The Dorset Strategic Alliance for Children, Young People and Families - Early Help Strategy 2026 to 2029

Dorset has a strong culture of partnership working, led by the Dorset Strategic Alliance for Children and Young People - a multi-agency group uniting leaders from the council, police, health, fire and rescue, education, and the voluntary and community sectors. Together, they aim to shape services that improve outcomes for children and young people.

Dorset Strategic Alliance for Children and Young People vision: “Dorset to be the best place to be a child, where communities thrive, and families are supported to be the best they can be.”

To achieve this, the Alliance has identified 7 priorities for all children to:

• best start in life
• young and thriving
• good care provision
• best education for all
• best place to live
• local family help
• safe at home and in the community

A strong Early Help system is essential to achieving our vision. This strategy represents our shared commitment to providing early, effective support through collaboration across partners. Developed with input from a wide range of stakeholders, it highlights the importance of a joined-up, multi-agency approach that responds to the diverse needs of children and families.

At the heart of this vision is the role of family networks. We will actively help families strengthen and mobilise their own networks of relatives, friends, and community connections - building resilience and reducing reliance on formal services wherever possible.

By working together, we can deliver timely, tailored support that makes a real difference. This strategy is a call to action for continued partnership, innovation, and dedication to improving the lives of Dorset’s children, young people, and families.

Our Early Help Strategy works alongside Dorset’s Best Start Local Plan to ensure every child has the strongest foundations for life, from conception to age 5.

Proud to be a Rights Respecting Council

Dorset Council officially became a Rights Respecting Council on 15 May 2025 and is the first unitary authority in the country to make such a commitment, placing children’s rights at the heart of local decision making and service design. Dorset is proud to be a Rights Respecting Council, committed to upholding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in all aspects of our work with children, young people, and families. This strategy reflects our belief that every child has the right to be safe, heard, and supported to thrive. By embedding a rights-based approach across our Early Help system, we ensure that services are not only responsive to need but also grounded in dignity, equity, and participation.

What is Early Help

Early help is a coordinated system of support for children and families, designed to build resilience, improve outcomes, and prevent issues from becoming more serious. It’s not a single service, but a collective approach delivered by local authorities and partners.

Support can begin before birth and continue throughout childhood. It’s available to families with emerging or multiple needs, or those ending their involvement with social care. Early Help also includes proactive support such as education and programmes that equip parents and carers with the knowledge and skills to support their children’s development and wellbeing from the outset. Early help is always voluntary and based on consent.

This strategy focuses on child and family’s needs before they are identified as requiring support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, ensuring they receive the support they need early and effectively.

Why Early Help matters

Early help delivers long-term benefits for children, families, and communities. It starts before birth, supporting babies’ emotional wellbeing and early relationships from pregnancy onwards. It improves health, wellbeing, and life chances by addressing issues early and building on strengths. It also reduces the need for more intensive, costly interventions later on.

Early help supports 4 key areas of child development:

• physical development: Early Help supports children’s physical development by facilitating access to health services, promoting healthy routines, and encouraging active lifestyles - laying the foundations for life-long wellbeing and positive health outcomes
• cognitive development: Early Help supports a child’s learning by helping create a home environment that encourages curiosity, play, and communication across a child's life. It also connects parents and carers with early education and parenting support, so children can build important skills like talking, thinking, and problem-solving from an early age
• behavioural development: Early Help contributes to positive behavioural development by supporting families to establish consistent routines, understand underlying needs, and apply nurturing, strengths-based approaches. This helps children develop emotional regulation, build secure relationships, and make constructive behavioural choices
• social and emotional development: Early Help strengthens social and emotional development by supporting families to build secure relationships, promote emotional awareness, and encourage positive interactions. This helps children develop their confidence, empathy, and the ability to manage emotions in healthy ways. Family networks play a vital role in this process. By helping families strengthen and mobilise their own networks of relatives, friends, and community connections, we create a foundation for lasting emotional resilience and support

Addressing key risks

In addition to promoting development, early help tackles four critical threats to children’s wellbeing:

• child maltreatment: Prevents and mitigates the long-term effects of abuse and neglect, including mental health and wellbeing issues and poor life outcomes
• substance misuse: Reduces early drug and alcohol use, especially among vulnerable groups, and prevents long-term harm
• risky sexual behaviour: Encourages healthy relationships and reduces risks of unplanned pregnancies and exploitation
• contextual safeguarding: Helps to keep children safe from risks outside the home, such as peer pressure, online harm, and criminal exploitation and works to keep children safe in all environments

A shared responsibility

Early help is everyone’s business. By working together, sharing knowledge, skills, and resources, we can ensure children and their families receive the right support at the right time. This includes empowering families to draw on their own networks of relatives, friends, and community connections as a first layer of support. We will actively promote Family Network meetings and peer support as part of this shared responsibility. This strategy is rooted in the principles of Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) and reflects our collective commitment to ensuring every child in Dorset thrives.

Population

The Dorset Council area has a population of approximately 384,809 people. Around 30% of residents are aged 65 or older, compared with 19% nationally, and 6.1% of the population are from the global majority.

Population 0 to 25

There are 90,535 children and young people aged 0 to 25, making up 24% of the total population. The area has low birth rates, and historically many young working‑age adults leave the area.

Deprived areas

There are 11 neighbourhoods within the top 20% most deprived nationally, with 10 of these located in Weymouth and Portland.

Twenty‑five percent of children live in poverty. In rural areas, isolation contributes to difficulties accessing housing, transport and essential services.

Crime levels are low, and the number of young people entering the criminal justice system for the first time is also low.

Employment levels are high, but earnings remain below the national average.

House prices are high, creating affordability challenges for young people and key workers.

Number of children from reception to year 14

There are 46,854 school‑age children from Reception to Year 14. Twelve percent of these pupils are from the global majority.

Disadvantaged pupils continue to have poorer outcomes at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4, and the gap between them and their peers remains wider than desired.

Education

Dorset has 158 schools, including academies, maintained schools and free schools. Overall, 84% of schools are rated good or outstanding. Among academies, 83% are rated good or outstanding, compared with 86% of maintained schools.

Number of children

As of March 2025, there are 2,469 children receiving Family Help, including 1,122 children in need. There are 4,460 Education, Health and Care Plans in place. In addition, there are 280 children on child protection plans, 435 children in care, including 41 unaccompanied asylum‑seeking children and approximately 300 active care leavers.

Dorset has a well-established Early Help system that makes a real difference to children and families.

Our approach is built on 4 key principles:

• delivering a broad and inclusive range of knowledge and skills to all parents and carers, enabling them to support their children in reaching their full potential
• support is provided early to prevent escalation
• help is local and accessible through trusted community settings
• support is responsive to recurring or emerging issues

Dorset’s Best Start Family Hubs and Early Support Pathway are well positioned to deliver the ambitions of the national Best Start Family Service and are integral to delivering the priorities set out in Dorset’s Best Start Local Plan, including raising Good Level of Development (GLD) attainment and improving health outcomes. We are committed to ensuring that every child has the best start in life, with targeted support during the first 1,001 days when the foundations for lifelong health and development are laid.

A graduated, needs-based approach

Dorset’s Early Help system adapts to the changing needs of families, as outlined in the Dorset Safeguarding Partnership Continuum of Need.

Universal services

These include schools, GPs, early years settings, health services, housing, and community organisations. They are available to all families and meet most children’s needs through everyday support.

Early support

When more coordination is needed, a trusted practitioner, such as a health visitor, acts as a lead to help families access local services like parenting groups or community activities and linking the family with their extended family and friends network. This includes prioritising the activation of family networks through Family Network Meetings and informal support, ensuring these connections are embedded in every plan.

Targeted Early Help

For more complex or persistent challenges, support is accessed through the Family Support and Advice Line and delivered by Family Help Lead Practitioners. They’ll carry out a Child and Family Assessment to understand the needs of the family and make sure the right support is put in place.

This support includes: 

• working face to face with children, young people and members of the family 
• providing advice and guidance 
• providing parenting support   
• leading on arranging meetings with the family and the people supporting to review the progress of the plan 
• accessing specialist support including domestic abuse, substance abuse or mental health 
• support to access resources or funding in some circumstances 
• help to keep children safe including any risks to them outside of the home or online 
• building on the strengths from within the wider friends and family network

Diagram 1

A diagram with 2 large overlapping circles representing the Early Help System on the left and the Family Help Service on the right.

Inside the left circle, there are 2 labelled boxes:

• Universal Services (light blue box)
• Early Support (light blue box)

Inside the overlapping centre area, there is one box: Targeted Early Help (peach‑coloured box)

Inside the right circle, there are 2 boxes:

• s.17 Child in Need (light green box)
• Child Protection (light purple box)

Beneath the left circle is the label Early Help System, and beneath the right circle is Family Help Service. Along the bottom of the diagram is a long horizontal double‑headed arrow labelled Family Led Decision Making, spanning the full width of both circles.

Family Help: Integrated, local, and responsive

In 2024, Dorset launched Family Help Teams as part of the national Families First for Children Pathfinder. This reform, aligned with Stable Homes, Built on Love (DfE, 2023), integrates Targeted Early Help and Child in Need support into a single, seamless service.

Key features of Family Help:

• a single, multi-disciplinary team supporting families across all levels of need
• continuity of relationships- families keep the same practitioner even if needs increase
• one shared assessment process, reducing duplication
• a shift from practitioner-led to family-led support, empowering families to use their own strengths and networks

Transforming support through collaboration

Family Help Teams include family workers, social workers, youth workers, early years advisors, inclusion specialists, SEND leads, activity and parenting workers.

Together, they:

• deliver intensive, tailored support within local communities
• sustain relationships and reduce transitions between services
• work collaboratively with partners to understand the needs of families and ensure the right help is available from the right people

Family-led support at the core

At the heart of Dorset’s approach is family-led decision-making. Families are active participants in shaping their support, leading to stronger engagement, better outcomes, and lasting change. Family Network Meetings are accessed through Dorset Family Matters and our partnership with Daybreak.

Need, not thresholds

Dorset’s model focuses on responding to need, not rigid thresholds. Services work together across levels of support, ensuring continuity and avoiding unnecessary handovers. For example, children receiving safeguarding support can still access universal services.

The Dorset Safeguarding Partnership has updated the Continuum of Need to guide practitioners in delivering the right support at the right time. 

Our vision

“We work together to create a community where every family in Dorset can access timely, effective support. Our Early Help system builds trust and resilience through strong relationships and collaborative leadership - ensuring children, young people, and families thrive in a safe, inclusive environment.”

Our commitment

To realise this vision, partners across Dorset commit to a shared set of values and behaviours that guide our work.

Our shared behaviours

We:

• put children and families at the centre of everything we do
• champion inclusion, equity, and belonging - challenging discrimination
• focus on early intervention and prevention - never doing nothing
• work with families, not to or for them (restorative approach)
• consider the needs of the whole family
• build on strengths within individuals, families, and communities
• uphold a rights-based approach
• deliver best value - investing the Dorset £ where it matters most
• stay hopeful and outcome-focused
• foster a learning culture - equipping our workforce to grow and improve

Whole Family Working is a long-standing principle in Dorset. This strategy reaffirms its importance, recognising that a child’s development is shaped by both their experiences and the wider family context. Supporting families holistically creates lasting change; what benefits the family benefits the child, and ultimately our communities. A strong start in life, supported by stable, resilient families, lays the foundation for a better future.

A robust Early Help system relies on a well-coordinated network of services and practitioners. In Dorset, this infrastructure enables early identification of needs, timely intervention, and tailored support, empowering families and preventing escalation.

Place-based working means putting families and communities at the centre of everything we do. By making sure support is shaped around local needs and delivered by people who know the area best, we can offer help that feels more personal, timely, and effective.

Services supporting children and families in Dorset

This diagram shows interconnected services supporting children and families in Dorset.

At the top, text reads: "This infrastructure reflects our collective commitment to delivering effective, accessible, and timely support for children and families across Dorset."

A central honeycomb of labelled service blocks includes:

• Family Hubs
• Dorset Families Matter
• SEND Local Offer
• Best Start in Life
• Enhanced Youth Services
• Family Network Meetings
• 0 to 19 Health Services
• The Dorset Family Information Service
• Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Sector
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
• School Link Work
• Parental Relationships Programs
• Locality Family Help Teams
• The Dorset Young Carers Service
• Family Support and Advice Line
• Schools and colleges
• Early Years settings

Around the diagram are illustrations of people reading, writing, playing, or interacting. The background is light, and the colours are mainly blues, purples, and greens.

The Early Support Pathway provides timely, coordinated support to children, young people, and families through a conversational, relationship-based approach. This strategy prioritises listening, trust-building, and collaborative dialogue over formal thresholds, ensuring families feel heard, respected, and empowered.

Guiding principles

Our approach is underpinned by the following principles:

• family-led conversations: Families are experts in their own lives and lead the dialogue
• strengths based: Focus on what’s working and build on existing strengths
• consent and collaboration: Support is offered with consent and in partnership
• whole-family approach: Consider the needs and context of the entire family
• simplicity and clarity: Avoid jargon and keep processes accessible
• prioritise family networks: help families identify and activate their own support systems

The conversational pathway process

Step 1: Initial conversation

A trusted practitioner initiates a relaxed, open conversation with the family to explore their situation, strengths, and concerns.

Step 2: Shared understanding

Together, they identify what’s going well, what could be improved, what are their goals and what support might help them

Step 3: Coordinated support

If needed, the practitioner brings together relevant services through Team Around the Family (TAF) discussions.

Step 4: Ongoing dialogue and review

Support is reviewed regularly through continued conversations, adapting as needed.

Roles and responsibilities

Effective delivery of the pathway relies on clear roles and collaborative working:

• Lead Practitioner: Builds a trusting relationship, coordinates support, and maintains regular contact
• family: Actively participates in shaping their support plan
• partner agencies: Contribute expertise and resources in a collaborative, non-hierarchical way

Expected outcomes:

• families feel listened to, respected, and supported
• needs are identified early and addressed collaboratively
• reduce the need to seek social care involvement
• stronger relationships between families and practitioners
• strong relationships and support from within the child's and family's network
• improved outcomes for children and young people

What we need to do to achieve our vision - Priority areas for action

To deliver our vision for Early Help in Dorset, that will improve child and family outcomes, 4 core priority areas for action have been identified:

1. The strengthening of Families and Communities
2. The delivery of targeted and integrated support
3. Having a confident and skilled workforce across the Early Help system
4. The strengthening of Leadership and shared accountability for outcomes

What does this mean in detail

Priority action area

The strengthening of families and communities.

Empower families to access support early and build long-term resilience.

Actions:

• promote local, community-led solutions to reduce reliance on social care services
• improve access to support through Best Start Family Hubs and inclusive digital platforms
• create opportunities for children, young people, and families to shape services
• use feedback loops to show how input leads to change
• support participation groups and family network meetings
• actively include fathers and male carers in all aspects of Early Help planning and delivery, ensuring their role is visible and valued in supporting children’s development

Success criteria:

• most families only have to tell their story once. Most families are telling us that they trust the system
• evaluation and quality assurance demonstrates that families are effectively supported at the earliest and most appropriate level of support
• family voice is at the heart of the support they receive and is available to them
• the support Families receive builds on their strengths and empowers them to overcome their own challenges
• reduced numbers of children in our care
• reduced numbers of children subject to a child protection plan
• decreased numbers of referrals and re-referrals to children’s social care
• we will actively involve more fathers and male carers, valuing the role they play in caring for children

Priority action area

The delivery of targeted and integrated support.

Timely, proportionate interventions that prevent escalation.

Actions:

• embed resources to support the Early Support Pathway
• ensure alignment with Best Start Local Plan priorities, particularly evidence-based interventions for early years and GLD improvement
• deliver coordinated, multi-agency responses to emerging needs
• strengthen identification and assessment using shared tools and pathways

Success criteria:

• they are supported to overcome their challenges as early as possible in their community
• Best Start Family Hubs demonstrate a continued increase in their service offer and participation figures
• Best Start Family Hubs provide support to families and communities beyond the service requirements set by the Department of Education and where possible delivery true place-based services to communities across the generational spectrum
• families and community organisations are key partners in the development and delivery of services
• we will embed lived experience in service design through the Family Hub Parent Carer Panel and other co-production forums
• there has been an increase in the numbers of volunteers or community groups being trained and delivering services within Early Support
• local businesses are signposting services and investing in local communities to improve outcomes for families
• demonstrable impact on social mobility and opportunities for young people to develop and work in their communities contributing to the economic growth strategy
• more families are supported through early support within their communities rather than progressing to referral to Local Authority services
• we will provide early, joined-up support during pregnancy to reverse the rising number of infant separation and help families stay together and thrive

Priority action area

Having a confident and skilled workforce across the Early Help system.

A confident, skilled workforce underpinned by shared values and best practice.

Actions:

• embed restorative, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approaches
• support continuous professional development, reflection, CPD, and supervision
• roll out training on topics including Whole Family Approaches, Continuum of need, and the conversational pathway
• promote the Lead Practitioner role across agencies
• equip practitioners with skills to facilitate Family Network Meetings and support families to build sustainable networks

Success criteria:

• all children, young people and families are being supported effectively by confident and knowledgeable practitioners
• there are more practitioners and professional disciplines taking on the Lead Practitioner role
• there is consistently effective application of the continuum of need, which means families are accessing the right help.
• evidence based safeguarding partnership tools are used to assist in assessing need
• workforce development is offered to all partners
• there are pathways for employees and community members to gain the skills, experience and qualifications across a diverse range of opportunities to have an appropriately skilled workforce

Priority action area

The strengthening of Leadership and shared accountability for outcomes across the Early Help System.

Actions:

• use data, evidence, and feedback to drive improvement and measure impact
• ensure children, young people, and families shape service design and delivery
• support the partnership through system leadership and collaboration
• develop and launch data dashboards to track KPIs and outcomes and success criteria identified in this table
• agree a performance framework with partners

Success criteria:

• regular evaluations are received from partners who deliver services which demonstrate improved outcomes and impact
• relevant data and intelligence is available and is used to inform decision making across the partnership
• a reduction in the demand for social care services  
• sufficient resources are made available across the partnership to deliver the strategy
• accountability is shared across the partnership between Children’s Services, Police, Health, Education and the VCSE

To deliver against the 4 priority areas for action, 3 key next steps have been identified.

These are:

1. Establish Governance and Oversight for the Strategy delivery plan
2. Develop the strategy delivery plan based on the priority areas for action
3. Draft a communications plan and consult with all stakeholders

Establish governance and oversight for the strategy delivery plan

Governance of the Early Help Strategy in Dorset will be overseen by the Strategic Alliance Sub-Group for Local Family Help, which brings together key partners from across the children’s services system. This group will provide strategic leadership, drive accountability, and ensure that the Early Help priorities are embedded across all agencies. The sub-group will monitor progress against agreed outcomes and KPIs, using data dashboards, partner evaluations, and family feedback to inform continuous improvement. It will also play a key role in aligning resources, identifying system-wide challenges, and championing co-production with children, young people, and families. Regular reporting to the wider Strategic Alliance Board will ensure transparency and shared ownership of the strategy’s impact.

Terms of reference, membership and meeting schedules are to be established, alongside the establishment of reporting mechanisms to the Strategic Alliance Board.

The strategy will be reviewed annually, taking account of any legislative changes, national policy directives or guidance and local operating conditions.

Develop the strategy delivery plan based on the priority areas for action

A delivery plan for the priority action areas that is aligned with the Council Plan and the Children, Young People and Families' Plan 2023–2033, will be developed and assign responsibilities and timelines for each action together with an identified Lead Partner. Any resource requirement will be identified and where appropriate a pooled or apportioned budget across the partnership to support delivery.

Draft a communications plan and consult with all stakeholders

A communications plan to share the strategy with all stakeholders (internal teams, partners, families, and communities) will be developed. Accessible versions of the strategy and the communications plan will be made available, for example, summary leaflet, infographic, family-friendly version. The early help delivery sub-group will host a launch event or webinar to introduce the strategy, its vision, and the priority areas for action.

Links with other strategies

This Early Help Strategy aligns closely with a range of other Dorset Council strategies and strategies of our partners, that collectively support the wellbeing and development of children, young people, and families.

These include:

• Dorset Accessibility Strategy 2022 to 2025
• Dorset Belonging Strategy and Plan 2024 to 2027
• Dorset Best Start Local Plan 2025 to 2029
• Dorset Corporate Parenting Strategy 2024 to 2027
• Dorset Extra Familial Harm Strategy 2023 to 2026
• Dorset Education Strategy 2024 to 2027
• Dorset Family Network Strategy 2023 to 2026
• Dorset Placement Sufficiency Strategy for Children in Care and Care Leavers 2024 to 2027
• Dorset Council Quality Assurance Framework
• Dorset SEND strategy 2024 to 2027
• Dorset SEND Capital Strategy 2020 to 2025
• Dorset Short Breaks Strategy 2024 to 2027

National strategies

Child Centred Policing: Children and Young Persons Policing Strategy 2024 to 2027

Giving every child the Best Start in Life (DFE, 2025)

Stable Homes, Built on Love (DfE, 2023)

Supporting Families – Whole Family Working: Informing Future System Reform (DfE, June 2025)

This is a small selection of examples and many other VCSE organisations not listed deliver for children and families. More can be found at Family Information Service, Dorset Youth and Help and Kindness.

Relationships Wessex

"My daughter is now recovering thanks to the help and support from Relationships Wessex."

Relationships Wessex delivers tailored counselling to individuals, families, and young people, tackling issues like separation and emotional challenges before they escalate. By building resilience and confidence, we strengthen family stability and wellbeing across Dorset. Our early intervention approach prevents crises and promotes healthier relationships.

Space youth project LGBT+

"It’s a safe and welcoming group where I feel accepted and supported."

Space Youth Project creates safe spaces for LGBT+ young people to be themselves without judgment. Through free youth groups, one-to-one support, and family engagement, we build confidence, belonging, and resilience. Our work tackles isolation and mental health challenges while promoting inclusion in schools and communities.

Mind Dorset

Connected Minds provides creative activities and coping strategies that help young people manage anxiety and build resilience. Through safe spaces and supportive relationships, we empower them to feel understood and confident. Dorset Mind complements this by offering environments for young people aged 10 to18 to express feelings and improve wellbeing across schools and hubs. Together, these services prevent escalation and promote emotional health.

Home Start Wessex

"PICU saved my baby’s life and Home-Start saved mine."

Home-Start Wessex offers relationship-based support during pregnancy and early years through peer groups and home visits. We help parents build confidence, improve mental wellbeing, and create positive routines that benefit children’s development. Our work promotes school readiness, language development, and emotional resilience, preventing crises and strengthening families.

MYTIME - young cares

"Making Memories days show what true Early Help and inclusion look like - young carers smiling, connecting, and feeling safe."

MyTime breaks down barriers for young carers, creating safe, inclusive environments that meet emotional and sensory needs. Through nurturing relationships and tailored programmes, we help young carers build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging. Our work ensures they feel supported and connected, reducing isolation and anxiety.

DorPIP - Helping families flourish

DorPIP delivers powerful early relational support for parents and babies, creating secure attachments that transform emotional wellbeing and resilience. Through gentle, nurturing interventions like infant massage, we help parents build confidence and bond deeply with their child, laying the foundations for healthy development and brighter futures. DorPIP gives every baby the best start in life by strengthening the parent-child relationship.

Safe Families

"She was the right person at the right time."

Safe Families partners with Dorset Council to deliver volunteer-led support for families facing isolation and anxiety. Through host homes, family friends, and practical help, we strengthen social networks and parenting confidence. Our early, relational approach prevents crises and builds resilience.

Mission of Mindsets - Behavioural management mentoring

"MoM has helped me feel heard and understood for the first time."

Mission of Mindset (MoM) provides tailored behavioural mentoring for vulnerable families, focusing on emotional regulation, resilience, and self-belief. Born from lived experience, MoM empowers parents to break cycles of trauma and create safer, healthier homes. Families report calmer routines, improved wellbeing, and confidence to engage with community support.

Purbeck Youth and Community Foundation

"These groups are so important; they give me a space where others understand how I feel"

Wareham Family Hub offers a safe, supportive space for parents of children with SEN, reducing isolation and building confidence. Through peer support and sensory play sessions, families feel empowered and included. Our community-led support transforms lives, helping parents feel understood and children thrive.

The Colour Works Foundation - Building self-belief

The Colour Works Foundation empowers young people through self-awareness and confidence-building workshops. By helping young people understand their strengths and improve communication, we foster positive relationships and resilience. Our programmes create inclusive environments where young people feel valued and motivated, unlocking potential and strengthening communities.

Child In Need - A Child in Need (CiN) is a legal term used in the UK (under the Children Act 1989) to describe a child who may require additional support from local authority services to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development, or to prevent significant harm.

A child is considered "in need" if:

• they are unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of services
• their health or development is likely to be significantly impaired without such services
• they are disabled

Continuum of Need

This document is for use by all practitioners working with children and their families across Dorset. It may be seen as the ‘threshold document’ required by Working Together 2023.

The purpose of the document is to provide conversation opportunities to identify a child’s degree of need and appropriate support for children and families, ensuring this support is offered by the right agencies, at the right time and to prevent their needs escalating to a higher level. It will help identify when conversations with, including referrals to specialist or social care Children’s Social Care services, are required.

Read the full Continuum of Need document.

Early Help system

Dorset’s Early Help system provides flexible support that adapts to the changing needs of children and families. As needs increase or decrease, the level of help adjusts accordingly, guided by our revised Continuum of Need.

This includes:

• universal services - such as schools, GPs, early years settings, and community groups - support most families without additional help
• Early Support offers more coordinated help, often led by a trusted practitioner, like a health visitor linking a parent to local groups
• targeted Early Help addresses more complex needs through council and partner services, accessed via the Family Support and Advice Line. This includes parenting support, youth work, mental health, housing, and more

Family Help

Family Help focuses on improving outcomes for children by supporting the whole family early, helping them stay together and thrive. Delivered within communities, it brings local services together through a joined-up, multi-disciplinary approach.

Key principles include:

• whole-family support at the earliest opportunity
• consistent relationships with a lead practitioner
• a single, adaptable plan that follows the family
• led by a Family Help Lead Practitioner

Specifically, it comprises:

• targeted early help – services for children who have multiple or complex needs requiring a specialist and/or multi-agency response, but where social care intervention is not needed
• children in need – support provided under councils’ duty, under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need, and promote their upbringing by their families, by providing services appropriate to their needs. Children in need are those who are unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development without services, or whose health or development are likely to be significantly impaired without such services, or who are disabled
• child protection – interventions related to councils’ section 47 duty to investigate where they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm, including placing children on child protection plans where such harm is established
• family reunification – support to help children in care return to their families

Best Start Family Hubs

A local center offering joined-up support for families with children (0 to19 or up to 25 with SEND). Services include parenting help, health advice, and youth activities - all in one place.

Find out more about Family Hub.

Family Support and Advice Line

The Dorset Family Support and Advice Line offers a single point of contact for families, young people, and practitioners seeking help or guidance. It provides early advice, support, and signposting to ensure children and families receive the right help at the right time. 

Lead Practitioner

The Lead Practitioner’s role is to:

• build a relationship with the family and be their point of contact
• hold early support conversations and implement a whole family plan
• establish the team around the family
• offer family group decision making (FGDM) to support families to find their own solutions
• engage partners to support the family plan
• create a sustainability plan with the family, so they can refer back to the challenges they have overcome, their strengths and next steps when moving on from family help
• identify and act when more support is needed including any concerns about harm to children, by speaking to the Family Support and Advice Line