How to get Early Help support

When your child needs extra support, we are here to help you find the way forward as soon as possible.

Early Help offers both general (universal) support and more focused (targeted) support. It brings together services, families and communities to build strong networks. This helps children and families become more resilient, improving wellbeing and quality of life.

Early Help Assessment

An Early Help Assessment helps practitioners work with you to:

• understand your family's strengths and needs
• agree what support may help
• plan support at the right time

This support can help prevent problems from reaching crisis point or needing specialist services.

How the assessment works

The assessment focuses on strengths as well as challenges.

A practitioner will:

• listen to you and your child
• talk about what is going well
• discuss what support may be helpful

An action plan will then be agreed together, and you will get a copy.

How Early Help will support you

Early Help brings together people who are important in your child's life, such as:

• family members
• friends
• teachers
• health visitors

These people will work together as a team to support your child and family.

Where possible, you can choose a lead practitioner. This is someone you trust who will:

• keep you informed
• listen to your views
• coordinate support

Confidentiality

We will only share your family's information with your consent and with people who need it to provide support. However, information may be shared without consent if:

• a child or adult is at risk of harm
• there is a need to prevent or detect a serious crime
• urgent action is needed to protect someone

Older children may choose to speak to the practitioner on their own. If it is in their best interests, some information may not be shared with parents or carers.

Ongoing support and reviews

Support is reviewed regularly through meetings called Team Around the Family (TAF).

These meetings help make sure:

• the right support is in place
• services work well together
• your family's needs continue to be met

Find out more about Early Help on the Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership website.