Professionals

Getting the right level of help to children and families at the right time and as early as possible can prevent long term harm and abuse.  This starts with universal services, such as schools, the health service and the police. Families needing ‘more help’ may need to access other services too.  There are a range of services in Stoke-on-Trent who can support families to thrive for longer, by providing short term support when needs arise. 

Sometimes it may be necessary for more than one service to work together to provide more help to families with multiple or complex needs.  It may then be necessary to identify a lead worker to co-ordinate their support through an early help assessment and plan. 

The Stoke-onTrent Early Help and Prevention Strategy sets out our approach to ensuring that effective early help and support is available to children and families in Stoke-on-Trent. A copy of the strategy can be found here: 

Stoke-on-Trent Early Help and Prevention Strategy

The Supporting Families Service is Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s early help service.  The service delivers the national Supporting Families Programme working with families with multiple complex needs to prevent needs escalating or becoming entrenched.  The following documents set out the details of the service.

• Introduction to Supporting Families
• Introduction to Supporting Schools
• Family Support Groupwork Programme
• Stoke-on-Trent Community Directory