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Thresholds for intervention guidance

Early help is our approach to support children, young people and families as soon as problems start to emerge, or when there's a strong likelihood they will emerge in the future. An early help assessment (EHA) is used to understand the family's needs, strengths and risks. Find out how to undertake an early help assessment and what a good assessment involves.

Thresholds for intervention

The thresholds for intervention guide should be used by practitioners to help them understand the needs of children, young people and families. This can ensure the family can receive the support they need from the most appropriate service as early as possible.

The guide is based around a 'spectrum of need' to help practitioners understand the individual needs of each child, young person and family. There are five levels of need:

1. Thriving: those who may need support to maintain high levels of wellbeing through effective prevention and promotion strategies.
2. Getting advice: - those who need advice and signposting.
3. Getting help: those who need focused goals-based input.
4. Getting more help: those who need more extensive, specialised goals-based input.
5. Getting risk support: those who have not benefitted from or are unable to use help, but are of such risk that they are still in contact with services.

Meaningful conversations with the family and professionals offering support are vital. These should go beyond the initial concerns to develop part of an informed assessment (using the EHA where appropriate). Conversations should build understanding of the child or young person and lead to appropriate action and support for them and their family.

How to use the guide

The thresholds for intervention guide should be used with families to identify and build on strengths and resilience, as well as to identify what we're worried about and what needs to happen. It includes a range of desired outcomes, such as getting a good education, and improved family relationships.

Each of the outcomes has detailed descriptors which should be used as a guide to aid professional judgement about the level of need and the access to services to meet that need. These descriptors should be used to support decision-making. Remember, this is a guide only - individual cases need judgment and if in doubt you should seek advice from your designated safeguarding professional.

Factors to consider

When using the guide you should consider:

• what life is like for the child or young person now, and what it will be like in the future
• the parent or carer’s feelings about the situation
• the extent to which the family understands the need for help and support, and their capacity to change
• the support or interventions your organisation can offer, if this meets the needs of the child, or if the involvement of other agencies is needed
• any additional support or interventions needed to help protect them