Early Help means providing support as soon as the need emerges, at any point in a child’s life.
Staff at St. Wulstan’s & St. Edmund’s recognise that any professional can provide early help and we are well supported by our pastoral team – Mrs Jessica Storton (Deputy Headteacher/ DSL/SENCo), Mrs Rachael Whewell (Family Support Worker) and Mrs Carol Crisp (Learning Mentor).
Any pupil or family may benefit from early help, but staff will be alert to the potential need specifically for early help for pupils who:
· Are disabled, have certain health conditions, or have specific additional needs
· Have SEND, regardless of whether they have a statutory EHC plan
· Have mental health needs
· Are young carers
· Show signs of being drawn into anti-social or criminal behaviour, including gang involvement and association with organised crime groups or county lines
· Are frequently missing or going missing from care or from home
· Are at risk of modern slavery, trafficking, or sexual or criminal exploitation
· Are at risk of being radicalised
· Is misusing drugs or alcohol
· Have family members in prison, or are affected by parental offending
· Are in a family circumstance presenting challenges for them, such as drug and alcohol misuse, adult mental health problems, or domestic abuse
· Misuse drugs or alcohol.
· Have returned home to their family from care
· Are at risk of Honour Based Abuse, such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or Forced Marriage.
· Are privately fostered.
· Are persistently absent from education, including persistent absences for part of the school day
· Show any other early signs of abuse, neglect any other identified reason not listed above that requires extra support or intervention to improve outcomes for families and children.
Mrs Storton or Mrs Whewell will take the lead where early help is appropriate and consent has been gained. This includes liaising with other agencies and setting up an inter-agency assessment as appropriate.
The local early help process will be followed as required to help provide the right, effective support at the right time. Staff may be required to support other agencies and professionals in an early help assessment, in some cases acting as the lead practitioner. Any such cases will be kept under constant review assessing the impact of the support.
We therefore ensure that:
· All staff and volunteers can identify the risk factors that indicate a family or pupil may benefit from Early Help and can follow school procedures to share this with the DSL
· DSLs (or other appropriate school staff) – will undertake a Family Early Help Assessment, when appropriate, to identify what Early Help is required
· DSLs will signpost and refer to appropriate support agencies
· DSLs will lead on TAF meetings where is it appropriate for them to do so
· DSLs will follow the local safeguarding processes and refer to Children's Social Care where Early Help has not been successful in reducing risk and meeting unmet needs using Lancashire Continuum of Need and Thresholds Guidance. (See link below)
Child & Family Wellbeing Service
The Child & Family Wellbeing Service support families of children and young people from 0-19 years old and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities up to 25.
Some of this will be in groups and some of this will be with individuals.
Some of the services are available to all children or families and others are for those who are in most need of support.
We offer different services across a range of locations to meet the needs of the local community including:
- Support for individual children, young people or their families
- Health services – ranging from health visitors to breastfeeding
- Parenting advice for mums, dads and carers
- Activities and groups where your baby, toddler or child can play and learn
- A place to pick up Healthy Start vitamins and tablets
- Advice to help you to support your child’s learning from birth
- A great place to make new friends
- Connecting with the local community
- Access to specialist support for families with children with disabilities/additional needs
- Groups for expectant mums and dads
- Advice and guidance on how to keep you and your child healthy
- Sensory rooms
- Information about local childcare
- Groups for young people to attend
- Advice for young people
- Help to access adult learning opportunities
- Advice on jobs, training and benefits
- Opportunities for volunteering
For families that need extra help and support C&FW may meet with you individually to do an assessment of your needs. This is to help us work with you to get the extra support you need.
A range of professionals may work together with us such as workers from Children's Social Care, Police, housing services, the local district council, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and the Adult Wellbeing Service.
To find out what groups and support are available in your area you can ask your nearest service:
Wyre Children and Family Wellbeing Service
Milton Youth & Community Centre
Milton Street
Fleetwood
FY7 6QW
Tel. 01253 741 117