Use this page if you have a level 2, 3, or 4 concern about a young person or family and aren't sure what to do.
Expand the sections below to find out more about each option.
When to write an EHA
You should write an EHA if:
- you need to capture needs at the earliest opportunity
- the needs are unmet, unclear, or unidentified
- there are multiple agencies involved (for example, school, school nurse, and mentoring plus)
- the family want one
- you have the young person or family's consent
The outcomes of an EHA can include:
- co-ordinated approach to supporting the family, gathering all the information in one place
- understanding the strengths and needs within the family
- building on the strengths within the family and social networks as well as involvement of other support agencies
- appropriate information sharing
- the prevention of escalation of need
- development of action plans in partnership with the family
- a review process to encourage positive change
When not to write an EHA
You should not write an EHA if:
- the child has a social worker
- there is a risk of significant harm
- another assessment is already in place (for example, a Connecting Families Assessment)
- you do not have consent
Instead of writing an EHA you should:
- refer to Social Care if there is a risk of significant harm
- speak to the Integrated Working team to find oput if there are other assessments in place
- if there is no consent, build and maintain positive relationships with the family and explore support options (they may consent in the future)
- look at the LiveWell website for other sources of support or suggest that the family look at the LiveWell website themselves
When to refer to the EHAP
You should make a referral to the EHAP if:
- the family consent, live in B&NES, and have at least one child under the age of 18
- there are no agencies currently supporting the family
- there is no agency identified to complete an Early help Assessment (EHA)
- the family have requested support from an early help service
The outcomes of an EHAP referral can include:
- multi-agency panel members can share current and historical knowledge of the family to ensure the right service is offered
- oversight of families who decline support
- the right service being offered at the right time
When not to refer to EHAP
You should not refer to EHAP if:
- there is no consent, the family do not live in B&NES, and do not have at least one child under the age of 18
- there is an allocated social worker
- the need can be met by your agency
- a single agency can be identified to suppprt the family
Instead of referring to EHAP you should:
- refer to Social Care if there is a risk of significant harm
- consider an Early help Assessment (EHA) if there is no social worker or other assessment in place
- consider a single agency referral
- consider whether your own service can offer further support to the family
- look at the LiveWell website for other sources of support or suggest that the family look at the LiveWell website themselves
When to make a Single Agency Referral
You should make a single agency referral if:
- the need is fully identified and understood
- you have consent
- the family has consented to it
- the service can meet the identified need
The outcomes of a single agency referral can include:
- the right support by the right service, to meet a specific identified need
- no delay in referral arriving with the service
When not to make a Single Agency Referral
You should not make a single agency referral if:
- you do not have consent
- you are unsure what the need is
- there is a risk of significant harm
Instead of making a Single Agency Referral you should:
- refer to Children's Social Care if there is a risk of significant harm
- consider an Early help Assessment (EHA) if there is no social worker or other assessment in place
- consider whether your own service can offer further support to the family
- look at the LiveWell website for other sources of support or suggest that the family look at the LiveWell website themselves
The following documents, websites, and contacts may be useful when considering which route you need to follow.
Documents
Opportunities for Support: A Guide to Thresholds in B&NES (Threshold document)
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
Contacts
Children's Social Care
Report a concern about a child online
Telephone 01225 39 63 13 or 01225 39 63 12
Integrated Working team
Email IWT@bathnes.gov.uk