The Early Help Hub

The Early Help Hub provides co-ordinated support for children, young people and families at any point in their lives. We work alongside families to get the right help that they need, working in partnership with other agencies to build a community of support to reduce any difficulties that they might be facing. By getting help at the right time will prevent things from escalating to the point where it is more difficult to manage as a family.

We can support with a range of issues such as the following:

  • Housing and money worries
  • Family conflict and/or breakdown
  • Relationship difficulties (i.e., arguing or domestic abuse)
  • Emotional Health and wellbeing
  • Supporting a child with special educational needs and/or a disability
  • Parenting or caring responsibilities
  • Drug, alcohol or gambling addiction
  • Children and young people’s behaviour
  • Young people at risk of exploitation

The Early Help Hub has a number of core functions to:

  • provide information, advice and guidance on early help to professionals and the public
  • screen and consider requests for support and identify appropriate services that can support the family
  • Where necessary, a team of Early Help Hub Practitioners will undertake direct work with families to assess need using an Early Help Record (EHR), co-ordinate the multiagency family plan, provide practical support and identify the most appropriate Lead Professional who can continue to support the family once our involvement has ended.
  • Provide advice on transitioning cases where statutory intervention is no longer required but further support may be offered at the universal early help level.
  • Co-ordinate the borough’s parenting offer including parenting programmes, workshops, e-learning and seminars

Early Help Support Co-ordination Panel (EHSCP)

The EHSC Panel is a fortnightly multiagency meeting to discuss support for families that are being support by a universal service. The panel is there to ensure that families have access to the right support, from the right service at the right time to prevent escalation in need and entry to statutory services. The panel is coordinated by the Early Help Hub and co-chaired by a Designated Safeguarding Lead in Education.

Schools and agencies that wish to discuss a family must have that families consent to share information and to receive support from proposed agencies. However, we can still provide advice although no names can be shared.

The EHSC Panel takes place virtually on a fortnightly basis on a Monday morning, 10-12pm. Submissions must be received by the Thursday before the panel commences.

If you wish to present a family and consent has been obtained, please send the child’s name, date of birth, address and a brief synopsis of the presenting needs to earlyhelppartnershipteam@newham.gov.uk. You will then receive a timeslot to present and the joining instructions.

How can I access support for my family? 

Early Help is about accessing the right support at the right time for your child and your family. All families are able to request support as and when they need it from services from within their local community and this support is available to all children and young people from pre-birth to 19 years of age (up to 25 for SEND). Professionals and agencies that you are already involved with may be able to support you with any difficulties that you might be experiencing in partnership with you and your family.

Some of these agencies have been listed below:

How can I refer a family for support or protection?

To refer a family for early help support, please make a Newham MASH referral via the online portal - Request support or protection of a child.

If you are worried that a child you know is at risk of serious harm through abuse or neglect, you should tell us. However, if you think a child is in immediate danger, phone the police immediately on 999.

I would like to discuss a family before making a referral to MASH. What do I do?

If you want to speak to us about your request or make an anonymous request, call us on:

  • 020 3373 4600 during office hours (Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5.15pm or Friday 9am to 5.00pm)
  • 020 8430 2000 at any other time.

Services