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The Early Help Panel. Why ? Provides multi-agency support to children who fall below the threshold for statutory intervention. (Not always “early”! ). Such as. Family disruptions – “crying out for help” situations Neglect, abuse, incompetent parenting, DV Family breakdown
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The Early Help Panel Why? Provides multi-agency support to children who fall below the threshold for statutory intervention. (Not always “early”! )
Such as... Family disruptions – “crying out for help” situations Neglect, abuse, incompetent parenting, DV Family breakdown Excessive school absence, excessive sickness, unmanaged impact of family disabilities Children in crisis of their own, bereaved, disturbed, self-harming or suicidal Child carers (for parents/siblings) Unmanaged disruptive behaviours .................etc.................
How? By working with families – signposting them to support in many forms that are most appropriate. Commissioning services that will help the family. Parental permission & feedback on the process is important. • Via referrals to the Early Help Panel • Screened by the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) who complete a summary sheet for panel. It is important that some initial assessment has taken place – panel reads reports and needs detail. Sometimes more information is needed and school will be contacted for their knowledge if this is the case.
Outcomes of panel discussions Combined reporting, decision making , tracking and reviewing protects the child and the agencies involved. Child Benefits Agency Benefits variety of approaches (mutual support). strong (and therefore constantly improving) inter-agency shared practice. • some cases escalate to statutory intervention. • TAC & signposting via lead professionals • combined knowledge of agencies widens the scope of possibilities • range of individuals available to the family
PanelEffectiveness Panellists must be at the appropriate level of seniority within their agency to allocate work and make management decisions. Deputies who attend must be able to fulfil this requirement.
Panel Composition Children’s Social Care (Social Work Managers) Children’s Centres IYSS (Connexions/Youth Service/Teenage Pregnancy/Young Carers) Health Visiting and the School Nurse Service School Attendance Service Early Help Team Children with Disabilities Service School Leaders Other services/agencies may be invited as required.
Monitoring The panel answers to the Bury Safeguarding Children’s Board The panel also will report any identified gaps in provision