EHA - Early Help Assessment

Helping children, young people and families is everybody’s business. All agencies that work with children, young people and families are responsible for listening to your concerns and worries and taking the right actions to ensure you and your family get any support needed, at an early stage.

What is the Early Help Assessment process?

The Early Help Assessment process is a way of gathering information about children and the whole family in one place and using it to help decide what type of support is needed to help a family overcome any barriers they may be facing.

People from different organisations will talk to one another, share information with your consent and work together with you to help to support you and your children.

An Early Help Assessment can only take place with your agreement. You are being asked to agree to an assessment process so that the people working with your family can gather information and agree, with you, how to help you. People who can help and support you will work with the information gathered and plan how best to help you. The plan will say what will be done, who will do it and by when.

Can an Early Help Assessment be done without my agreement?

An Early Help Assessment is voluntary and can only be done with your agreement. The people working with your family will always try to involve you. If your child is old enough they can agree to an assessment themselves.

What will happen to my Assessment? Can I have a copy of what is written about me?

The person who leads on completing your assessment with you will keep a record of it. They will only share it with those who have also contributed or those who need to have a copy. This will be agreed with you when you consent to take part in the assessment process. You will be given a copy of your assessment, and all planning and review records, to keep.

What sort of services might be included on my action plan?

This will depend on your family’s needs. Some services that families have found helpful include signposting to Parenting Support, Counselling Services, Housing/Benefit Support Services & Adult Education Classes for parents plus many more.