Agenda item

1.

Title of Item/Report

People Select Committee - Scrutiny Review of Partnership Working in Early Help

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report that presented the outcomes of the People Select Committee’s review of Partnership Working in Early Help.

Early Help ensured that families received help and support at the earliest opportunity to improve the outcomes for children and young people. It sought to prevent situations reaching crisis point that then required statutory intervention. The aim of the review was to gain a greater understanding of what Early Help was in Stockton-on-Tees, as well as identify where partnership working could be improved, identifying key actions to improve and deliver Early Help.

The Department for Education (DfE) published the Families First Partnership (FPP) Programme in March 2025, which supported Local Authorities to bring together targeted Early Help, Child in Need, and multi-agency Child Protection into a seamless system of help, support and protection. The Council’s current Early Help offer included a wide range of universal and targeted support, demonstrating a strong commitment to prevention and early intervention. In addition, Early Help services were being provided by a wide range of organisations external to the Local Authority. While statutory interventions and response to safeguarding would remain with and be provided by the Council, the Council would seek to actively increase partnership activity across Early Help, promoting that Early Help is everyone’s business, which in turn improved support provided to families.

The review’s recommendations focused on strengthening governance structures, improving communication and accessibility to services, through investing in joint training and shared systems. By embedding the principle of shared responsibility across the partnership, the Council would seek to co-produce a clear strategy setting a joint approach to how the Council worked with children and families. Promoting a more integrated and responsive Early Help system which ensured children and families received the right support at the right time.

Contributions had been received from Early Help, Social Care, and Education services within the Council as well as several partners, namely Cleveland Police, Family Action, Harrogate & District Foundation Trust, and Stockton Parents and Carers Forum. A Family Hub focus group was utilised to hear users’ views and experiences of those accessing Early Help. Additionally, Members attended two of the Children and Young People Partnership Workshops, which were focused on co-producing an Early Help Strategy, taking a partnership approach to working with families across Stockton-on-Tees. The Committee also received feedback from officer visits to two Ofsted rated outstanding Local Authorities, Lincolnshire County Council and Sunderland City Council.

RESOLVED that:-

1.       A culture of shared responsibilities across the partnership is promoted to ensure that the principle of Early Help being “everyone’s business” is embedded within schools, health and the voluntary sector.

2.       The re-design of the front door to Children’s Services embeds an Early Help focus, enabling timely outcomes and ensuring families are able to access the right support at the right time.

3.       Advice and training are developed for schools and other partners referring to the Children’s Hub, to ensure families who could be better supported by Early Help services are forwarded to the most appropriate service for help and reduce demand on the front door.

4.       A programme of training, tools and professional guidance is developed to support non-local authority practitioners in holding lead professional roles with children and families.

5.       The design of a multi-agency data impact assessment, combined privacy notice, and data sharing systems to ensure effective and timely communication between the Council and its partners is supported.

6.       A robust data collection system is established to measure partnership delivery of Early Help services.

7.       The updated online offer is relaunched, promoting it to partners, schools, and residents. Self-navigation tools should also be introduced to empower families to access early, universal support without needing formal referral.

8.       Partners are encouraged to utilise Family Hubs, basing and/or providing services in the venues where appropriate to ensure that these are accessible to children and families.

9.       Further support is provided for partners to understand the needs of SEND families to enable them to offer appropriate Early Help service to these families.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

The topic was included on the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2025-2026. The review is now complete, and the recommendations have been endorsed by the People Select Committee for submission to Cabinet.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

Midnight, 23 January 2026