Refreshed Early Help strategy to 'give children the best start in life'

An updated strategy from local authorities is aiming to help give children and families across Tameside the best possible start in life.

Called 'Successful Families in Tameside - Smarter, Stronger, Sooner, Safer', it's based on what Tameside Council and NHS Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group say its Corporate Plan principle of "starting well" is – to ensure that every child is given the care and attention they need to thrive and develop.

It refreshes the Early Help Strategy for 2020-22, building on the work that has been undertaken since 2017 to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families by "resolving issues as soon as possible". 

While most children and families in Tameside grow up in a supportive environment, where this is not the case they may need extra support. Intervening quickly reduces the likelihood of problems escalating, improves their long-term outcomes and allows funding for services to stretch further.

So the council and NHS CCG say the strategy "brings together public, private, charity and community partners to ensure that every child is given the care and attention they need to thrive". 

It has been developed with partners including Action Together, Greater Manchester Police, NHS Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care Foundation Trust, NHS Pennine Care Foundation Trust, Home Start and Jigsaw.

Developed during the coronavirus pandemic, the strategy benefits from the different ways of working that have been implemented, building on earlier plans and consultations, and is intended to support and complement existing strategies and programmes.

Early Help can take different forms, from home visiting programmes to school-based schemes to improve children’s social and emotional skills, to mentoring initiatives for young people who are vulnerable to involvement in crime. It supports a child’s development and helps families and children develop strong social and emotional skills and support networks, and to access benefits and advice and good community services and facilities.

Successes since 2017 include training almost 200 practitioners in the new Early Help Assessment and creating a number of new approaches and frameworks.

Wider outcomes that will be measured include improved school readiness, child development and education attainment and reductions in youth crime, domestic abuse, children living in poverty, pregnancies, smoking and children exposed to alcohol.

Councillor Bill Fairfoull, Tameside Council’s Deputy Executive Leader with responsibility for Children and Families, said: “Our vision is that every child and young person in Tameside has the best start in life, to grow, thrive, and be prepared for a successful adult life. When problems emerge we will work together to co-ordinate support thereby improving the overall wellbeing and quality of life of all Tameside’s children and young people.

“Our Early Help strategy recognises that it’s better to identify and resolve problems early than respond when difficulties have become acute and need more expensive, specialist services.

“I believe that this refresh provides a strong foundation from which to progress the Early Help approach in Tameside, and I look forward to working with everyone involved to help make that vision a reality.”

For more information, visit www.tameside.gov.uk/earlyhelp/neighbourhoods.