Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) provides the expectations for how organisations should work together to provide support and protection for children and their families. The guidance promotes a pro-active approach to safeguarding with a particular focus on providing ‘Early Help’.
What is Early Help?
This is the support provided for children, young people and their families to respond when difficulties begin to emerge or to stop problems developing in the future. This support can be provided at any point in a child’s life to stop small problems getting bigger. Prevention and Early Help is not a specific service but a collaborative approach across all agencies that work with children, young people and families, who will work together to improve the outcomes for children, young people and families.
Bradford’s Prevention and Early Help offer involves a wide range of partners all playing key roles in providing access to information, support and the tools needed to help build the resilience of children, young people and families. The aim is to identify and build on a family’s strengths and work towards them being able to resolve their own difficulties, develop skills and better manage future challenges.
Here at Parkside, Miss Waterman is the Early Help Co-ordinator. When staff or parents have concerns about a child’s welfare, they can speak to Miss Waterman or Mrs Phillip who can advise on which Early Help services may be able to help. If the issues are more complex, an Early Help Assessment or a referral to the Early Help gateway may be suggested – these options provide more intensive support and may include a help from a Family Support Worker.
Any child may benefit from early help, but why might you want early help?
You are worried about your child’s health, development, behaviour or how things are going at school
You are worried about money or housing and how it is affecting your family
You or your child or family is affected by domestic abuse, drugs, alcohol or crime
You have had bereavement in the family that has made life challenging
You are caring for a disabled child or you are a young person caring for other people
Where can I get Early Help?
You can use the Families and Young Persons Information website – Bradford FYI to find information and services that can help, this includes information on how to access support from your local Family Hub.
If you feel you and your family might need further support to solve some of the problems you are facing you can speak to Miss Waterman or a GP, Health Visitor, nursery practitioner, or any other practitioner supporting you. You can also contact Early Help by calling 0800 953 0966 Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm or Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Parkside currently work with a number of external agencies to provide early help. When problems arise, we can provide advice and referrals to external services who may be able to help. Such as CAMHS or Family Action. In addition, we work closely with the Mental Health Support Team, School Nurse and Youth in Mind. These agencies offer group work and one to one support in school for children who may need additional emotional wellbeing support or low level CBT for a variety of reasons.
Find out more about Bradfords Prevention and Early Help services at:
