You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
![Councillor Peter Gould](/image-library/peter-gould-ws-hr-1.xb6cb8b20.jpg?width=470&height=256&fit=crop&quality=75&format=webp)
You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
An Early Help Assessment (EHA) is a form and process you and/or a professional working with your family can complete when:
An EHA looks at:
The assessment helps understand the issues and make a plan. Sometimes the network of family and friends or a single agency (like a school) can provide the needed support. Other times, short-term extra support is needed. In those cases, the assessment can refer the family to the Family Support Teams at Suffolk County Council.
If the assessment shows early intervention would help, the Family Support Teams can work with the whole family. This helps create positive, sustainable change to build resilience while maintaining safety.
The Family Support Teams typically offer interventions around:
The Early Help Assessment (EHA) helps professionals identify support a family may need early on. The goal is to help families before they reach a crisis point. The EHA looks at the whole family's needs so everyone can get support. Any practitioner can start an EHA if they see a family needs extra help. Getting multiple agencies involved can make a real difference for families and makes sure everyone's needs are considered.
Use the EHA when:
The assessment can map out the family's worries and needs. It can look at existing support and what's working well already. As a professional, consider the child's network of family, friends, and other professionals too.
You can read more information about the Early Help Assessment.
If more support is needed beyond the current network, submit an EHA through the CYP Portal to request additional services.
You can find more guidance on EHAs and how to complete an EHA using the SOS+ approach below.