Introduction to Early Help

What is Early Help?

Early Help is the total support that gives children, young people, and their families the right assistance at the right time. It's about identifying early concerns before things escalate and become more difficult to manage.

Imagine a child struggling in school or a family facing a challenging time.

Early Help can be like a helping hand, offering support with things like:

• Finding a safe and stable home
• Seeking employment and/or managing finances
• Learning new parenting skills
• Accessing education and/or childcare
• Dealing with relationship difficulties
• Prioritising positive well-being
• Overcoming alcohol and/or substance misuse

Early Help services are available to families with children and young people aged 0-18, and up to 25 for those with Special educational needs and disability (SEND).

Where to get Early Help?

Children, young people, and families can go to places they’re familiar with and trust to get early help. We believe those closest to the child are best placed to help. The goal is to work together to create a strong support system that helps families stay independent, but connected to the wider community.

Who is this toolkit for?

This toolkit is for family hub network professionals who work with children, young people, and families. This includes schools, nurseries, youth providers, and voluntary organisations.

What’s included in the toolkit

1. Our Family Journey, to guide you through the Early Help process
2. Early Help Thresholds and how to identify levels of need
3. Requests for support and the Team Around the Family process
4. A toolkit of resources
5. Training Available

All the tools and content in this toolkit are informed by the Family Hubs Core Competencies:

• Culturally-informed practice
• Relationally-informed practice
• Trauma-informed practice
• Whole Family approach
• Impact of Special Needs and Education (SEND) and support

If you're a parent or carer looking for help, visit this website for more information and support: https://www.islington.gov.uk/children-and-families/parenting-and-family-support. You can also self-refer by calling the Early Help Advice line to reach a family worker in Bright Futures (0207 527 4343)

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999 to contact the police. If you’re worried about a child, you can find out more information about what to do here. All child safeguarding or protection concerns should be referred to Children's Social Care, 0207 527 7400 (all hours).

If you think a child might be at risk, but it's not an emergency, contact the local authority where the child resides. You can find your closest council here.  All referrals should be followed up with a Request for Service form to Children's Social Care. To help you make decisions, you can check the London Safeguarding Children Procedures.