The role of a Early Help Worker (EHW) is to provide pastoral support to children, parents and carers; to help with any issues that you may have in relation to supporting your children, both at home and in school. The EHW works to encourage parental involvement within school, signpost you to agencies (where appropriate) and support children in school.

Should you have a personal concern or school related issue, then the EHW is here to offer support. They have access to a number of agencies who may be able to provide assistance to you and your family. The EHW liaises with all school staff where necessary and appropriate, always in the best interests of the children and their families. They work impartially and confidentially in a non-judgemental manner, providing an understanding ‘listening ear’ if you ever need advice or support.

The EHW will aim to be on one of School Gates before and after school, should you need to speak to them. They are a contact for parents and families with difficulties with issues around domestic abuse, housing, parental separation, attendance, health, social services, early years, police and counselling. 

Family Solutions Assessment (EHA)

EHA Policy tool aims to identify, at the earliest opportunity, a child’s or young person’s additional needs which are not being met by the universal services they are receiving and provide timely and co-ordinated support to meet those needs. The EHA is based on solution-focused practice principles and enables practitioners and families to work in partnership to start to bring around change at the first sign of difficulty. The principles underlying the approach to the Kent EHA are that it:

• is undertaken with consent
• looks at the whole child
• takes account of strengths as well as needs and understands the role of parents/carers and a wide range of family and environmental factors on child development
• is simple to use and geared towards the practical delivery of support to children, young people and their family members
• is building a working partnership with the child and carers and seeks to work with them to identify and understand the issues and develop solutions
• enables and encourages information held by agencies to follow the child
• is a tool to support practice, is not used mechanistically and enhances communication within and between agencies

The EHW is available to provide a listening ear to families and mediate between parents who have separated and find communication difficult, frequently with their children ‘in the middle’. They aim to promote the self-esteem of parents, in turn to enable them to respond to their family needs by communicating openly and to provide good parenting.

Need a chat?

Many Parents and Carers, regardless of background, feel that there are times in their lives when they need advice and support.  Parents are best placed to make choices for their children but all parents benefit from access to high quality information and advice to help them make the best possible decisions.

The EHW is available for informal chats on the School gates, via appointments and if needed home visits so please feel free to come up and say hello to them.