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.
Family Hubs
Parents, carers, children and young people can find advice, support and services to help throughout their family journey, from newborns to 19-year-olds, or up to 25-year olds with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
District conversations
A district conversation is a method for professionals and families to understand what support is available within the Family Hub core offer, the network, including the digital offer. A request for a District Conversation is made through our referral helplines. Family Hub staff will respond within five working days from the point of request and will offer advice to the professional or family as to the best level and type of support available.
Intensive Support - Early Help Units
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. 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