Family support

Smiling child

Family support is part of the Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) Service and is based in Salford's four locality teams. It is one of a cluster of services that are available through these, some others being education welfare and brief intervention therapy.

Family support is only available through referral by an agency such as the school or a health visitor. Its aim it to focus on supporting families with difficulties and to prevent these difficulties from escalating so that the case becomes one of child protection. The service may address home conditions, use of statutory services such as the GP, education welfare or speech and language. Most children and young people will have a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) as part of the referral. Family Support workers may themselves refer to other services in health, education, drug and alcohol support or domestic abuse. Referrals are also made to other locality based services such as housing, Skills and Work, Brief Intervention Therapy or to other Early Intervention and Prevention services such as evidence-based parenting or the local children's centre. The Family Support Worker may also accompany the family to appointments.

Family support can support other professionals to identify children in need at an early stage, ensuring children and families have timely packages of care/support and that planning takes place around the needs of the child and in partnership with the parents. Family Support provides practical support such as: