E ARLY H ELP P ROGRESS R EPORT July 2015

P ROGRESS TO DATE The Early Help Allocation Group (EHAG)has met as a group four times to allocate families Family First plus(previously Targeted Support Team) have the back of house process in place. It is still early days in regards to the allocation panel but the demand does appear to be increasing. EHAG now have a system in place for gathering information prior to panel. EHAG still need to carry out some more work in this area to expand the mailing list to ensure all schools, health and community services are being included. GCC are working towards a September launch for the Early Help offer in each district and this will include the helpline. The format of the service request form and consent form have been finalised. EHAG is looking at the data in Cheltenham to identify trends and areas of need. GCC are working with the youth support service and some of the schools to identify specific groups of young people we are all concerned about.

L ESSONS LEARNT All relevant agencies need to contribute information prior to or during the meeting to allow decisions to be made. It is vital that cases are filtered so the correct cases come to the EHAG. Getting consent from families is time consuming and sometimes held up the process. There is still confusion between Early Help Offer (SEND), Early Help (early intervention) and the Early Years.

P OINTS TO CONSIDER The roll out in September needs to ensure all participants are clear about the distinctions of and relationship between, CAF, My Plan Plus, Early Help, Early Help SEND offer, Early Years, CIN, CiC and Child Protection Plan. How do we create one genuine graduated pathway across sectors. Is there opportunity to use the work of the Innovation Fund to move this forward? At this initial stage we are uncertain of how levels of need match to current capacity. If we are tracking outcomes how do we use this system to inform decisions regarding escalation through the pathway?

R ECOMMENDATIONS TO PLP Invite the Cheltenham Lead for Early Help to the next meeting to discuss, Cheltenham early help outcomes, the roll out of early help and emerging trends. At the September meeting PLP needs to consider how it wants to measure early help’s success in Cheltenham. Task the Cheltenham Family Panel with creating a risk register for Early Help in Cheltenham to be approved by PLP at its November meeting.