1. Early Help in Hertfordshire
Families First -
Early Help in Hertfordshire

2. What is Early Help? (Hertfordshire’s Definition)
“Early Help means taking action to support a child, young person or their family early in the life of a problem, ideally as soon as it emerges. It can be required at any stage in a child’s life from pre-birth to adulthood, and applies to any problem or need that the family cannot deal with or meet on their own”

3. The principles “Stronger together” “Can do” approach
Thinking differently, delivering services differently
Getting it right for families, the first time
Working with the whole family
Keeping it local, seeking local solutions
Empowering, focus on resilience and strengths
Flexible and promote personal responsibility

4. The Strategy
Provides an overarching framework for all partners to deliver support for families at the earliest point problems emerge
Effective services are accessible at the right level and at the right time for every family
There is less duplication and fewer gaps in early help and childhood service provision
Work with the whole family with a coordinated package of support focused on improving outcomes
Service providers work together, share information, and value each other’s skills and expertise

5. Families First Assessment (FFA)
FFA is our Early Help assessment tool in Hertfordshire. The Early Help Module (EHM) is a multi-agency case recording and management system that we use for Families First Assessment case work.
The FFA process is designed to address needs which require a multi-agency response. FFA can and should be started by any practitioner who has identified additional needs amongst any of the children, young people or families that they work with.

6. Families First Model
Referral process – What is the ‘Pathway’ a case would follow to reach early help? Families First Triage – Allocation of referrals in the district where it has been identified that the family requires a multi agency approach to meet their needs. Triage will also support Step up/down process Keyworker – how is a keyworker identified

7. Families First Partnerships, Practice & Development Team
Senior Families First Coordinators
Families First Coordinators
Families First Helpdesk –
Personalised Commissioning –
As your local Family First Coordinators, we can offer support in all areas of the Families First Assessment. Please contact us if you are experiencing any difficulties or require further advice and guidance. We can support you with challenges including:
If concerns are raised by yourself or another partner
When to present at A & I
When to request a Step Up
Who to include in a TAF
What services or projects are available
If a TAF is difficult to manage
Early Help advice
• Ensuring that Early Help Module tools and processes are used effectively, and with timely re-views
• How to progress the Family First Episode effectively
• Complex cases including those stepped down from Children’s Services
• Follow-on bespoke training in all areas of the Family First Early Help process
• Support you to understand the Family First Episode and Team Around Family process
Support can be provided by telephone, and/or one-to-one visits (see contact details). We can attend and facilitate review meetings/Team Around the Family meetings in any of the following circumstances:
• The Key Worker is unfamiliar with the Family First process i.e. new to the process
• The Key Worker is struggling to draw together the relevant professionals
• The Key Worker has concerns around the case
Families First Helpdesk
Registering as a user for EHM
Updating your records on EHM (e.g if you change role, contact details etc.)
Registering families for FFA, Short Term Work and CC Workflow
System support for EHM
Booking on to further training – TAF Member
Personalised Commissioning
Funding is available to help families who have been identified through the Families First Assessment (FFA) process as having a need that cannot be addressed solely through existing services or alternative funding options.
Personalised Commissioning can be applied for to purchase goods or services which meet a need identified in the FFA and to support the child, young person or family to achieve the outcomes in the Team Around the Family (TAF) Action Plan.
Types of services may include, but are not limited to: Healthy lifestyles, practical help to support families, counselling/specialist 1:1 coaching for parents of children with ADHD.
In order to apply for funding, you must undertake the FFA process for the family and have a completed FFA.

8. Child Protection Safeguarding Hub
The telephone number for this service is Tel:
It is available on all working days from 9.00am – 5.00pm Mondays to Thursdays and 9.00am – 4.30pm on Fridays (with exception of bank holidays).

9. Families First Practice Forums
Opportunity to develop and share knowledge with other practitioners
Themed learning on Families First Processes
1:1 surgery sessions with Senior Families First Coordinators
Held half-termly per double district.
Families First Practice Forums

10. Families First Portal

11. Families First Updates
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12. Families First - What Next…?
Access Training
Training and learning
Invite your senior into your team to talk to you about FF
Contact details
Link to portal.
Families First Portal

13. Questions ?