Early help
The purpose of early help is to prevent any issues from getting worse by offering families support at the right time.
Any professional working with your family, such as those based in schools, health services, and in voluntary sector organisations, can offer early help services as soon as they can see that advice, support and/or intervention may be needed.
Early help works best when it's offered to the whole family and when services are delivered jointly by professionals.
If you feel that your family needs further help or support speak to someone in school or contact other professionals such as your doctor, health visitor, childrens centre who may be able to help or find someone who can.
Early help assessments
Early Help Assessments (EHA) are how professionals identify and assess your family's needs.
We complete the assessment with your family and a range of different organisations, such as schools and health services. This is so the support given meets the needs of the whole family.
An EHA means everyone can make sure the support is working and making a difference to your family. It also helps to improve local services for everyone.
Locality teams
There are three locality teams in Warrington, looking after multiple areas.
East team
Culcheth, Glazebury, Croft, Birchwood, Poulton North/South, Rixton, Woolston, Orford, Poplars and Hulme.
South team
Fairfield, Howley, Latchford East/West, Stockton Heath, Appleton, Grappenhall, Lymm, Thelwall.
West team
Burtonwood, Winwick, Westbrook, Great Sankey, Whittle Hall, Penketh, Cuerdley, Chapelford, Old Hall, Bewsey, Whitecross.
Each locality team is made up of staff from different professional backgrounds including early years, children centres, family outreach, youth services and other specialist services.
Locality teams work with other partner agencies such as schools, health, police, community safety team, housing providers, probation and substance misuse providers to support children and families.
Family support
Family support is delivered by a dedicated team of workers known as the family support team.
They support families at an early stage to improve the life chances of children and young people.
The family support team work with families experiencing a range of challenges such as debt, housing issues, domestic violence, poor mental or emotional health, substance misuse, anti-social behaviour and neglect. They do this through home visiting and assessment of your needs.
A key aspect of the help provided to families includes:
- support families with children aged 0-19 years old with complex and multiple needs
- an assessment of needs, helping families to identify what works well and what needs to change
- acting as lead professional for the family, helping you to access support and work with other services to make changes
- parenting advice and working with the family to improve the confidence and self-esteem of children, young people and parents/carers
- being a positive role model and advocate for children and young people
- listening to the views of families and their children to provide support