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Early Support
Services and organisations that have the Local Offer flash have filled out inclusion information, meaning that they meet the needs of people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Early Support is part of the Disabled Children & Therapy Service (DC&TS). This is a specialist, multi-disciplinary service which supports disabled children, young people and their families whose main need for services arises from their disability or their intrinsic condition, where these conditions have a substantial or critical impact on the quality of the child’s/young person’s life or/and the lives of their families. Early Support is part of targeted provision for the service.

What is Early Support?

Early Support is a coordinated approach which brings together families and professionals to address a child/young person’s additional need or disability.
Early Support works to improve the way that services work with disabled children, young people and their families.

Early Support uses national principles to ensure that children, young people and their families are at the centre of the services.

Who Early Support work with
Early Support works with children and young people aged 0 to 18 years with an additional need or disability and their families.

How Early Support works in Cornwall

1. The Team Around the Child (TAC) Meeting
Where there are a number of services supporting a child or young person we provide coordination through TAC meeting. At the meeting an Early Support plan is written that addresses the child’s/young person’s and parents/carers priorities. The TAC meeting is chaired by a Lead Professional chosen by the child and their family. The Lead Professional acts as a ‘Key Worker’ for the family and can be contacted when the child/young person and parent/carers have any questions about their support.


2. Supporting Change in Partnership (SCIP)
For families that require a practical intervention a request could be made to our Supporting Change in Partnership (SCIP) service. SCIP is a preventative; time limited approach that sets out to improve outcomes for disabled children, young people and their families. SCIP is solution focused, fosters new skills in families and celebrates success. SCIP aims to respond quickly to children, young people and their family’s needs and is delivered by Early Support Workers and trained Parent Volunteers.

See our video presentation: Supporting Change in Partnership (SCIP)


3. Early Support Worker
An Early Support Worker may work with some families that have been receiving support from the Disabled Children & Therapy Service but no longer require the support of a Social Worker for a period of time. The Early Support Worker will review the child’s plan and package of care on a regular basis and provide the family with practical and emotional support as well as acting as their key worker.


The Early Support Team
The Early Support Team consists of Early Support Coordinators, Early Support Workers and is managed by the Early Support and Portage Lead. A Coordinator and Workers are based in West Cornwall, Mid Cornwall and East Cornwall. The team work closely with colleagues from Disabled Children Social Work.

Early Support Training for professionals

Early Support Training can be offered to professionals to help them feel familiar with the Early Support Principles and Approach for TAC meetings and SCIP.  

Please contact the Early Support and Portage Team lead for the Early Support coordinator in your area for more information.

Alternativly, the Council for Disabled Children offers free resources for SEN in the early years which you can find on the link below.

Early Support Information

Who to contact

Contact name
Early Help Hub
Telephone
01872 322277
E-mail
earlyhelphub@cornwall.gov.uk
Parent organisation
Early Help Hub

Other details

Availability

Age ranges
From 0 months to 18 years
Referral required
Yes
Referral details

Early Support TAC meetings and SCIP support can be requested by the young person, parents, carers or professionals. You can ask about Early Support by contacting the Early Help Hub. 

Inclusion details

Last updated: 04/03/2015

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