Making a Referral

Any family with a child under 5 can be referred to Home-Start for support. The main referrers to Home-Start Edinburgh West and South West are Health Visitors and professionals in the social care and child care sectors. Other referrers can include GP’s and those working in the fields of mental health, education, early years and probation. Around a quarter of families self refer.

If you would like to make a referral please ensure that you:
  • Discuss Home-Start with the family – they MUST agree to receive Home-Start support.
  • Establish that the family has at least one child under five – this is key to Home-Start support.
  • Contact your local Home-Start and speak to the co-ordinator if you have any questions
  • Complete a referral form, which indicates the family’s needs.
Once we have received the referral we will:
  • Set up an initial visit with the family to discuss their needs and tell them all about Home-Start.
  • Carefully match the skills and experiences of a volunteer to the needs of the family.
  • Introduce the volunteer to the family (this may take time and if a suitable match can not be made then you will be informed).
  • Let you know when Home-Start support starts and ends.
  • Keep you informed, within confidentiality guidelines, about progress.
PLEASE NOTE:  As of 1 January 2018 we are piloting a joint referral form with Home-Start Leith and North East Fife and Home Link Family Support.  The purpose of the new system is to make referring for support easier.  Please let us know if you have any difficulties with the new form.












“Home-Start helps our society to ensure we are not neglecting families.  We neglect at our peril, for young brains are shaped by what parents are able to give their children.  If we do not support parents in that giving, we hurt ourselves, in the costs of health, social work, prisons. So Home-Start offers services not just to families but to taxpayers and politicians. 

Thank you, Home-Start.”
   Dr. Suzanne  Zeedyk* 

*Dr Suzanne Zeedyk is a psychologist, researcher and early years specialist - visit her website here: http://suzannezeedyk.com/


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