Early Help
What is Early Help?
Early Help is a coordinated approach to supporting children and families as soon as issues arise. It brings together services—such as schools, health, councils, police, and community groups—to offer whole-family support.
"Universal services and community-based early help is support for children of all ages that improves a family’s resilience and outcomes or reduces the chance of a problem getting worse. It is not an individual service, but a system of support delivered by local
authorities and their partners working together and taking collective responsibility to provide the right provision in their area. This level of early help is provided through “universal services” - such as education, health – and other community-based services. It is distinct
from targeted early help delivered through Family Help teams, which are more formal arrangements coordinated by local authorities, where a plan is in place and a lead practitioner appointed."
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026)
"Targeted early help services delivered through Family Help, are coordinated by a local authority and/or their partners to address specific concerns within a family. Examples of these include parenting support, mental health support, domestic abuse services, youth services, youth offending teams and housing and employment services. Targeted early help should be provided for children and families who have multiple and/or complex needs, or whose circumstances might make them more vulnerable."
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026)
All local authorities across England are moving towards a Family Help model through the Families First Partnership Reforms, which should be in place by April 2027.
Early Help at all levels (universal and targeted) is a voluntary approach, requiring the family's consent to receive support and services.
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland have created a Guide to Working with Children, Young People and Families for early help services.
This guidance outlines role-specific competencies and provides scenarios to help professionals apply them in practice. It is aligned with the Families First Partnership reforms, which aim to integrate early help and child protection through multidisciplinary teams, consistent support, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.
GUIDANCE
3 Minute Meets
A chance to see what a team or service offers to families and professionals to enable understanding of how early help support can be accessed, please watch the 3 minute meets: 3 minute meet programme.
What is an Early Help Assessment
What is an Early Help Assessment? Do you understand what they are and what they do? Click here for a simple explanation…
How to do an Early Help Assessment
But how do you ‘do’ an Early Help Assessment? This Road Map sets out the steps required in an easy to follow way.
What makes Early Help work?
This sets out the over-arching practices that support an effective early help offer. Take a look and consider whether these are part of your practice.
Liquid Logic Myth Buster
It may be tricky – but Liquid Logic is the system that we all use – not all we know about it is true. Click here to have some Liquid Logic Myths Busted!