Families First service overview
Working at a local level
The Families First service works in a localised way with the key people needed to meet the needs of a community.
The service covers the whole of Staffordshire. We deliver it through 19 geographical patches spread across Staffordshire’s 8 districts.
Within each patch, services are primarily delivered through:
For further information please download the document below or get in touch with us.
Ensuring a co-ordinated response
We bring together all services that work with children, young people and families.
Level 3 - multiple needs
Who do you help?
Children who have many needs who may not maintain satisfactory health, development and/or learning. This may include children in need as defined by section 17 of the Children Act 1989.
Who can help?
Typical service response is carried out by early help teams.
Level 4 - acute needs
Who do you help?
Children in crisis, with complex, acute and often long term need, including:
- Where parents refuse or are consistently not able to co-operate.
- Children who have complex disabilities.
- Parental resistance and lack of support mechanisms which results in children suffering or likely to be suffering significant harm.
- Children who are offending and subject to a court order.
- Children who have serious unmet enduring health, development and/or learning needs (including Children in Need as defined by section 17 of the Children Act 1989).
Who can help?
Typical service response - specialist services including:
Specialist services, supporting families with needs at level 4 are, in the main, provided by:
Get in touch
Early help teams
If you have any specific questions about the Families First service such as:
- What does it mean for my organisation?
- How can I get access to the support of your early help team?
Please contact your early help team co-ordinator.
Specialist safeguarding units
Concerned about a child that is already supported by a safeguarding social worker?
Please contact the relevant specialist safeguarding unit.
Reporting a safeguarding concern
Do you have a safeguarding concern where a child is suffering? Or are they at risk of suffering significant harm?
Please contact our Staffordshire Childrens Advice and Support Service immediately.