Early help assessments
If you’re contacted by early help they will discuss and explore the early help assessment with you
The early help assessment provides a clear template to facilitate a meaningful assessment with the participation of the child, young person, and their parents or carers. It will be completed by a professional who is best placed for the family. This may be a professional who has the best relationship with the family, or who the family feel may have the best knowledge of their needs.
It centres on the key principles of building relationships, honesty, transparency, and appreciative inquiry to focus on the key issues and what needs to happen to improve them.
Some children and their families may benefit, at times, from a coordinated multi-agency approach and a Team Around the Child plan to help identify and address emerging worries, build on existing strengths and access services that can work with the family to help them.
Getting these decisions right can only be achieved by practitioners and families working together, with honest communication, challenge and thorough evidence and evaluation.
Having an assessment
You feel that you require more specialist help and support and the involvement of a social worker to undertake an assessment of need. The child and family assessment is used to decide whether a child or young person under 18, is eligible for social care support services.
How and when to make a referral
A request for an assessment for a child with a disability can be requested via our Customer Services Team by calling 01522 782111
Parent may prefer to speak to a professional who they know.
The professional can refer the child or young person to the Customer Services Team.
The referrals are screened, if they meet the eligibility criteria of severe and profound and requires the involvement of a specialist team.
Then the child or young person will then be allocated a social worker from the Children with Disabilities team. A team member will contact you meet the child or young person and their family to begin the child and family assessment.
Alternatively, the child or young person maybe allocated an early help worker or a social worker from the social care team to undertake an assessment of need.
