Family Help referral process for professionals

Family Help is a multi-agency response to help identify and support children and families in need and to ensure they have access to the right support services at the right time

Eligibility and thresholds of need

Early help is for families with children aged 0 to 19 years, or up to 25 years for young adults with learning difficulties and or disabilities.

Hampshire Children's Services provide services to meet the different levels of need of children, young people and their families. Use the Children's Trust thresholds of need to identify the level of service that best meets their needs.

How to get support for a child, young person or family you are concerned about

Refer to the early help intervention pathway and the Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership and Children’s Trust thresholds chart. These will help you identify the right level of support for the family and what steps to take to access that support.

If the family meets the threshold for Level 1 support

If the family meets the threshold for Level 2 support

Select the appropriate Level 2 request for support form for your district, and email the completed form to the contact email address:

If the family meets the threshold for Level 3 or 4 support, or there are immediate safeguarding concerns

Complete the Inter-Agency Referral Form for Hampshire or the Inter-Agency Referral Form for Isle of Wight.

What happens next?

If the family meets the threshold for Level 3 support, and a targeted, multi-agency approach is required:

  1. a date will be agreed when the family will be discussed at an early help hub
  2. the professional who submitted the request will be invited to attend and present the family's case
  3. a family plan will be drafted and an early help coordinator will be appointed to oversee the plan

If there is a change in circumstances, or further concerns arise, a family can be discussed again at another early help hub. Contact your local early help hub to arrange this.

If there are immediate safeguarding concerns, submit the Inter-Agency Referral Form for Hampshire or the Inter-Agency Referral Form for Isle of Wight.