Early help is the support we give to children, young people and their families where they have additional needs that aren't being met by the usual services that are available to everyone, such as health and education. When a family has additional needs, we make sure they have access to the extra support they need at the earliest possible stage so that things don't get worse.

Who is Early help for?

Children with additional needs, who may be vulnerable and showing early signs of need. E.g., abuse and /or neglect, their needs are not clear, not known or not being met. Check the Threshold Guidance to identify level of need and risk of the child you are worried about.:

What we can do

1-2-1 support:

• Allocate a Targeted Early Help Worker and/ or Youth Worker

What they do:

• provide parenting support within the home
• direct work with children and families to support their lived experience, explore their wishes and feelings and support in identifying change to achieve this
• encourage and support the family to make positive changes and feel confident in their ability to make changes
• safety planning with the family whilst awaiting domestic abuse support
• referrals to and liaison with other agencies who had not previously been identified
• respite package/ direct payments application

Programmes

Parenting Programme as a group member 

Review of needs

• Support in introducing and accessing services within universal settings or with external agencies
• Team Around the Family 

What we cannot do

Family engagement

• monitor the family 
• be responsible for the family completing their actions in the plan
• look after the children whilst families attend appointments made for them

Service help

• complete referrals on behalf of other agencies (MARF)
• arrange any form of move for families with regards to accommodation 
• directly provide specialist service (i.e. counselling, health advise)

What you should do before making a referral

Family engagement

• discuss all concerns with the family/young person
• gain consent to refer

Complete

• complete a form of assessment, highlighting what support is already been offered, family’s current needs and an initial plan of support
• complete any relevant referrals (ie. carers/CAMHS/Refuge etc.)

Consider

• consider whether the child or young person's needs can be met by services within your own organisation, or by other organisations already known to them such as their school, health visitor, school nurse, GP or local or national organisations and support groups. Go to our Early help and support for families page for more advice and information