Early Help Peterborough

Every family can face challenges at times. Early Help is about identifying needs and providing support as early as possible, before difficulties become more serious. It focuses on working alongside children, young people and families to understand what is working well, what support may be needed, and how positive changes can be achieved. Whether you are worried about your child's development, health, behaviour, education, emotional wellbeing, family relationships, housing or finances, it is important to know that support is available.

Early Help is not a single service. It is a way of professionals and services working together with families to provide the right help, at the right time. By building on strengths and addressing concerns early, families are often able to make positive changes and improve outcomes for their children.

Early Help may be beneficial when:

• You are concerned about your child's behaviour, emotional wellbeing, health or development.
• Your child is struggling with school attendance, learning, friendships or relationships.
• Your family is experiencing challenges such as financial difficulties, housing issues or family conflict.
• A parent or carer is experiencing physical health, mental health or substance misuse difficulties.
• Your child has experienced a significant life event, such as bereavement, separation or family breakdown.
• You feel that support from more than one service may be needed.

You do not need to be in crisis to access Early Help. Support is tailored to the individual needs of each child, young person and family.

What is an Early Help Assessment (EHA)?

An Early Help Assessment (EHA) is a voluntary assessment completed with you, your child or young person (where appropriate), and any professionals already involved with your family.

The assessment helps build a clear picture of your family's strengths, needs and goals. It looks at:

• What is going well for your child and family.
• Any concerns or challenges that may be affecting family life.
• What support may help improve outcomes and achieve positive change.

The assessment provides a shared understanding of your family's situation and helps professionals work together to coordinate support effectively.

Accessing support through an EHA

For many families, advice, guidance and support from universal services will be enough. However, where additional support is needed from more than one service, an Early Help Assessment can help identify the most appropriate support.

The EHA is the access route to Targeted Support Services, including support from Family Workers and Young People's Workers, where a higher level of coordinated intervention is needed. These practitioners work directly with children, young people and families to help address concerns, build resilience and achieve agreed outcomes.

With your consent, information from the assessment can be shared with relevant professionals to ensure support is joined up, coordinated and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for your family.

There are no costs for this support.