Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Child Care Solicitors

Buckinghamshire consults on early help and joined up services for children and families (28 July 2017)

Date: 28/07/2017
Duncan Lewis, Child Care Solicitors, Buckinghamshire consults on early help and joined up services for children and families

Buckinghamshire County Council is calling for feedback in a ten-week consultation on a proposed new approach to supporting children and families with early help.

Available online at www.buckscc.gov.uk/earlyhelp or at local libraries until 22 September 2017, the consultation seeks feedback on a new way of supporting families earlier to prevent them needing help from social care services in the future.

The council says there has been a steady increase in the number of children and families needing support from children’s services in the last few years – and is reviewing how to deliver services better to help the children and families who need it the most.

Proposals for a new service outlined in the consultation focus on helping children and families in a joined up way earlier, to ensure small problems do not become too difficult to manage – including money worries, parenting tips and behavioural issues, as well as support with mental health and domestic abuse.

A new Early Help service would bring together all the services that currently support families in this way in just one service, with teams of family workers based in the local community – meaning they can reach out to families to work with them at home or in places they are most comfortable, such as a local community venue or a coffee shop.

A number of county council services already provide some form of early help and as a result of these proposals, some services could remain relatively unchanged – and others could be delivered differently to enable workers to focus on working with whole families rather than individuals or single problems, targeting those who need help the most.

The proposals for change follow a review of current services supporting children and families and best practice taking place across the country, which highlighted that support is not always reaching children and families who are most in need of help quickly enough or in the right ways.

It also shows there are many families who receive support from a number of organisations to help with problems they are facing as a family, but this is not always joined up.

The consultation proposes a new model where families only have to tell their story once to one person they work with and trust – and a service that reaches out to interact with families in the community.

Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Warren Whyte, said:

“Our aim is to make sure we provide the right early help services at the right time to the families that need them most.

“We know that some of our current services don’t always reach those families – and our public services don’t have the resources to continue to support services for all in the same way anymore.

“We want to join up services for families to make it much easier for residents who need help to obtain it.

“This is your opportunity to have your say – we hope that as many as possible will respond to the consultation, so we can help shape the very best services for children and their families for the future.”


Duncan Lewis Child Care Lawyers

Duncan Lewis Child Care Lawyers can advise parents on a wide range of child care law and family matters, including parents’ duties under the Education Act 1996 and SEND.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on Section 38 enquiries, pre-proceedings meetings, children taken into Local Authority care and Court of Protection cases.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales – and Duncan Lewis advises on family and child care matters under UK law and Islamic law, as well as being able to advise on cross-border family issues, such as child care arrangements, leave to remove and international parent-child abduction.

For expert legal advice on family and child care matters, call Duncan Lewis children lawyers on 0333 772 0409.


For all Child Care related matter contact us now.Contact Us

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is 143-149 Fenchurch St, London, EC3M 6BL. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.