Early Help should not just be delivered by one designated team: All professionals working with children and their families in Oldham are responsible for supporting families. Early Help is everyone’s business!

Use Good Opening Questions

Use solution focused scaling questions 1-3 to understand the family’s perspective

Some examples of good openers that an agency could use with their families are:

• Is there anything happening that is worrying you?
• Do you feel like you could do with some help / support?
• What would make a difference to you right now?
• What are you worried we are going to say? / Do?
• I’m worried about you / *child*
• Do you think anything is worrying *child*, only he doesn’t seem himself?
• Can you think of anything that has changed recently?
• If nothing changes, what do you think will happen?

Tips to help complete the “What does the parent think about this referral?” section on the single online referral form

1. Consider including brief statements / quotes from parent/s.
2. What have the parents tried already? Strategies etc? Are they working? When? Why?
3. What works well at home? Quality family time? Do they have a support network?

Tips to help complete the “What does the child think about this referral?” section on the single online referral form

1. Consider including brief statements / quotes from child/ren What are the child’s likes/dislikes? What makes the child happy/sad? Is the child worried about anything?
2. What would the child like to happen?
3. How do they describe home life / school?
4. What do they think the issues are and what do they think is going well?
5. Has this referral been discussed with the child and what do they think about it? What do they want from it?
6. Who are the child’s support network / trusted adults?