From the end of April 2014 we have piloted first and then mainstreamed a multi agency hub approach to all referrals for Early Help in the South East of Northumberland. This started initially with the Blyth area but from November 2014 widened out to include Seaton Valley and Cramlington. The Hub meets fortnightly and has had 577 referrals up to February 2015. We plan to roll this approach out to the Central locality from March 2015. In addition we have also continued to hold Help Resource Panels in some areas of the county. These multi-agency panels ( School health, childrens centre, housing, health visitors, LIST, schools) are to look at the EHA/CAF Data within the locality and review any changes or amendments that need to be made. It’s also an opportunity for professionals to discuss any emerging families who may require an EHA and discussion can be around the next steps of completing an EHA. We also have a 0-4 protocol between the area social work teams and the children’s centres. This means any children under the age of 4 where a decision is made to not progress a referral from the social work team are referred to the children’s centre to follow up; in some areas this is done by a phone call, in others through a letter being sent out. There is also a small amount of funding allocated to each locality which can be applied for by any professionals working with a child/family on an EHA. They can apply for up to £100 to support the family. Panels have funded children to attend after school groups, holiday playschemes, day care, uniforms, furniture and part funded larger pieces of equipment. EHA Panels currently run in Berwick, Alnwick and the Central Locality. The plan is that these will be replaces by the locality early help hubs over the next few months. Below is a breakdown of the numbers of referrals which have come into the Hub since its start and where they have been directed to: Referrals No Allocated 354 Direct referrals 140 Direct to social care 9 Inappropriate referrals( already allocated to 47 Sw or another agency not suitable for early intervention ) Information & advice 5 NFA 11 Blank( awaiting hub discussion) 11
From the end of April 2014 we have piloted first and then mainstreamed a multi agency hub approach to all referrals for Early Help in the South East of Northumberland. This started initially with the Blyth area but from November 2014 widened out to include Seaton Valley and Cramlington. The Hub meets fortnightly and has had 577 referrals up to February 2015. We plan to roll this approach out to the Central locality from March 2015. In addition we have also continued to hold Help Resource Panels in some areas of the county. These multi-agency panels ( School health, childrens centre, housing, health visitors, LIST, schools) are to look at the EHA/CAF Data within the locality and review any changes or amendments that need to be made. It’s also an opportunity for professionals to discuss any emerging families who may require an EHA and discussion can be around the next steps of completing an EHA. We also have a 0-4 protocol between the area social work teams and the children’s centres. This means any children under the age of 4 where a decision is made to not progress a referral from the social work team are referred to the children’s centre to follow up; in some areas this is done by a phone call, in others through a letter being sent out. There is also a small amount of funding allocated to each locality which can be applied for by any professionals working with a child/family on an EHA. They can apply for up to £100 to support the family. Panels have funded children to attend after school groups, holiday playschemes, day care, uniforms, furniture and part funded larger pieces of equipment. EHA Panels currently run in Berwick, Alnwick and the Central Locality. The plan is that these will be replaces by the locality early help hubs over the next few months. Below is a breakdown of the numbers of referrals which have come into the Hub since its start and where they have been directed to: Referrals No Allocated 354 Direct referrals 140 Direct to social care 9 Inappropriate referrals( already allocated to Sw or another agency not suitable for early intervention ) 47 Information & advice 5 NFA 11 Blank( awaiting hub discussion) 11
No-4-10-NSCB-report-2014-15.docx