Accessibility
An offer of early help will be accessible, at the first sign that people need help and delivered as close to home as possible.
Families feel more comfortable receiving support from those around them - for example, a children’s centre or a local community group, rather than a city-wide service. A local service will also be more personalised and accessible. Accessibility could include on-line or social media profile, a presence in community buildings or allowing self-referrals.
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Transcript
In this video you will hear from: A parent, nursery teachers, young person and parenting practitioner
Parent:
I didn't know that it was available to me, until social services were already involved. But I do think that a lot of people would be more open to accessing Early Help first, rather than social services so I think the more awareness that spread about it; and the more people that know about it; the more access will be given to it.
Yvonne Dervin, Early Years Outreach worker and Becky Jones, Deputy Head of Centres, Martenscroft Nursery School
And it's about getting that, or giving that, help when it's needed isn’t it? And that first point call will be us and we signpost them to any other support they might need. We've got like the leisure centres and the Powerhouse and all the different community and independents and charities around us that we've forged really good relationships with over the years. It could be anything from new to the area, to something that's almost child in the early looked after care stage. Or women or men fleeing domestic abuse. We've had people come through the doors and we've had to kind of think on our feet and say right okay where can we go? And we have a real relationship Women's Aid as well don't we?
Charlotte Hudson:
An accessible service is good because it can be local to the person and instead of them having to go to far locations. It can solve the problem quicker and they don't have to suffer more and like a longer time. They can find help and support sooner than later, so nothing escalates.
Lydia James, Parenting Practitioner, Parenting Team:
Recently I supported a parent. She'd finished the course, she was ready for work she didn't know what she wanted to do. We had a strength-based conversation so I've supported her at home to look at college courses and now she's going to go on to do a textile course in September. It's about seeing very early on that that person might just need a little helping hand in life and stepping in there and giving them that little bit of support.