About Early Help
About Early Help
What is Early Help?
Early Help, sometimes known as early intervention, is an approach to providing children, young people and families with support to thrive and reach their full potential.
Early Help supports families at the earliest point when they first have challenges, stopping problems from escalating. Parents are encouraged to build on their capacity and resources and are empowered to deal with the challenges they face. Our ambition is for every family to receive the support they need, when they need it.
Timely and flexible support means:
- Better outcomes for families
- Reduced social problems in the community
- More cost-effective overall
Our vision is that every child, young person and family feels included in their community, is happy and healthy, and can easily get any help they need to thrive and reach their potential.
Who is it for?
Early Help is available for all families living in Tower Hamlets when they need it, from pregnancy through to young people turning 19 (or up to 25 with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities).
Although research shows that the most impact can be made during a child’s early years, the early help approach is not just for very young children, because problems can emerge at any point throughout childhood and adolescence.
We welcome all families to our service.
What does Early Help look like?
To understand what Early Help looks like, it’s useful to know the difference between universal and targeted services.
Most children’s needs are met by their family, or what are known as ‘universal services’. Universal services are available to everyone and include provisions like school, healthcare, and Baby feeding and wellbeing advice.
For those who need extra support, ‘targeted services’ are offered. Examples of families who might need additional support are those experiencing:
- Parental conflict
- Children or parents with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
- Poor school attendance
- Parental mental health difficulties
- Language barriers
Examples of targeted services are:
- Parent groups
- Debt and budgeting sessions
Both universal and targeted support in Tower Hamlets often begins in our Family Hubs and Children and Family Centres.
To access targeted services, an Early Help Assessment will be completed with the family which will decide the best method of support.
When a child’s needs cannot be met through Early Help services, and if a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, they will be referred to statutory services.
Family Hubs
Early Help in Tower Hamlets is delivered through the Family Hub approach.
Every family should have access to the information and tools needed to care for their family and look after their wellbeing.
Family Hubs join up services in Tower Hamlets to improve access, connections between families, professionals, services, and providers, and put relationships at the heart of family support.
Find out more about Family Hubs in Tower Hamlets by downloading our leaflet. For the most up-to-date information from the Family Hubs Network visit the Family Hubs website.
Concerned about a child?
If a child is in immediate danger, please call the police on 999.
We are currently integrating our Early Help Hub and the MASH. The MAST is a multi-disciplinary team which includes Social Workers, Early Help Workers, Health, Housing, Education Police colleagues amongst others.
At the current moment until the full interrogation has taken place.
For Early Help support
For more information about Early Help, please call the Early Help Hub on 020 7364 5006 (select option 2) or visit the Early Help Hub page for most Early Help Services.
For safeguarding concerns
If you have a concern about the welfare or safety of a child during the office hours of 9am to 5pm, you should contact MAST:
If a child is in immediate danger, please call the police on 999.
- Emergency Duty Team (EDT) – Out of hours service
- Tel: 020 7364 4079 (after 5pm and at weekends)
- Tel: 020 7364 5006 option 3
Organisations and agencies that can provide Early Help:
For other services visit the Local Offer directory for an organisation that can help you.