Help

Finding your way around the Family Information Service Directory

The directory pages have been organised to help you access the service you require for your family. The directory is split into three areas for general support: Family support, Childcare and education and Youth services.  There is also a specialist area for Practitioners in the right hand column of each page along with the direct link to the Medway Local Offer.

The pages contain different types of quick links to provide access to commonly used searches and pages of information.  The types of links are identified below:   

Searching for information in the Family Information Service Directory

1. The free text search (use this route to search the whole directory for a key word or phrase)
2. The A to Z search (use this route if you know the name of the provider or services you are looking for)
   
3. The quick search links (use this to route to search for information commonly needed by families in Medway)

1. The free text search

Use this route to search the whole directory for a keyword or phrase.  

Click on the What are you looking for? link in the left hand column of any page on the site.  You will be directed to a search form with three boxes. 

Type in your search term, your postcode and the number of miles you are willing to travel in the boxes provided. You will need to provide a search term, but leave the postcode box empty if you want to search across Medway. Click finish to see the list of providers. The results will be organised alphabetically.

2. The A to Z search

Use this route if you know the name of the provider or services you are looking for.

Click on the A to Z Search link in the left hand column of any page on the site.  You will be directed to a page with a horizontal alphabetical list.  Choose the first letter of the name of the provider or service you are looking for.  You will be directed to a list of providers and services whose names start with the letter you have chosen.

Please note:

Some providers have the word The at the start of their name and they would be noted under the letter T.

Childminders will be listed under the first letter of their forename.  

3. The quick search links

Use this to route to search for information commonly needed by families in Medway.

Throughout the site quick links have been included to direct you to commonly completed searches.  Some of the quick links take you straight to a list of services/providers.   Others require some information to help you to refine your search.  There are instructions at the top of each search where further information needs to be provided to complete the search.