4.3 Early Help

Early Help

The agencies in Sefton have agreements in place such as the SSCP ‘Level of Need’ Guidance and the Sefton Early Help Strategy for Children, Young People and Families which provide effective ways to identify emerging problems and potential unmet needs for individual children and families as well as clear guidance and procedures for all professionals, including those in universal services and those providing services to adults with children.

The professionals in Sefton are supported through training and supervision to understand their role in identifying emerging problems and sharing information with other professionals to assist with early identification and assessment.

The local Early Help Strategy document includes information as follows:

• The process for the early help assessment and the type of early help services to be provided;
• The criteria, including the level of need, for when a child should be referred to Sefton Children's Social Care for assessment and for statutory services under:
  • Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 (children in need);
  • Section 47 of the Children Act 1989 (safeguarding);
  • Section 31 of the Children Act 1989 (care proceedings);
  • Section 20 of the Children Act 1989 (duty to accommodate a child).