EARLY HELP SERVICES

Early Help is a 'whole family' approach which ensures your child’s needs and welfare are being met and maintained as well as those of your family.

For more information click on the images below to find a children and family centre in the Crawley area:

 

Sometimes a little bit of extra support can help a situation from becoming a bigger issue.  Asking for support is nothing to be ashamed of or feel negative about, Early Help can support you in a number of areas including money worries, housing and health and wellbeing etc

This is a walk-in service where you can find information and get advice for children of all ages. The information can be found at all Child and Family Centres, located at Broadfield, Bewbush, Langley Green, Pound Hill, Northgate and Maidenbower or you can go to the Find It Out (located in Centenary House opposite police station in Crawley) who help families with young people aged 11-19 (up to 25 if you have a child with Special Educational Needs).

If you would like to fnd out about available help please use our direct to enabling families appointment number: 07542856334

Child and Family Centres also offer support groups for families, including Play and Learn, and Discover Baby for pre-school age, Solihull parenting course for any age, Junior T4T for 11-12 year olds, T4T and Jellyfish (emotional health support) for 13-16 year olds. 

Youth Workers run groups for young people on various topics

If you also have younger children the Children and Family Centres also offer child groups including Magic Carpet they also have Sensory rooms and toy libraries.

Support is also available with health developmental reviews, midwife appointments and access to a computer if you need internet.

Enabling Families:  This is a service which offers you a 45 minute slot to speak to the Early Help team directly. This is ideal if you think a one off meeting would be helpful.

Just like a GP appointment- they listen to the issues and then signpost to the areas that may be of help or they may decide at the appointment that an Early Help Plan is required and they will explain what will happen and how it works

Emergency food parcels and crisis fuel payments are also available from some Children and Family Centres.

Your child’s learning mentor is able to open a plan if you feel more comfortable arranging support through school. We open a plan, meet with you to confirm you agree with the content and ask you to sign, consenting to the plan going forward for Early Help.

A plan cannot be submitted without your consent and you can, as a family, disengage at any time and ask for the plan to be closed.

An Early Help Plan is purely the co-ordination of a number of agencies, - multi agency working. Rather than have several meetings, a plan brings those involved together at regular intervals. 

Sometimes a family support worker will work with you for a period of time to make the changes needed but not always, it is very dependent on the help needed to give support.

FIS (Family Information Service) is another source of information offering a host of information and advice.

The nearest office is in Hove but their website is easily accessible. http://www.familyinfobrighton.org.uk/kb5/brighton/fsd/home.page