1. Consent, throughout the Early Help Journey
Support for OUR Early Help
Partner Agencies.
©Manchester City Council

2. Common examples of Consent
The agreement to marry is commonly recorded in writing and witnessed.
The recording and use of someone's image, at times will require their consent.
Whenever practical health professionals will always look to obtain our consent before acting
The democratic government of the day can only govern with the consent of the people.

3. Why we need the consent of parents, carers and young people.
General Data Protection Regulation (May 2018), looks to ensure that parents and where appropriate young people provide us with clear explicit consent, regarding our recording and use/sharing of basic and personnel information related to them and other family members.
There should be a shared understanding of what the agreed areas of improvements will be and how each member will contribute to bringing about these improvements.
Those involved with good Early Help Assessment Journeys, have a clear understanding of what they and others are agreeing to do and when agreed tasks are to be completed.
All members of an Early Help Assessment Journey are consenting to take a Strength Based, multi agency approach to bringing about improvements in the identified areas of need. Families are agreeing to engage with those agencies identified as offering support to meet those needs .

4. When in the Early Help journey do I need to obtain consent?
Example:
Levels of Need: 1 and 2 (Multi Agency Needs and Response Framework)
When you provide information or signpost a parent/carer or a young person to universally available services?
Appropriate Response:
Levels of Need: 1 and 2
Ensure verbally, that the parent/carer or young person is clear as to what actions you have, or will be undertaking.
Example:
Level of Need: 3 and 4 (Multi Agency Needs and Response Framework)
Where a young person or family would benefit from a coordinated programme of support from more than one agency using the Early Help Assessment.
Appropriate Response:
Level of Need: 3 and 4
Explain how the Early Help Assessment process works. Explain that if felt needed the information recorded on the E.H.A form, will only be shared with other agencies, who will potentially be able to provide support and that these agencies will keep the information safe.
All circumstances that are assessed as being level 5 should be responded to, in keeping with your agencies safeguarding referral process. Whilst consent is preferable the act of obtaining consent should not delay a referral being submitted, or potentially increase the risk of harm to a child or vulnerable adult.

5. Recording explicit consent, for support via an Early Help Assessment
When an E.H.A is initially completed, the parents (the adult who holds parental responsibility) consent/agreement, should be recorded on the E.H.A form. They will be agreeing with the following statement.
The Agreement
I am happy to participate in an early help assessment. I understand that the information I give will be used to help me plan things. I understand that my information will be stored safely as per the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). If you would like more information about how your information is processed please ask your Practitioner or see our website at I understand my information will be used to evaluate how successful and effective early help is at both local and national level. (All names or personal identifying information will be removed). I understand that where there is an immediate risk of harm, the practitioner will follow the MSCB safeguarding reporting procedures.
(Extract from an Early Help Assessment Form 2019)

6. Recording explicit consent on the Early Help Assessment form
Please make sure that parents/carers have a clear understanding as to why an Early Help Assessment is the preferred method of proving them with multi agency support.
Please be sure that parents/carers have a clear understanding of what exactly they are consenting to, prior to obtaining their signature. You can gain a signature on a printed version of your completed E.H.A and keep this secure with any other paper records held by your agency. Register your electronic copy but state in this box where the paper copy is kept.
Please provide your details as other agencies may wish to contact you as and when the E.H.A or other information is shared with them. Please note the agreement for professionals.

7. Young people and Consent
When looking to access support for a young person in a family, it is equally important where felt appropriate, to have explored obtaining the consent of the young person. Contact with professionals should never come as a surprise to a young person Adults should look to engage with, not impose support on a young person.
A young person’s level of understanding can be defined by more than just chronological age. Discussing a young persons’ level of understanding with parents/carers and “obtaining the voice/views” of a young person, will help define
If they are able to understand and thus provide informed consent. Regardless of an adults perception of the young persons level of understanding, the young person’s views should be recorded on the E.H.A.
Obtaining the “voice of the child/young person”, is key to ensuring a good quality E.H.A and is an excellent opportunity to explore any help and support the young person may wish to access. A range of resources are available to assist with obtaining the voice of young people via our webpage: manchester.gov.uk/earlyhelppractitioner

8. Sharing Information and consent.
Team Around the Family Meeting
This is a great opportunity for all members of this partnership to share information with each other. The information shared will act as a guide as to any future plans that will aim to be;
Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.
Request for Early Help Support Form
When you submit a Request for Early Help Support Form to one of the district E.H Hubs, where felt appropriate, we will look to gather and potentially share relevant information across agencies who may be well placed to provide support to the family. Please gain consent from parents prior to submitting this form.
Safeguarding: If at any point during our information gathering process, a more holistic picture raises concern for the welfare of a young person or vulnerable adult, we will consult our Social Work practitioners and consider recommending a Multi Agency Safeguarding Request for Social Work Support

9. Security of information.
Families place trust in us to value and keep their information safely. Consent to share information is consent to share more than just words and numbers.
Only share information with other relevant agencies with the families consent. Please share any information securely. Whenever sharing information keep a record of who the information was shared with, when and why.

10. Question;
I completed an electronic version of the E.H.A How was I supposed to get the parent to sign it?
Answer;
Get the parent to sign a printed version and keep a copy with your other paper records. When registering your electronic version, in the box for signature of parent type in the date the parent signed the paper copy and where the copy is kept. Q;
Do I need to get the young person to give written consent? A;
Where age appropriate (level of understanding and in agreement with the parent) a young person can add their signature to that of the parent and be provided with a copy of the E.H.A Q;
Can we undertake an E.H.A without parental knowledge? A;
Any assessment undertaken with a minor (under 18) should only take place with the parents knowledge and consent. You may however speak with a young person and then look to share the details of the conversation with the parent.

11. Responding to the issue of lack of consent
A parent/carer or young person may refuse or withdraw consent. There may not be any clear risk to the young persons immediate safety. Yet you are still left worried due to circumstances.
Please telephone the relevant Early Help Hub. Please share with us clear examples/evidence of your attempts to obtain consent and the detail your worries.
If felt required our E.H Hub Social Workers will contribute to our decision making and we will if needed get back in contact with you with an outcome. Contact details for the 3 E.H. hubs are available via the following web page: manchester.gov.uk/earlyhelppractitioner

12. Completing the Request for Early Help Support Form.
An extract from the Manchester Needs and Response Framework, provides a quick reference to support you in identifying the level of need and your appropriate response.
You will find the details on where and how to return the form to us based on the district the family live in. There are also contact details for each of our 3 Early Help Hubs.
Please remember that working in partnership with families begins with ensuring they are aware and have consented to their information being shared in this form.
If you are struggling or have clearly been unable to gain consent, please contact your district Early Help Hub for further advice.

13. Consent /Agreement to engage with the Request for Early Help process.
It is important that you and the family understand exactly what they are agreeing to. This must include any adult with parenting responsibility and where age appropriate, young people, themselves.
The Agreement (section a)
I understand that receiving Early Help support is voluntary and the information I give on this form will be shared with my local Early Help Hub to identify what support may be needed and to help plan support for me and my family. This may involve the sharing of my information with one or more of the following professionals / agencies where considered necessary so that they can help to plan and provide support for me and my family:-
Education Providers e.g. nurseries, schools and colleges;
Social Care services; Health- GPs or Health Visitors; Counselling Services; Housing Providers; Local Job Centres;
Financial Advisors; Greater Manchester Police; Victim Support; Youth Justice and Probation Services;
Voluntary and Community Sector Bodies. (Please see the complete form for the agreement in full)

14. Additional reading on Consent and information sharing
Manchester Safeguarding Children Board
Consent Policy for Children and Young People – Resources for Practitioners :
Working together to Safeguard Children 2018

15. Consent, throughout the Early Help Journey
Support for OUR Early Help
Partner Agencies.
©Manchester City Council