CMARS > Early Help & Record an Early Help Assessment

Early Help & Record an Early Help Assessment

Early Help

Early help is the support provided to a child or family as soon as a problem emerges or to prevent further problems in the future. The main aim is to improve children’s lives.

Help is available to everyone such as from health professionals, schools or from family hubs and community centres, this is called universal help and anyone can access it. When a family needs more help or help from a number of professionals then an early help plan can be useful to help coordinate this support.

The Early Help Assessment is the form used to record the conversation we have with families about the help they need, and using it to agree the approach needed and actions to be taken to improve things.

Professionals should know when and how to make a plan for a child and their family, when they should access further help and support from their manager or partner agencies, and when to refer to Children’s Services in line with the specialist level of need which is outlined in the One Family Approach – Helping Children and Families in North Lincolnshire document.

Working Together 2023 places a statutory responsibility on the safeguarding partners and other local organisations and agencies to work together to:

  • identify children and families who would benefit from early help
  • undertake an assessment of the need for early help
  • provide targeted early help services to address the assessed needs of a child and their family which focuses on activity to improve the outcomes for the child

Record an Early Help Assessment 

Early Help Online System

If you have not used the online early help system before, you will need to register your details using the below link. You only need to do this once as your details will be remembered by the system for ease in entering future forms:

Create Early Help Assessor Profile

To record an Early Help Assessment and start the early help process, please use the link below:

Record Early Help

Once you have recorded an Early Help Assessment the system will automatically email you a link to the review form, you’ll need to save this link for when you want to record the review meeting details. Closing an early help plan is also completed online after you record the ‘Final Review’ you will receive a link to the Closure Summary.

Please note that the online system does not have a save progress feature, the form must be completed in one sitting, therefore it may be helpful to record the assessment or review information gathered and copy and paste it onto the online system. Template forms are available below for this purpose.

Further instructions on using the Early Help online system can be found in the help card below:

Please ensure that you record your Early Help Assessment, Review Plan and Closure Summary using the online system. These templates are for practitioners to use as drafts only prior to inputting the information into the relevent form on the online system.

 

Please see below further Guidance and information

 

For process enquiries contact: earlyhelp@northlincs.gov.uk

Early Help Practice Forums

These termly forums provide an opportunity for practitioners from across schools, family support, other staff in the local authority and other agencies to share best practice, seek solutions around current early help plans and receive peer support.

Upcoming Dates

  • Brigg  – The Angel – Mon 12th May 1pm  and  Wed 8th Oct 1pm
  • South – Ashby Hub – Wed 14th May 1pm and  Thurs 9th Oct 1pm
  • Isle – Crowle Hub – Tue 13th May – 1.30 and  Tues 7th Oct 1.30pm
  • North – Scunthorpe Central – Fri 16th May 10.30 and Fri 10th Oct 10.30am

For further information please contact Helen.Blaydes@northlincs.gov.uk

Early Help Training

 

Early Help Awareness e-Workbook

This e-Workbook provides all staff with a basic awareness of early help practice and process. It provides information about what early help is and why we undertake early help.

Upon completion, certificates are issued on behalf of the Children’s MARS Board.

Early Help e-Workbook

Masterclass – Early Help Practice and Process

As part of the Children’s MARS training programme, Early Help Practice and Process training is available to book.

This training aims to increase practitioners’ understanding of early help and enhance skills in assessing need using the new Early Help Assessment. It is aimed at practitioners who will be supporting families as part of an early help plan.

You will learn:

  • The purpose and process
  • Why and how we help families using early help
  • The local context
  • Levels of intervention and support
  • Practical skills and process
  • How to complete a good quality Early Help Assessment and
    effective planning with families

For upcoming dates and information on how to book, please visit the training page.