Family Help and Early Intervention

At Bevois Town Primary School,  we recognise the importance of providing children and families with the right help at the right time, before difficulties escalate. We are committed to a proactive approach to safeguarding, identifying emerging needs early and working in partnership with children, families and other professionals to ensure timely, appropriate and effective support.

All staff receive safeguarding training to help them recognise when children and families may benefit from community-based early help or more targeted support through Family Help. Staff understand their responsibility to identify and report emerging concerns, share relevant information and contribute to a coordinated, multi-agency response.

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads work closely with children, families and other professionals to identify emerging needs and coordinate appropriate support. Where appropriate, trained school staff may undertake Early Help interventions or Family Help assessments, act as lead practitioners and coordinate multi-agency support, in line with local safeguarding arrangements. This enables us to build on the trusting relationships we have established with families, ensuring that support is timely, joined up and responsive to their needs.

What is Early Help and Family Help?

Early Help is about identifying when children and families need additional support and providing the right help at the right time, before difficulties escalate. It is everyone's responsibility and can be provided by a range of services working with children and families, including schools.

Early Help builds on the strengths, relationships and resources that families already have, helping them to overcome challenges, improve outcomes and prevent difficulties from becoming more serious.

Sometimes, children and families need more coordinated or targeted support. In Southampton, this is provided through Family Help, which brings together targeted Early Help and support for children in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989.

Family Help takes a whole-family approach, recognising that children's needs are often closely connected to those of their parents and wider family. Support may include improving school attendance, strengthening family relationships, establishing routines and boundaries, supporting emotional wellbeing or addressing difficulties with housing, employment or finances.

Where additional support is needed, a Family Help assessment may be undertaken to develop a shared understanding of the family's strengths, needs and circumstances. A lead practitioner, who may be a member of school staff, can work alongside the family and other professionals to develop and coordinate a plan of support.

The views and wishes of children and families are central to this process. Support is built around trusting relationships, with families actively involved in identifying what matters to them and what will make a positive difference. Community-based Early Help is voluntary, while support provided through statutory children's social care arrangements has different legal responsibilities.

The aim is to ensure that children and families feel listened to, supported and empowered, with professionals working together to provide joined-up help that makes a lasting difference.

How Can Families Access Early Help and Family Help?

At Bevois Town Primary School, we work closely with families to identify when additional support may be needed and can make referrals to Early Help and Family Help services. Parents and carers can also request support directly.

Families do not always need a formal referral to access additional support. Where appropriate, school staff can work directly with families to identify emerging needs, undertake Early Help assessments and coordinate support alongside other professionals. This builds on the trusting relationships we have established with children and families, helping to ensure they receive the right support at the right time.

In Southampton, Children and Families First (formerly Early Help), Jigsaw and the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) form part of the Children's Resource Service (CRS). There is a single referral route to access these services, helping to ensure children and families receive the right level of support based on their individual needs.

If you are unsure whether a referral is appropriate, or which level of support may be needed, please refer to the Southampton Pathways Document for further guidance.

You can compete the online referral form which will be sent directly to the Children's Resource Service when you submit it. 

If you have any questions about Early Help or would like support completing the form, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Young (Head of School and Lead DSL). Alternatively,  you can contact the team directly on childrensresourceservice@southampton.gov.uk.