Early help

In Devon, the early help system is made up of service users, community resources, universal service providers and targeted services working together to enable families to manage their own dilemmas and solve their own problems, making whatever changes are necessary to secure the well-being of their children, enabling appropriate risk management in the community and a proportionate response to risk and need.

The Devon Early Help Assessment is a tool used by all partners in Devon to assess the early help needs of a family and individual family members. It is a multi-agency gathering of information in order that any additional needs within a family can be understood and the process of providing or accessing support can begin. This will mean that the family and everyone involved can make a plan to provide that support. Part of that process may include a Team Around The Family (TAF) meeting taking place, with the family to discuss the help they need and who will provide it.

If your family needs targeted support, a practitioner who works with you can make a Request for Additional Service (RfAS). The RfAS are discussed at regular early help triage meetings held in localities across Devon.

A practitioner working with you will need to have started an early help assessment on the Right for Children system unless your needs override this.

You can use Pinpoint can be used to find early help services and providers across the County.

More information

• Early Help information for workers
• Early Help leaflet
• The Child’s Journey diagram
• Early Help update – where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going
• Good Practice example – when GPs and SENCos work together