Help for Children and Families

Our Priorities

We must make sure that the money we have is spent helping those in greatest need of our support. For children and families services we give priority to children who are 'in need'. Generally this means:

children who need help to maintain their health or development
children with disabilities
children in need of protection
children living away from home (fostering, adoption and children in residential care)

Children may be in need or vulnerable in many different ways. Most families experience problems in their lives, and most children will have their needs met by family, friends, and services in the community, such as Health and Education. However, sometimes the problems can feel overwhelming and a child or family may need extra support to help them cope.

Families that Social Services become involved with will also have different needs. Some may be helped with information, advice or practical services. Sometimes families can experience problems that are complex, serious and require a more detailed assessment in order to plan the services that are needed.

There may be situations where families are generally coping but need help with specific problems. When a family is in crisis our family support service will help to:

keep families together, preventing children coming into care
give practical advice and help
call on others to help like health workers or psychologists
keep children safe from harm

We can also give advice about contacting other organisations that could help - such as housing, the health service or a voluntary organisation. Often these organisations will also contact social services to ask for help with a child, young person or family experiencing problems.

There may be children, including children with a disability, whose health or development is suffering significantly. The difficulties may be caused by a particular crisis, or the complex needs of the child or family. Where Social Services are aware of families in these sorts of situations, they will involve the family and other agencies in an assessment to understand the needs of the child and the family. From this assessment a decision will be made about what services are needed and who will provide them.

Children at risk of harm

Social Services are sometimes given information that may raise concerns that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This may include situations where there is concern about serious abuse to a child, or that a child is not being cared for properly. In these circumstances there will be an immediate response from Social Services along with other key agencies. An Assessment will be done, involving the family and other agencies to consider the impact of any harm, the needs of the child and any action or services that are required.

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