Family Help for families
What is Family Help?
We know it is better to provide focussed support when problems first emerge, rather than delivering a more costly statutory intervention when the needs have escalated. The right Family Help service at the right time can prevent emerging problems from getting worse and becoming deep seated or entrenched.
Through our Family Help model we aim to improve outcomes for children and families in Southampton and at the same time reduce the demands upon specialist and statutory, higher tier services.
When a child, young person or family needs something extra, Family Help can be an initial response offered by the local authority. Family Help builds an understanding with families to address extra needs and prevent situations from getting more difficult for children and young people. The aim of Family Help is to build on people's strengths and resources to manage their own dilemmas, resolve their own difficulties and prevent further problems in the future.
In Southampton, most children, young people and family’s needs are met by universal services (services that are available to everyone). For those children and families who need some additional help, our Family Help Services will provide support and expertise to the child and family. Our teams are made up of social workers and family practitioners to provide families with a mix of expertise and support and we can support families through either the children in need or early help pathway.
What can Family Help do?
We recognise at certain points in children and their families lives that they may need additional help and support. Family Help is not just aimed at preventing abuse or neglect but at ensuring the best start and improving the life chances of all children, young people and their families.
Family Help is built in partnership with the families and the communities it serves, as defined within the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care report by Josh MacAlister 2022 and building on the new Stable Homes built on Love, Ambition 1.
We work across the three localities – East, Central and West – who can all provide advice and support for the whole family on issues such as but not exclusively:
- Parenting and behaviour management
- Emotional wellbeing
- Substance misuse
- Domestic abuse
- Advice around housing, finance and progression to work
Family Help is a combined team of family practitioners, domestic abuse workers, and social workers who work alongside families to identify strengths and challenges and work towards a targeted support plan to motivate and create change.
A conversation around what Family Help may be able to offer should be had upon allocation to a family practitioner or social worker. We want to ensure that we are offering families the Right Service at the Right Time.
Should at any point during our involvement the risk of harm to children increase the decision around support will be reviewed.
