If this is a referral for our Freedom programme, a 7 week information programme for Domestic Abuse survivors or click here to make a referral:  Online Referral for for Domestic Abuse Form or click here for more information Domestic Violence Page

Before making a referral, please ensure that the family you’re referring meet the criteria listed in the Home-Start Lambeth Referral Policy above. We are unable to accept referrals for families under a Child Protection or Child In Need plan. 

Our referrals are usually open and can be made by clicking on the Microsoft Form below. Alternatively, click on this link.

We note that we sometimes need to close our referrals due to capacity reasons. If we are not receiving referrals when you wish to refer yourself or another family, the form will be replaced with a message inviting you to join our waiting list.

If you have difficulty completing our form please contact info@homestartlambeth.co.uk or call 020 7924 9292 and we will be very happy to help you.

If this is a referral for our Freedom programme, a 7 week information programme for Domestic Abuse survivors or click here to make a referral:  Online Referral for for Domestic Abuse Form or click here for more information Domestic Violence Page

Before making a referral, please ensure that the family you’re referring meet the criteria listed in the Home-Start Lambeth Referral Policy above.

Our referrals are usually open and can be made by clicking on the Microsoft Form below. Alternatively, click on this link.

We note that we sometimes need to close our referrals due to capacity reasons. If we are not receiving referrals when you wish to refer yourself or another family, the form will be replaced with a message inviting you to join our waiting list.

If you have difficulty completing our form please contact info@homestartlambeth.co.uk or call 020 7924 9292 and we will be very happy to help you.

Home-Start Lambeth will seek to support all families who want support from us, live in Lambeth, have at least one child under primary school age and not in full-time nursery, and who have some kind of additional support need.

Additional needs include the following:

• Families who are very isolated with no support network
• Families who have experienced domestic abuse
• Young parents / carers
• Families where a child has a disability or illness
• Families where a parent/carer has a disability or illness
• Families where parent/carer is suffering from post-natal depression, depression or feeling very low
• Families wanting support to develop their parenting skills and strategies
• Families who are economically disadvantaged or suffering from the effects of inadequate housing
• Families struggling with the demands of twins, triplets or several children under primary school age
• Families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) e.g. asylum seekers.

Before making a referral, please ensure the family you’re referring meet our criteria. If you have difficulty completing this form please contact info@homestartlambeth.co.uk or call 020 7924 9292. Home-Start Lambeth will inform referrers when support has been put in place. 

Below you can see which referrals/family circumstances are not appropriate/eligible for referrals.

Referrals that are NOT appropriate/ ineligible

• Families who do not live in Lambeth
• Families with perpetrator of violence who is still regularly at the home
• Families who do not have a child under 5 years old or under or a child that is in full time nursery
• Families who need/ want a volunteer to take sole charge of their child(ren)
• Families who require domestic help
• Families that do not want any intervention from Home-Start Lambeth
• Families where there are profound mental health problems
• Families who don’t speak enough English to engage with our staff and complete our needs assessment (NB families can be supported in their preferred language where we have available volunteers who speak the relevant language)
• Families under a Child Protection or Child In Need plan

Please note: we are not a specialist housing/financial support charity. If a family only requires support in these areas, we may not be the most appropriate organisation to support them.

Home-Start Lambeth [hereafter called Home-Start]
England Safeguarding Policy

(The following is an extract from the policy; go to the bottom of this section to download the full policy)

Policy Statement

 At Home-Start we believe that every child has the right to live free from abuse of any kind.

We have a responsibility to keep children safe and we are committed to protecting children in all of our activities. We will do everything in our power to ensure children who come into contact with local Home-Start schemes in England, in any capacity, are safeguarded.

We will seek to keep children safe by:

• valuing them, listening to and respecting them;
• keeping them at the centre of everything we do;
• adopting child protection and safeguarding practices through procedures and policies for staff and volunteers;
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training;
• sharing information about child protection and good practice with staff and volunteers, along with children, parents and carers;

This policy applies to all trustees, employees, self-employed contractors and those working pro bono for local Home-Start schemes and is based on the following principles:

• Safeguarding and promoting the well-being and welfare of children, protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of health or development; ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable them to have the best outcomes
• the welfare of children is paramount
• no child or group of children must be treated any less favourably than others in being able to access services which meet their particular needs
• a child is any young person under the age of 18
• all people, regardless of age, ability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation, culture or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse and no person or group of people should be treated less favourably than others in being able to access services which meet their particular needs;
• some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues;
• working in partnership with children, parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting children’s welfare
• children and parents will be informed of the policy and procedures as appropriate
• all concerns, and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously by trustees, staff and volunteers and responded to appropriately – this may require a referral to children’s social care services, the independent Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for allegations against staff, trustees and other volunteers, and in emergencies, the police
• we have a commitment to safe recruitment, selection and vetting that include checks into the eligibility and the suitability of all trustees, staff and volunteers who have direct or indirect contact with children; in the case of trustees, because of their position within the charity.
• We have a complaints procedure which is an open and well publicised way in which adults and children can voice concerns about unacceptable and/or abusive behaviour towards children

The safeguarding policy should be read in conjunction with all other relevant policies and procedures including (but not limited to) the Health and Safety Policy and data protection/GDPR.

Why does this policy matter?

The purpose of this policy is to:

• • protect children who come into contact with the local Home-Start in the course of its work;
  • inform our partners, beneficiaries and the general public of our overarching principles in relation to safeguarding;
  • provide all staff and volunteers with the overarching principles and procedures that guide our approach to

If you are unsure what this policy means, or how it relates to you, please contact the Designated safeguarding lead.

Scope of the Policy

This policy has been developed in accordance with the requirements and principles established by the relevant legislation and statutory guidance, including ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018’ and the Charity Commission, and sets out the responsibilities of those who work for local Home-Starts, including trustees, employees, volunteers and consultants.

Home-Start will treat any breach of this policy very seriously. For those who work for us, failure to follow this policy could lead to disciplinary action, which may ultimately result in dismissal.

For those who work with us, we reserve the right to immediately terminate any contract and, for trustees, to require them to immediately cease being a trustee.

All concerns and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously.

You can download or view online the full policy by following these links:

Home-Start Lambeth Safeguarding Children Policy

Home-Start Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Policy

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