Exciting new developments are taking shape at DS Scotland. First of these is a new approach to providing support and information to families. The Family Support Service covers all aspects of support and information for families from anti-natal to end of life.
We have two new part-time Family Support Service Officers based in Edinburgh (Brenda Pollacchi) and north of Perth (Moira Leck) who work with Sarah Van Putten, our Family Support Service Manager, to provide support and information for all those who contact the Family Support Service.
These changes set the foundation for our future development of locally based staff around Scotland – Family Support Officers. At the moment, we do not have a timescale for the start of local posts, as they are subject to us increasing our income through fundraising. However, as more people hear about us and our work, more people are becoming involved in fundraising activities, which brings the plan closer.
The Family Support Service combines our support and information work around children and adults, as previously these were separate. We feel that this approach enables us to provide support more holistically by having a “continuing relationship” with families rather than the former stop/start method used throughout the keys points at which they seek our assistance i.e. testing & screening, new baby, transition, puberty etc. Work to provide training and support to schools and other organisations comes from this team.
