Early Help Statement

Whitworth Community High School is committed to providing families with the right help at the right time. Early Help is the process and means by which the needs of children and their families are identified and addressed as soon as they emerge. We recognise that problems can arise at any point and that every family has its ups and downs. Sometimes it may be your child that needs support, other times it may be the parent/carer. Early Help is designed to target services intended to reduce or prevent specific problems from escalating or becoming entrenched.

Early Help Assessment

This starts with an Early Help conversation. You can chat to the school’s Student Welfare & Safeguarding Manager (Mrs J Ashworth) in school or speak to one of the Pastoral Managers about concerns regarding your child and/or your family. This conversation might lead to an Early Help Assessment (EHA). This is how we get a full picture about the whole family and identify where you might need extra support. This information is recorded on an Early Help Assessment form which includes the family’s Early Help Plan. With your permission, people from different organisations working with your family will share information and work together to help support you and your child/children.

Permission (Consent)

Your personal information belongs to you. Agencies can’t share your information unless you agree, because your information is protected by law under the Data Protection Act.

‘Team around the family’ (TAF) meeting

The family and workers involved in supporting you and your family will come together to make a support plan and arrange reviews via Team Around the Family (TAF.) A team around the family (TAF) meeting is your meeting. We will talk about what is working well for you as a family, and what we need to help you with or what is worrying you. Meetings can potentially be held virtually, in the home or at a convenient venue, including school.

Lead Professional

A lead professional is someone who works with you and your child and acts as a first point of contact. You can choose your lead professional from the group of professionals forming the Team. They are there to support you, they can speak with you before the TAF meetings to plan what you want to discuss. You will agree with the lead professional how often you’ll have meetings. They will make sure you have a copy of the information from the TAF meeting.

Would you like to talk to someone?

● Whitworth Community High School – Mrs J Ashworth is the Student Welfare & Safeguarding Manager but you can also speak to any of the Pastoral Managers in the first instance.

● Children and Family Wellbeing Service.

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/early-years-childcar e-and-family-support/family-support/children-and-family-wellbeing-service/

http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/children-and-childcare/Pages/early-help-support-f or-families.aspx