Early support

Research shows that prevention, early support and joint working with our partners can significantly reduce the need for statutory intervention later on in children’s lives.

The early support team delivers services and activities for:

• parents
• carers
• pregnant women
• young people aged 0-19 (or 25 with Special Educational Needs/disability).

It is a non-statutory service area that supports children, young people and families to improve their outcomes and reach their goals. It does this through:

• positive engagements
• sustaining their power
• finding out more about the power they have
• helping to identify people's needs, to help them become the person/parent they want to be.

Early support hubs

Early Support Hubs are community based sites. They incorporate the nine children’s centre sites and one youth centre. These hubs are the point of contact for early support. They provide information, advice and guidance, and access to evidence-based provision delivered by the council’s skilled staff and partner agencies.

• See the following articles for parent's accounts of their experiences in the children's centres
• Harrow People Magazine
• Harrow Online Article

Accessing early help or support

To request early help or support on behalf of families / young people, please complete the MASH referral form clearly stating that early help / support is required. Please ensure all sections of the form are fully completed.

If you would like advice around completing the form, contact MASH on 020 8901 2690 and ask to speak to the early help lead.