When your child needs extra support, we want to support you to find the best way forward as soon as possible.
Early Help is a way of supporting children and families before problems get worse. It's voluntary and designed to help you find the right support at the right time.
We'll listen to you and your child, to understand what's going well and what support is needed. Together, we'll agree an action plan.
How it helps
Early Help brings together everyone involved in your child's life, such as teachers or health visitors, to work as a team.
You can choose a lead practitioner, where possible. This is someone you trust who will:
- keep you informed
- listen to your views
- coordinate support for your child
How the assessment works
With your agreement, a worker will talk to you and your child. They'll ask questions to understand your child's needs and what's working well.
This is recorded on a simple form which you'll get a copy of.
Older children may choose to speak to the worker alone. If it's in their best interests, the worker may keep some information confidential from parents.
What happens next
We’ll work with you and your child to understand what support is needed. Everyone involved will work together to help your child. We’ll only share your child’s information with people who need it to provide support.
Confidentiality
We'll only share your information with your consent unless:
- a child or adult is at risk of harm
- we need to prevent or detect a serious crime
- we need to act quickly to protect someone