Further information for schools and professionals
Early Help, sometimes known as early intervention, is an approach that supports children, young people, and families to thrive and reach their full potential.
Early Help provides support as soon as challenges emerge, preventing problems from escalating. Parents are encouraged to build on their strengths and resources, empowered to face the challenges they encounter. Our ambition is for every family to get the right support at the right time.
Timely and flexible support leads to:
- better outcomes for families
- reduced social issues in the community
- more cost-effective services overall.
What We Mean by Early Help
Children and families needing Early Help often have a range of needs, with different levels of severity. The Continuum of Need helps us understand the needs, strengths, and risks for vulnerable children, young people, and families.
Early Help is about providing support at the earliest point in a child’s life – from the prenatal stage right through to age 25 for those with learning difficulties or disabilities.
Early Help includes:
- Universal services – accessible to all children and families, such as GPs, early years settings, and schools
- Targeted services – for families with more complex needs requiring multi-agency support
Our approach is based on the belief that if needs are addressed early enough, they can be prevented from escalating.
We have developed a clear and coordinated Early Help Pathway to support children with a variety of needs or risk factors, including:
- Education – poor attendance, risk of exclusion, not in education/employment/training (NEET), SEND (without an EHCP), learning difficulties
- Exploitation – risk of sexual exploitation, gang involvement
- Violence or abuse – domestic abuse/violence, serious youth violence
- Early abuse or neglect – risk of delayed physical or cognitive development
- Health – risk of substance misuse, sexual health issues, teenage pregnancy
- Emotional wellbeing/mental health – risk of self-harm or suicide
- Crime/anti-social behaviour – involvement in crime, unacceptable behaviours
- Homelessness – risk of homelessness, family breakdown
- Other vulnerabilities – e.g. young carers
Our shared responsibility
The local authority recognises that Early Help is a fundamental part of the everyday work of schools.
Effective Early Help relies on local organisations and agencies working together to:
- identify children and families who would benefit from Early Help
- undertake assessments of need
- provide targeted support to improve outcomes for children and families.
The Early Help service works collectively and collaboratively with all partners. We value the contributions of our partners and schools, knowing that together, we can ensure children and families receive the best possible support to achieve positive outcomes.
Tower Hamlets Early Help Service – Resources for schools and professionals
Visit the MAST Early Help & Children and Families Service for more information: MAST Early Help & Children and Families Service.
Find out more about Family Hubs and the Safeguarding Children Partnership
What should you do if you are concerned about a child?
If you have a concern about the welfare or safety of a child during the office hours of 9am to 5pm, you should contact the Tower Hamlets MAST (Multi-Agency Support Team):
If a child is in immediate danger, please call the police on 999.
Your responsibility is to report your concerns. A social worker will follow these up with any necessary investigations or assessment or alternatively contact:
- Emergency Duty Team (EDT) – Out of hours service
- Tel: 020 7364 4079 (after 5pm and at weekends).
Contact us
All professionals and schools are welcome to contact the MAST Early Help Team for further information.
Schools are also encouraged to contact our Early Help Partner Coordinator team for additional support. Together, we can ensure the best outcomes for families in Tower Hamlets.
Strategy and reports
Early Help Quality Assurance Framework
This framework outlines how Tower Hamlets ensures high quality MAST Early Help services across the borough. It helps professionals to:
- embed whole-family working
- carry out robust assessments with clear action plans
- demonstrate measurable outcomes for families.