What is Shropshire Targeted Early Help?

Shropshire Local Authority commissions YSS to deliver Shropshire Targeted Early Help to provide targeted early help support for children, young people and their families. The YSS Shropshire Targeted Early Help service is one of our flagship services and we are proud of our partnership with Shropshire Council. Keyworkers are co-located with partner agencies around Shropshire. The aim of the service is to improve outcomes for children and young people aged 0-19 years by ensuring that they and their families receive appropriate support at the earliest opportunity.

Where is Shropshire Targeted Early Help delivered?

The service is delivered in Shropshire, where we have been delivering multiple services for over 20 years. It is one of a portfolio of services including ARC, Divert, Chrysalis, Appropriate Adult, Enhanced Support Service, Meet and Mentor and Remember Veterans.

How does Shropshire Targeted Early Help work?

Shropshire Targeted Early Help is part of Local Authority Targeted Early Help Support for children, young people and their families. The service is overseen by Angela Parton, YSS Operations Director, who lives in Shropshire and is a qualified and registered Social Worker.            

Once a child or young person has been referred to the project with the parent or parents’ consent, a keyworker works with the family to assess the issues and draw up an action plan.

The amount of time spent with each family is dictated by need, but we aim to have at least one face to face meeting per week with either a child or parent, backed up by telephone, text, skype/facetime or email support as required. We remain involved with the family until issues are resolved. The Shropshire Targeted Early Help team work in local communities, meeting at times and places that families feel comfortable with. This might be in the home, school, or at local community venues.

How does Shropshire Targeted Early Help provide support?

The service has been developed to fully integrate into the overall Shropshire early help offer delivering whole family support and aims to provide a flexible service, using a variety of interventions, to build resilience in children, young people aged 0 -19 and their families. The service offers a wide range of targeted and focused interventions that can be measured in terms of effectiveness, impact and outcomes.

Most support is delivered on a one-to-one basis in the local community (including home visits), at flexible times, to meet identified needs. The work is carried out by keyworkers. Group work and other methods of service delivery are also available where appropriate.

What difference does Shropshire Targeted Early Help make?

Shropshire Targeted Early Help offers a wide range of support, with 91% of service users reporting positive outcomes. As part of the Targeted Early Help offer of support in Shropshire, the service directly contributes to the following outcomes:

• Parents or children involved in crime or anti-social behaviour
• Children who have not been attending school regularly
• Children of all ages who need help
• Adults out of work or at risk of financial exclusion or young people at risk of worklessness
• Families affected by violence against women and girls
• Parents and children with a range of health problems

The service also:

• Increases the confidence and competence of parents in their parenting role
• Increases parental confidence in managing child’s behaviour
• Improved parental perception of whether child’s behaviour has improved
• Parents access support to address own issues and are a positive role model for children

Shropshire Targeted Early Help service helps parents and children to:

• Feel better about their ability to cope with life changes and challenges
• Have improved knowledge of where and how to access information and advice
• Feel that they have been helped
• Feel happier as a result of the help from workers

It has been good to talk about my relationships and how I feel. I've now got friends who come to my house to walk to school with me. I still get cross with mum but I don't let it get to me as much. - Child receiving support from Shropshire Targeted Early Help

It has helped me to talk to teachers and to trust other people to help me. - Child receiving support from Shropshire Targeted Early Help

I've changed the way I am with him. When he gets into a temper I don't raise my voice. I talk quietly or even back off, and it has worked. Things don't get worse, they calm down much more quickly. Thank you. - Parent receiving support from Shropshire Targeted Early Help

I feel it has helped me in so many ways and has helped me see things in a much clearer way to help my child in the way he needs. Parent receiving support from EnHance

Sometimes it's hard but you need to tackle problems and not run away. I wouldn't have been able to achieve anything without your support. My whole family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts, it's sad to see you go but a testament of job well done. - Parent receiving support from Shropshire Targeted Early Help

Please click here to read a case study. 

For a professional to make a referral 

Shropshire Targeted Early Help does not have a self-referral system. Referrals are received through a professional, such as a teacher or doctor, or via one of the Shropshire Social Service agencies. 

How to make a referral: 

1.Gain consent – complete  the Shropshire Strengthening Family through Early Help consent form (see the Information briefing Sheet for Parents that explains why and how  information is held, found here: www.shropshire.gov.uk/early-help)

2.Identify emerging needs – complete the Whole Family Webstar Assessment and Whole Family Action Plan (you may not be able to fully complete these and can request contributions from other practitioners involved)

3.Complete  on ECINS as a task  from the action  plan: Request for Intervention.

4.For non ECINS users - complete a  Request for Intervention form, together  with the Strengthening Families consent form, the Whole Family  webstar assessment  and Whole Family action plan to the address provided on the form.

The Whole Family Webstar Assessment and Whole Family Action Plan are available to complete through ECINS.  The forms are  also available on www.shropshire.gov.uk/early-help (If you’re not yet signed up to ECINS, please contact [email protected])

Please also see the website www.shropshire.gov.uk/early-help  for information and guidance and to download tools and resources.

Volunteer for us - how to apply

Apply to become a YSS Family Support Volunteer by downloading the forms below. Once completed, please email to Sheila Bregeon: [email protected] 

Family Support Volunteer Role Description

YSS Volunteer Application Form

YSS Safeguarding Declaration Form

YSS Equal Opportunities Form

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