Home-Start Watford and Three Rivers

Who we are

We are a community-based charity with 30 years’ experience of supporting local families with children under the age of 5. We offer our combination of home-visiting, counselling and group support to families across Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere districts. By offering parents the support and guidance they need when their children are young, we can prevent crisis and ensure children have the best possible start in life. We tailor support to the needs of each family, supporting them to identify and tackle their most pressing needs. Our practical support ensures children have a safer, more stable home environment; our ethos of building family resilience ensures parents are better equipped to cope with adverse circumstances; and our focus on promoting a more secure parent-child attachment ensures parents can identify the kind of support their children need to thrive.

Our culture and values

Home-Start Watford & Three Rivers Values

·       We lead with integrity to deliver a professional and reliable service

·       We foster a sense of community by being responsive, friendly and kind

·       We work to support, enable and inspire

·       Everyone feels valued, respected, listened to and included

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Home Start is committed to The 2010 Equality Act and 1998 Human Rights Act by developing an organisational culture that respects equality and human rights and welcomes and values difference in all aspects of its work. A commitment to equal opportunities and the fundamental rights of individuals is at the heart of our work.

To help us achieve this Home-Start has in place policies and procedures relating to staff and volunteers that are designed to uphold the rights enshrined in both 2010 Equality Act and 1998 Human Rights Act. Employees, trustees and other volunteers are, therefore required to comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure respect for equality and human rights. Home-Start ensures all its other policies and procedures comply with this policy.

Context & legislation
As an employer and service provider Home-Start is required to comply with anti-discrimination legislation. It is also firmly within our ethos and values as an organisation to ensure that all staff, volunteers, families, funders and other stakeholders are confident that we will treat everyone with fairness, dignity and respect.

Home-Start is committed to offering equality in:
Age, Disability, Gender reassignment, Marriage and civil partnership, Pregnancy and maternity, Race, Religion or belief, Political opinion, Sex and Sexual orientation.

The policy reflects Home-Start’s commitment to the Human Rights Act 1998, the extension of the law on harassment and the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Codes of Practice for Employment, Equal Pay and Services, Public Functions and Associations. Home-Start is committed to a culture that does not tolerate victimisation, harassment or bullying. Home-Start will investigate and take action on any reports of practice, which trustees, staff, volunteers or families believe to be unfair or discriminatory.

All staff are made aware that unfair or discriminatory treatment of another individual will result in the consideration of disciplinary proceedings and will normally be treated as serious misconduct warranting dismissal.