Early Help Assessment
The Early Help Assessment provides a standard approach across agencies and services.
It is designed for children, young people and their families. It ensures they receive the right support at an early stage before things are too difficult.
It is for use as soon as possible when a family’s needs are not being met by universal services or addressed via single agency support.
Early Help Assessments need consent.
The needs of the family can include anything which affects;
- health
- development
- wellbeing
- safety of the children.
The professionals involved will meet with the family at family network meetings. They will discuss support and put together a plan of what needs to happen.
Any service already supporting a family can begin and lead an assessment.
This includes:
- nursery
- school
- college
- health visitor
- school nurse
- Building Stronger Families Team
- Voluntary sector services
Parents who would like an Early Help Assessment can speak to the above services who you are already working with. They can put this in place for you or you can contact the Childrens Front Door on 01325 406222 (option 2).
To speak to your allocated worker in the Building Stronger Families Team, please contact McNay Street Children’s Centre. Tel:01325 406250.
Professionals who would like some Early Help Assessment training, please contact the Early Help Coordinator Kelly-Ann Reay. Tel:01325 405635.
Forms and documents
Early Help Assessment
- Early help process map [pdf document]
- Early Help Assessment [word document]
- Family leaflet [pdf document]
- Family network plan [word document]
Early Help Assessment guidance documentation
- Early Help Assessment – A guide for parents and carers [pdf document]
- Early Help Assessment guidance [pdf document]
- Early Help Assessment strengths and needs [pdf document]
- Service request guidance [pdf document]
- Voice of child guidance [pdf document]
- Guidance for chairing a family network meeting [pdf document]
Early Help Assessment quality assurance
- Practitioner self-assessment [pdf document]
- Early help audit and learning tool [pdf document]
- What makes good guidance? [pdf document]