Early Help

SS John and Monica Early Help Offer

What is Early Help?
Early Help means providing help for children, young people, and families as soon as problems start to emerge or when it is likely that issues will negatively impact children’s outcomes.
Early Help…
•    is for children of all ages and not just the very young,
•    can be very effective in supporting a child, young person, and their family to step down from statutory services and prevent the escalation of issues.
•    is important because there is clear evidence that it results in better outcomes for children.
Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Safeguarding Children’s Trust recognise that Early Help is a term that describes much of the everyday work of schools.

 
Early Help in Birmingham
All partner organisations working with children and families in Birmingham aim to improve children’s lives by partnering to raise aspirations, build achievement, and protect the most vulnerable.
This is based on the belief that:
•    Children, young people and families develop resilience if there are protective factors in place, such as a positive relationship with an adult, good literacy and communication skills, good school attendance, and parents in or actively seeking/ready for work
•    Children’s needs are best met when help is offered in a universal setting within a socially mixed group and early on when problems start to emerge
•    Children and young people’s needs are best met when addressed in the context of the whole family, meaning that parents/carers/siblings’ needs are addressed with consent as part of a holistic and integrated Early Help response
Early Help services should support and strengthen families so that they can thrive.


The Role of Schools
 
Day to Day Support
Most families can happily get on with their lives without outside help. If they need help, universal services, such as schools, usually provide it.
 
Focused Pastoral Support
However, all families can have times when difficulties arise, and they either may not recognise them or know how to start putting things right. Schools support families in addressing these difficulties through more focused pastoral support, including bringing in support via an external agency.
 
Early Help Assessment
For those children and families whose needs and circumstances make them more vulnerable or where schools need the support of other agencies to meet the needs of the family, a coordinated multi-agency approach is usually best. In Birmingham, this is achieved by undertaking an Early Help Assessment and assigning a Lead Practitioner to work closely with the family to ensure they receive the required support. Schools should be a key partner in any multi-agency work to support families
 
The following four commitments are the core elements of SS John and Monica Catholic Primary School’s Early Help Offer.
By implementing these commitments, SS John and Monica Catholic Primary School aims to ensure the following:
•    Pupils, parent/carers and staff are clear on the Early Help support available through the school
•    Clarity for partners, supporting improved multi-agency working
•    Delivery approaches of Early Help support for more vulnerable families are up to date with local offers
•    Commitment to the personal development and well-being strand of the Ofsted Framework

Please contact Mrs Elliott (DSL), Mr Ullah (DDSL), Mrs Nicholls (DDSL), Mrs Riches (DDSL), Mrs Doyle (DDSL), or Mrs Ali (DDSL) on 0121 464-5868 if you wish to discuss the Early Help offer and receive family support.

The following offer a range of directories of help and support for parents:

Mental Health and Well-being - https://forwardthinkingbirmingham.nhs.uk/pause/

Online Parenting Skills - https://inourplace.heiapply.com/online-learning/

Domestic Abuse  - 

Problems with drugs and alcohol

Family Support Documents

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