Early Help
Families First Support at Barcroft Academy
What is Families First?
Families First: Early Support for Families
Families First, formerly known as Early Help, provides timely support for families and children who may be facing difficulties. Support can be offered at any stage of a child or young person’s life. The earlier a family receives help, the quicker they can improve their situation and prevent the need for long-term intervention.
Families First focuses on understanding what is working well for families, as well as identifying any concerns or areas where support is needed. It builds on family strengths while connecting them with the right services. This collaborative approach brings together professionals from different teams to work with the whole family, aiming to improve outcomes for children and help families overcome challenges.
Support through Families First is available in a wide range of situations—from simple advice and guidance to complex circumstances. This includes cases where a child may be at immediate risk of harm or has significant needs, as well as situations that require practical advice or information.
Families First is here to help, support, and strengthen families—early.
Why would I need support through Families First?
The type of things that Families First can support you with include:
- Worries about your child’s health development or behaviour
- Worries about how your child is doing at school
- Worries about money or housing
- Support when your family may be affected by domestic abuse, drugs, alcohol, ill health or crime
- Advice about the tools to solve challenges or problems you are experiencing with help from others where needed.
Who do I ask for help?
You can talk with someone who you’re familiar with at the academy or email postbox@barcroft.lhmat.com.
With your consent we can speak to other agencies to ensure that you as an individual and your family get the right response, the right support and services, from the right people, at the right time.
Our aim is to meet any needs early and avoid a situation escalating or the need increasing.
You can also contact your local Family Hub and ask to speak to a Duty Worker who will be able to provide lots of advice around Early Help and how it might be able to support you. More information can be found at the website https://www.walsallfamilyhubs.co.uk/ or by calling 01922 654589.
What might we offer in response to your concerns?
- Contact with our Senior Mental Health Lead
- After School Clubs
- Referrals to other agencies such as Speech and Language Therapy, Reflexions, Flourishing Futures.
- Parent Information Sessions (academic and pastoral, e.g. Phonics or maths workshops)
- SEND Coffee Morning
- Pupil Voice Opportunities
- Government Fruit and Vegetable Scheme
- Pre-loved Uniform and clothing bank
- Barcroft Food Bank
- Curriculum provision and additional work from outside agencies support our children in learning how to keep themselves safe.
Who might Barcroft Academy Refer to:
- The Families First Team at the Family Hubs
- Children and Young People's Services
- County Inclusive Support Service
- Counselling Services
- School Nurse
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Educational Psychologist
- Young Carers
- SENDAT
- SENDIAS
- Local Authority Family Services team
If early help is appropriate, our staff will liaise with other agencies and set up an inter-agency assessment called My Family.
Our staff will work closely with you to review your needs and the school will consider a referral to local authority children’s social care if the situation does not seem to be improving. Timelines of interventions will be monitored and reviewed carefully and your family will remain at the heart of everything we do.
Follow the link below for the most up to date procedure for Early Help Assessments in Walsall
If you have any queries or would like to discuss your situation with our pastoral team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team or by emailing postbox@barcroft.lhmat.com