Support for parents and families

Guidance for professionals on support for families with an Early Help Plan.

1 How we can provide support

Support for parents, carers and professionals is provided through:

  • information, advice and guidance from the Family Information Service (FIS)
  • information about local services, support and events for children and young people aged 0-25 years with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND)
  • parenting support programmes, either 1-1, in a group
  • Early Help Plans
  • hub-level single point of access for families, providing phone or email information, advice and guidance by professionals 
  • support for families who are defined as ‘intentionally homeless’ by district and borough councils. Work is undertaken by the Intentionally Homeless and Accommodation teams to work with the whole family to secure accommodation.

2 Help with work

Early Help will often help people return to work or start a career.

Employment advisors provide both support and consultation to keyworkers in West Sussex when a family with an Early Help Plan has been identified as requiring support with employment.

Additional information

Contact us

3 Help with money worries

Often some of the most significant barriers to work are money worries and debts that families may have.

The document below can help you signpost families to organisations that can help them.

Additional information

4 Help with health and wellbeing

GPs can access help and support for children and young people by making a direct referral. Please use the relevant form provided on the section linked below.

Information for GPs
Last updated:
7 September 2023
Share this
Share this

Do you have any feedback about this page?

Help us improve this website

Let us know if this page was helpful so we can make improvements. Add a star rating and leave your feedback below to show how useful you found this page.

Rate this page:
Clear star rating...
  • West Sussex County Council will only use this email address to respond to any issues raised.