Helping Early in Sutton

Helping early is about the right support at the right time. It is for any child or young person (pre-birth to 25 years of age) who are experiencing things that are starting to feel difficult.

It is about feeling ok to ask for support at that time, and professionals listening and responding in the most helpful way. 

If you want to find out more about our approach and priorities please read the strategy, which is available to view and download at the end of this page.

There’s someone I’d like to get help at an early point, what do I do and where do I go?

If you’re not sure, check the LSCP Threshold guidance for referral and assessment. This enables us to understand changing levels of need and to identify when children and young people require referrals for statutory assessment. 

Please refer directly into the Children’s First Contact Service (CFCS). This will mean that your referral will be seen by a safeguarding team to best respond. 

For more information on the service and to access the referral form, please follow this link. 

At an early stage of support, you might be looking at support from a volunteer befriender, school nurse, children centre services, health visitors, pastoral worker in school, GP, charities, children’s wellbeing practitioner etc. It might also be about accessing a support group, parenting groups, employment and housing, or activities in the local community.

1. The first best step - have a conversation

• If you are a family member/friend - contact the family hubs to have a conversation. They will be able to give you up to date information about what is available.
• If you are a professional - contact CFCS for a conversation in the first instance:  call 0208 770 6001.

How we work

In Sutton, we want to promote connection, reflection, curiosity and kindness in the way we work with one another. We know that complicated processes, waiting times, can be frustrating and unhelpful for families. The best way for us to keep addressing this at a practice level is to keep connecting with each other.

We need to keep improving pathways of support for children, young people and families. Please help us by staying connected with other services and practitioners, linked in with the LSCP, accountable and listening to the families you support. 

If you are new to the Borough or new to early intervention work, please connect with others, and be part of shaping the culture in our services for children, young people and families. It will make a difference to the families you support.
 

Sutton's Helping Early Strategy

Sutton's Helping Early Strategy 2023-27 can be downloaded from the bottom of this page. The strategy, underpinned by Working Together 2026, seeks to address the needs of children and families in Sutton through coordinating the right kind of help and support, at the right time, with the community.

The strategy sets out:

• Sutton's Helping Early approach;
• Learning from evidence and insights: the needs of children, young people and families in Sutton;
• What Helping Early will look like in Sutton; and
• How Sutton will be accountable.