What is the early help offer?

All agencies that work with children, young people and families can offer early help support. They're responsible for listening to your concerns and worries, and responding to meet your needs, making sure you get the right support at the right time.

As a family, you may need help with one or a range of issues. This Circle of Support diagram can give you an idea on some of the issues early help can support you with.

The early help offer includes a range of services aimed at supporting families in Shropshire. Some services may offer a wide range of support, but others have a very specific focus. You can find out some of the services available below, or on the Shropshire Family Information Service Directory.

Circle of Support diagram
Circle of Support diagram

Getting a good education

Education plays an important role in shaping a child's future, providing the skills and knowledge they need for life. From early childhood through to adolescence, education teaches them how to learn, think, and interact with others. It helps children become well-rounded individuals who can do well in many areas of life.

  • Learning mentors - work in schools and support children of all ages with a range issues which may include poor attendance, lack of self-esteem, behaviour or emotional difficulties and personal issues
  • Pastoral care - pastoral care in schools refers to the people, practices and policies that schools have in place to support the social and emotional welfare of students. It involves guidance and support provided by teachers and staff to help students deal with personal issues, develop self-esteem, and promote positive relationships within the school community
  • SEND local offer - The SEND local offer is a single place for information, services, and resources for children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities, their families, and the practitioners who support them
  • SENDCo - SENCo stands for special educational needs and disability coordinator. You may hear the name referred to in full, as its acronym (sometimes also written as SENCo, standing for special educational needs coordinator), or as SEN coordinator. SENDCos are members of teaching staff who are responsible for special educational needs within a school. Every school in the UK is required to have a SENDCo to ensure that every child who has SEN is supported, as well as to help them reach their full educational potential
  • Shropshire SENDIASS - provides free, confidential, and impartial support to children and young people (0-25) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as their parents and carers. They offer guidance on SEND-related concerns, helping families understand their options, rights, and responsibilities
  • Kids - Kids have been commissioned to deliver the Universal Autism Support Service across Shropshire

Good early years development

We know that good early year’s development improves a children’s life chances, and recognise the importance of these earliest years, including the first 1001 days, for achieving the best possible start in life.

Support for families may begin before your child is born or if you're a new parent. There are a number of services who can provide guidance for you as parents as well as developmental support for babies and young children, all of which is essential for delivering strong health and educational outcomes for children, ensuring they have a positive start in their early years.

  • Health visitors - health visitors are qualified nurses who have undertaken further training in all areas of child health and development, and are skilled practitioners in public health. Find out more from the NHS health visiting service pages
  • Midwifery - Midwives aim to provide the best possible experience for mothers, babies and families, so you and your family are involved in making informed choices about your journey through pregnancy, birth and parenthood
  • Early years provision - there are several options when you want to choose childcare. To help you to choose the type of childcare that will suit you and your child, please visit our early years pages
  • Primary schools - many of our primary schools offer or have links with early years provision, and all primary schools follow the early years foundation stage in their reception classes. To find a primary school take a look at our school admissions pages
  • Speech and language - speech and language therapy services can give you advice on how to support children and young people's speech, language and communication, or their eating, drinking and swallowing. The Speech and Language Therapy Advice Line is available to parents and carers of children currently on our caseloads, those referred and those not known to the service, on 01743 450800 (option 4)

Improved mental and physical health

Poor mental and physical health can have a significant impact on the whole family and may require additional or specialist support. We recognise that not all problems can be solved or improved in all circumstances, but there is support to help the wellbeing of children, young people and families.

Mental health

  • GPs (general practitioners) - if you or your child has an illness or injury that won’t go away, make an appointment at your local GP practice or telephone them for advice. GP practices provide a range of services by appointment. When absolutely essential they can also make home visits. You can search using your postcode for your local GP surgery on the NHS Choices website
  • Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) work with the whole school community. Their aim is early intervention and prevention, working in partnership with schools and other agencies to recognise and address common mental health problems. The team is made up of mental health practitioners who are trained in evidence-based interventions and supervised by specialist staff

  • BeeU provides emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people (ages 0 to 25) in Shropshire. They also provide neurodevelopmental assessments for children with autism (ages 5 to 18) and ADHD (ages 6 to 18)

  • Kooth is a web-based confidential support service, providing a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and wellbeing support designed specifically for young people, which offers them the opportunity to have a text-based conversation with a qualified counsellor
  • Young Minds is a mental health charity for children, young people and their parents, making sure all young people can get the mental health support they need
  • Papyrus – a charity for the prevention of young suicide

Physical health

  • GPs (general practitioners) - if you or your child has an illness or injury that won’t go away, make an appointment at your local GP practice or telephone them for advice. GP practices provide a range of services by appointment. When absolutely essential they can also make home visits. You can search using your postcode for your local GP surgery on the NHS Choices website
  • Speech and language therapy services can give you advice on how to support children and young people's speech, language and communication, or their eating, drinking and swallowing. The Speech and Language Therapy Advice Line is available to parents and carers of children currently on our caseloads, those referred and those not known to the service, on 01743 450800 (option 4)
  • Paediatricians – community children's doctors with specialist skills and knowledge in child development and related health issues 
  • School nurses - offer a service to promote and support the health and wellbeing of all school-aged children from 5 to 19 years old. They work with children, young people, parents, carers and professionals to help keep children healthy throughout their school years, in order for them to reach their full potential and make informed, healthy lifestyle choices
  • Children’s physiotherapy services - community physiotherapy team that provides physiotherapy assessment, advice, treatment and rehabilitation to enable the children and young people with physical difficulties to reach their full potential by maximising function and independence

  • Children's occupational therapy - occupational therapists provide advice and intervention where needed, for children who have functional difficulties with self-care, classroom activities and leisure. Their website and Facebook page have lots of advice about how to support children and young people to participate in everyday activities at home and at school. Families and professionals can contact the service, to ask for advice or find out more by calling 01743 450800

Promoting recovery and reducing harm from substance use

Substance misuse, whether that is drugs or alcohol, can have a significant impact on families, and especially on children’s well being and their future opportunities. We want children to be supported throughout their childhood and for those affected by substance misuse either by their parents or their own use to have access to the help they need.

  • With You - With You offer support to both adults and young people who are worried about drug or alcohol use. We can help people stop or cut down on what they're using and help with other problems too. You don’t have to pay for any of these services and they won’t tell anyone about anything you tell them without your permission. You can complete the online referral form for yourself or someone else
  • FRANK - FRANK is a UK-based website that provides facts, advice and support on drugs and alcohol. You can search for any drug, read news and articles, and find help and contact details

Improved family relationships

Some level of arguing between parents is often a normal part of everyday life, but when that becomes frequent, intense and not resolved, it can have a negative impact on children’s mental health and long-term life chances.

You may feel your family needs support to develop positive and supportive relationships, either with your child or with your partner. We recognise the long-term benefit of positive parenting and strong family bonds for children’s wellbeing, and the impact that conflicts within the family can have on all involved.

  • The Parenting Team offers a variety of free services to parent carers, including online courses, workshops and a helpline for parents. Call them on 01743 250950
  • Family Relationships - worried about your relationship or feel you’re arguing too much? Not all arguing between parents is harmful but when it’s intense or happens a lot of the time, there can be a negative impact on the children
  • Parental Education Growth Support (PEGS) - PEGS is a social enterprise set up to support parents, carers and guardians who are experiencing child to parent abuse (including those with adult offspring)

Children safe from abuse and exploitation

As parents, it's important to be aware of the various forms of abuse and exploitation that can affect children, and the support available to your family to help keep your children safe if you do have concerns.

  • Emergency Services - If you or someone else are at immediate risk of harm or needs urgent protection please call 999 for the police and/or an ambulance. If the person isn’t in immediate danger, you can call 101 to raise non-emergency enquiries

  • Concerned about the safety of a child - If you think a child or young person is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed you must contact Children's Services and tell them your concerns. Don't delay, please contact them straight away – they are here to help you.

    You can report your concerns by calling 0345 678 9021.

    You can also speak to:

    • Public Protection Unit (West Mercia Police): 0300 333 3000
    • NSPCC: 0800 800 5000
    • Childline: 0800 1111

    If you think a child is in immediate danger, call the emergency services on 999

  • Purple Leaf - Purple Leaf provide advice, risk and need assessments, and interventions for children and young people (aged five to eighteen) who have experienced or been impacted by and/or exhibited inappropriate, problematic, or harmful sexual behaviours

  • Axis Counselling - Axis provides free, confidential and independent services for women, men, young people and children (aged 5 upwards) who have experienced any form of sexual abuse (including, but not limited to childhood sexual abuse; sexual assault, sexual violence, sexual exploitation or rape.) Axis is an independent charity operating within Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and the immediate surrounding area

  • NSPCC  - A national charity committed to protecting children from abuse and keeping them safe. They have a telephone helpline for parents and one for children and young people

  • Shropshire's TREES (Together Reducing & Ending Exploitation in Shropshire) Team are based in Children's Services. We're committed to identifying young people who are at risk of exploitation, and supporting professionals and families to reduce these risks

Crime prevention and tackling crime

Crime and anti-social behaviour have a significant negative impact on individuals and communities, including the victims, the relatives of offenders, and the offenders themselves.

You may be worried that your young person is at risk of becoming involved in crime, or you're looking for some help because they're already involved in crime and anti-social behaviour.

There's support available to families where crime is a factor, either to young people themselves as offenders or to provide support for children of offenders.

  • BRANCH - non-criminal justice advocacy, psychosocial education, and practical support for any young person at risk of/who has experienced CSE
  • Purple Leaf - education and information designed to increase young people’s awareness of sexual abuse and exploitation, know how to identify uncomfortable feelings and where to go for help and support
  • Axis Counselling - at Axis we understand how difficult it is for survivors to make that difficult and courageous decision to seek help. Axis works with adults and children. With appropriate help you will overcome your traumatic past/present

  • Emergency Services - if you or someone else, is at immediate risk of harm or needs urgent protection please call 999 for the police and/or an ambulance. If the person isn’t in immediate danger, you can call 101 to raise non-emergency enquiries

  • Safer Neighbourhood Team - your local Safer Neighbourhood Team is your first point of call to raise issues in your community. Find out more about your nearest police station and your Safer Neighbourhood Team

  • Steer Clear - Steer Clear is an award-winning early intervention programme who work with young people aged between 10 to 18 across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire who are at risk of being exposed to or involved in knife crime to help them to find alternative solutions

Safe from domestic abuse

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone and can have a profound and lasting impact on families, affecting emotional and physical well-being.

All forms of domestic abuse can have a long-lasting significant impact on children and young people. They may experience domestic abuse directly, including in their own intimate relationships, or indirectly due to the impact the abuse has on others such as the non-abusive parent.

In Shropshire, there are various sources of support available to help families experiencing domestic abuse.

  • Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service - SDAS exists to provide an outreach and a child/young person's service to support adults and their children whose lives are affected by domestic abuse, to empower them to make decisions for themselves about their own futures
  • Resolve@ is an emotional health and wellbeing service for young people aged 8 - 18 across Shropshire. The team is made up of experienced wellbeing practitioners who work in a person-centred way to work with young people who have experienced domestic violence or abuse
  • Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) is a confidential meeting between representatives from different organisations in Shropshire to discuss the safety, health and wellbeing of people who are at significant risk of serious harm or homicide because of domestic abuse 
  • West Mercia Women's Aid works for a world that is free from domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, where everyone can live without the fear and reality of all forms of violence, abuse and discrimination
  • Refuge - Supporting those who have experienced abuse is at the core of everything they do. They can support women to flee an abusive current or ex-partner, and although they mainly support women and children, their community services also extend to men
  • Respect is the UK charity stopping perpetrators of domestic abuse. They advance best practice on work with domestic abuse perpetrators, male victims and young people who use violence and abuse

Secure housing

Secure and suitable housing provides stability for families. It's linked to better health and wellbeing, helps children attend school, supports parents in keeping jobs and for families to be a part of their communities. This is why secure housing for families and young people is so important.

  • Housing options - offer support and help whether you're homeless or worried about becoming homeless, by giving  advice based on your circumstances

Financial stability

Employment and financial stability are crucial for a secure family life. When families have steady jobs and financial security, they can better handle life's challenges and provide a stable environment for their children.

There are services of support to  provide the necessary support and resources you might need to achieve the most secure future for you and your family.

  • Welfare Reform and Support Team - may be able to help if you’re struggling to meet some of your essential living costs 
  • Shropshire Larder - a collection of help available from national and Shropshire charities or organisations, who have a comprehensive list of the food banks operating in Shropshire at the moment 
  • Christians Against Poverty - may be able to help you with debt, finding a job, managing your money or gaining vital life skills 
  • Citizens Advice Shropshire - provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone and campaign to improve the policies that affect people’s lives
  • Job Centre Plus - a government service in the UK that provides support to help people prepare for, find, and stay in work. They offer training, guidance, work placement programs, and schemes such as work experience and volunteering. Jobcentre Plus also handles claims for benefits like Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance, and Income Support, and provides assistance with job searches

  • Just Credit Union - a not-for-profit community bank owned by its members and managed for their mutual benefit. We provide a safe home for savings with access to affordable low cost loans. Membership is open to anyone who lives or works in Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin

General links
  • Early Help Front Door Service E-HAST - a single point of contact for partner agencies, children, young people and their families, focused on making sure that the right support is put in place as soon as it is needed