memory Box can be used, and a pre-existing Life Story Book can be re-worked and updated. This helps the child to understand and express their feelings, to tell their story and to identify the connections between the past and the present. Stronger Families therapy is a preventive service offered to prospective adopters in the crucial time between linking, matching panel and placement, which helps them to plan and prepare for the particular therapeutic parenting style and skills best suited to the child they are intending to adopt. Early Placement therapy continues the work of Stronger Families during the important first few months after the placement has been made. On-going Support therapy can be offered after the completion of an AFT service, with monthly sessions over six months to support the family maintain progress and to address any difficulties or problems that may arise during this period.Reconnect therapy is undertaken with parents and their adolescent or adult child where perhaps a previously good and stable family relationship is at risk of breaking down, or has already broken down. The therapy aims to build bridges, to develop coping strategies, to improve communication within the family and enable the whole family to talk about what they would like for the future. All of the above services are eligible for funding through the Adoption Support Fund. General Population Work. As a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, LINK has also developed a range of general population therapeutic support services for families with children and young people. We are now undertaking general population work in areas such as: life-limiting, degenerative disease; return to school; support to Black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities; and mental health (current Tiers 2 – 4). We can align our service offer to Tiers 2 and 3 of the THRIVE model of mental health service design and delivery.The Family Support Service is a holding and containing intervention open to any family with children or young people. Delivered by qualified therapists over the telephone or by live video link, this core service supports the family to: Encourage communication between family members. Explore any fears, anxieties, difficulty or distress. Help with conflict and conflict resolution skills. Develop strategies to improve the family’s situation. Find practical solutions to the daily challenges.The therapist responds to the family’s individual needs with acceptance, understanding and empathy to secure the best possible outcome with regards to family’s stability, mental health and wellbeing. Families Together: Mental Health Support Services - The Families Together service provides support to children, young people and parents/carers where the child or young person is living with mental ill health. Families Together is delivered by qualified therapists who are competent and confident working in such circumstances. Families Together can be offered to the whole family, to the parents/carers or as a direct therapeutic support to the child or young person. The service, however, is not intended to be a substitute for necessary mental health clinical services provided by the relevant NHS Mental Health Trust. Families Together has been designed to secure the best possible outcome with regards to family stability, mental health and wellbeing, as well as to contribute to the avoidance of, and/or contribute to a successful discharge from, in-patient psychiatric care.

Epping Forest District Citizens Advice (Epping)

Advice and information on a range of issues, including benefits and welfare rights, consumer, employment and housing rights, money and debt.

Citizens Advice Harlow

We can help with a wide range if issues including Benefits, Employment, Debt and Money, Consumer, Relationships, Housing and more. Specialists are available to help with benefits, debt relief orders, housing, energy and debt. We also provide free half hour legal appointments with a qualified solicitor if required. All our advice is free and impartial.