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Early Help and Preventative Services

Early Help and Preventative Services (EHPS) in Kent aims to target early help services for the most vulnerable children, young people and families with a focus on delivering better outcomes.

Children, young people and families should be able to access the right services at the right time in the right place. We aim to place them at the heart of everything we do, working in a more integrated way and avoiding, where possible, lack of coordination or wasteful duplication.

EHPS offer a wide range of support services to children, young people and families across different levels of need.

Universal Services - Children's Centres and Youth Hubs
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Universal - Children’s Centres provide a wide range of groups and services aimed at families including:

  • Stay and Play, Baby Massage
  • Midwifery appointments
  • Health Visitor antenatal and post-natal appointments
  • Young Parents groups
  • Parenting support
  • Breastfeeding support
  • Communication and language
  • Community and health services

Universal - Youth Hubs provide a wide range of groups and services that are aimed at young people and adolescents including:

  • Support the personal development of young people
  • Help young people develop stronger relationships
  • Encourage young people to respect and value differences
  • Promote the voice of young people
  • Help to set up, plan and evaluate youth club sessions

Additional Support in Open Access Children’s Centres and Youth Hubs
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If a young person or family would benefit from some 1:1 support or low-level family intervention this would be classed as Additional Support. This support is expected on average to last 6-8 weeks.

Intensive Support - Early Help Units
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Intensive support is delivered to children, young people and families through Early Help Units using an evidence based systemic model of practice and Signs of Safety. Accessing intensive support at Support Level 3 as detailed in the Kent Support Level Guidance is through the completion and submission of a Single Request for Support Form through the Children's Portal to the Front Door.

The Early Help Units work in partnership with other professionals and agencies and the family to build resilience and develop solutions to problems the family may be experiencing. Where intensive support is agreed, the information will be shared with the relevant Early Help District team and allocated to an Early Help Unit or Commissioned Service. An Early Help Worker will contact the referrer and work with them and the family to complete an assessment and plan to achieve the best outcomes.

All information received by EHPS will be recorded on a case management system to effectively monitor and track outcomes for families. Families will be given a copy of the EHPS Privacy Notice

EHPS is working closely to support partners in their understanding of the support and resources available. Partners may wish to have a conversation with the District Early Help teams using the details in the Early Help Contacts or for schools, their School Link Worker.

Further Information
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