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How to undertake an early help assessment

The purpose of an early help assessment (EHA) is to understand what's working well for a family and anything we're worried about. We identify the actions to be taken to improve outcomes for children and families holistically, covering the whole family and their family network.

The EHA is not just a form - it's a process which allows practitioners to assess needs, identify and plan support, and carry out the support as part of a structured framework.

You should undertake an EHA if you feel that a child or young person may need support beyond that available from a single agency.

EHA process

The EHA process involves the assessment of the child or young person's strengths and needs (which must be undertaken through a discussion with the child or young person and/or their family). It also includes the identification of what actions should be taken to address those needs.

Time and care must be taken to make sure the assessment is based on good communication and undertaken with respect for all parties. A 'good' assessment is both a good quality process and a good quality product.

You can find the documents you'll need on our early help assessment forms, letters and leaflets webpage.

Step 1

When you decide to undertake an EHA you'll need to gain consent from the family and complete the early help assessment form. The EHA should be completed with the family, with input from other professionals working with the family.

When you've completed the form and it's been signed, you need to scan and email it to earlyhelp@barnsley.gov.uk or take it to your local family hub. Our early help team will confirm if an EHA is already underway or if there's an open social care case, and contact you as needed.

Step 2

When it's been decided which agencies or practitioners will be part of the family network, you'll start holding family network review meetings. These should ideally be held every six to eight weeks. After each of these, the completed family network review meeting plan should be emailed to earlyhelp@barnsley.gov.uk. The plan must clearly show the family name, family group number, and meeting date.

Step 3

When all outcomes in the family network plan have been met, and all practitioners and family members involved are happy to close the plan, you should complete a closure form. You should email this, along with any outstanding review meeting plans, to earlyhelp@barnsley.gov.uk.

Visit your local family hub if you don't have access to scanning facilities.

What a good quality assessment should involve

The EHA process should be:

  • empowering - engaging the child or young person and/or their parent/carer, and supporting them to participate in, and take responsibility for, their contribution to a collaborative assessment
  • developmental - supporting the child or young person and parent/carer to adopt a self-determining, solution-focused approach to the discussion
  • accessible - for all concerned, including the efficient use of time and access to the means needed to undertake the assessment (for example: the equipment needed, an interpreter, etc)
  • transparent - the purpose of the assessment should be clear, the discussion open and honest, and there shouldn't be a hidden agenda

A good quality EHA provides an analysis of the child or young person's strengths and needs. It should be:

  • child/young person centred - the child/young person should be kept in focus throughout the assessment
  • inclusive - it should include the voice of the child/young person and their family, and their views and voice should be captured throughout the assessment process
  • clear - concise and use family friendly language by all those involved
  • unbiased and promote equal opportunities - it should give positive expression to the opinions and experiences of the child and their family without prejudice or discrimination
  • professional - non-judgemental and follow organisational codes of practice for recording/writing public documents
  • authentic - an accurate and evidence-based record of the discussions with the child/young person, their family and professionals
  • solution focused - focus on what the child/young person and their family want to achieve
  • practical – clearly identify the strengths and needs of the child and their family with an appropriate action plan to address those needs, as well as information on what could happen if no action is taken