Early Help

Central Bedfordshire's Early Help Offer identifies the need for help for children and families as soon as problems start to emerge, or when there is a strong likelihood that problems will emerge in the future. The Early Help Offer is not just for very young children as problems may also emerge at any point throughout childhood and adolescence. The Early Help Offer includes universal and targeted services designed to reduce or prevent specific problems from escalating or becoming entrenched.

Once completed, the Early Help Assessment (EHA) will serve as a useful way to share information and to track and review a child or young person’s progress. 

The EHA form should be used by practitioners in all agencies who work with unborn babies, babies, children, young people and their families and have been trained in its use. 

EHA Resources

• Early Help Pre-assessment Checklist - This form is to be used if you are undecided as to whether a full EHA should be completed for a child or young person. If you answer no to two or more questions it is recommended a full EHA should be completed.
• Early Help Assessment Form - This is the main form to be used when assessing the needs of a child or young person
• Early Help Assessment Delivery Plan and Review - The delivery plan and review forms are to be used at the Team Around the Child meetings (TAC).
• Early Help Consent Form - This form is to be used to gain consent from the parents/carers to transfer the EHA from one organisation to another.   For example, when a child changes schools.
• Ofsted Early help: whose responsibility? 

Additional Resources

• Early Help information for professionals
• Early Help information for parents and carers
• Early Help information for children and young people