Early Help Assessment Tool (EHAT)
EHAT is a tool used for gathering information and a standard approach in assessment for the identification of Early Help needs.
The EHAT helps practitioners to gather and understand information about the needs and strengths of children and the family. This is based on discussions with children and their family and other practitioners as appropriate.
Early Help is about:
- Identifying needs of children, young people and their family across a continuum of need (click here for LSCP's Responding to Need Guidance and Levels of Need Framework or click here for LSCP's Responding to Need Guidance and Levels of Need Framework - Plain Text Version)
- Understanding and responding quickly to identified needs
- Listening to children and Families so that their views are informing what happens next
- Supporting and re-focusing resources from crisis to prevention, and helping to avoid concerns repeating over time
- Supporting families to achieve their full potential and thereby mitigate the impact of issues such as child poverty and health inequalities
- Providing the context for multi-agency working to help children and families achieve improved outcomes
Background
Early Help is a key part of delivering frontline services that are integrated and focused around the needs of children and young people.
The EHAT is a standardised approach to conducting an assessment of Children’s needs and deciding how those needs should be met. It can be used by practitioners across children's services.
When is an EHAT needed?
The EHAT will promote more effective, earlier identification of additional needs. It is intended to provide a simple process for a holistic assessment of a children’s needs and strengths, taking account of the role of parents, carers and environmental factors on their development.
Practitioners will then be better placed to agree, with the child and family, about what support is appropriate. The EHAT will also help to improve integrated working by promoting co-ordinated service provision.
The EHAT is not intended to replace or delay any concerns around child protection. If you believe a child is at risk please report it.
An EHAT is a useful tool when reporting concerns, as this can show what is already known about the children in a family, what actions have been taken, who is involved in supporting the family, and why the level of concern needs to be reported as a risk.
NORTH
Contact Rachel Davies/Glyn Gates Early Help Assessment Officer
Telephone 0151 233 6152/ 07546761848/ 07841224124
Email EHLHnorth@liverpool.gov.uk
CENTRAL
Contact Grace Dunphy/Andrew Bird Early Help Assessment Officer
Telephone 0151 233 6151 / 07562171149
Email EHLHcentral@liverpool.gov.uk
SOUTH
Contact Jayne Silvano Early Help Assessment Officer
Telephone 0151 233 5772 / 07562171155
Email EHLHsouth@liverpool.gov.uk