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Early Help (support for families)

In a recent Ofsted inspection our children's services have been rated as "Outstanding".

To read the full report and why our teams and services have received this rating go to our Ofsted inspection report page.

Kent Family Hubs

With Kent Family Hubs, you can find advice, support and services to help throughout your family journey. Get the local support and services you need, whether you are a parent, carer, child or young person.

Find out more

We provide services that can be accessed at a time and place that suits families to help them to do well, stay safe and resolve problems at the earliest possible opportunity, before they become more serious.

Early Help means taking action to support a child, young person or their family early in the life of a problem or as soon as it emerges.

The help can be required at any stage in a child's life, whether it's from pre-birth to adulthood. It applies equally to safeguarding or complex needs that the family cannot deal with, or meet on their own.

The support requires agencies to work together to ensure a child and their family:

  • receives support in a timely and responsive way, so that children are safeguarded
  • educational, social and emotional needs are met
  • outcomes are good.

Early Help reflects the widespread evidence base. It is better to find and deal with problems early. It is better than to respond when difficulties have emerged.

Assessments and intensive support is currently offered through our Early Help Units. Whilst our open access services are delivered via our Family Hubs, who provide universal, targeted and additional support.

Watch our video to find out more about our Early Help service.

Read the Early Help approach in Kent guide (PDF, 399.0 KB)

We provide a range of services to meet the educational, social and emotional needs of children, young people and families through our partner organisations.

For example, we can offer support if:

  • you are worried about your child's behaviour
  • you are struggling to cope
  • you are worried about your family finances
  • your child is struggling to cope with bereavement
  • your child is being bullied
  • your child refuses to go to school or college
  • you or your child want to develop new friends and have new experiences
  • you are having difficulties with family relationships.

Depending on the help that you are looking for, there are a number of ways in which to ask for Early Help support through our partner organisations.

Family Hubs

Your local Family Hub offers a wide range of groups and services for families and young people.

Your child's school

Your child's school or nursery can help if there is an issue with your child's attendance. They can arrange for support from us if needed.

Or, find out what services are available for children who:

Young people

There are many services which can support young people in Kent, including:

Further help

For further help why not find out more about:

Information about our family support services is also available in alternative formats and can be explained in a range of languages. Call 03000 41 41 41 for details.

Once you have contacted a support service, we'll work with you to:

  • identify what you would like to achieve
  • decide what type of support would suit you best
  • agree the next steps
  • agree when you have achieved what you wanted and our support is no longer needed.

The conversations you have with us will, with your agreement, be recorded and held electronically to assist us in providing you with the most effective support. You will be given copies of the information to review and keep.