The Early Help Service is a provision commissioned by the local authority where RFA specialists will work closely with parents and carers offering 12 weeks of hands-on support to develop strategies which will improve future outcomes, build resilience, prevent crisis, and reduce reliance on social care.
Service Specification:
The aim of the service is to help families develop proactive strategies and communication approaches tailored to their child’s needs. The autism specialist team will manage a caseload of referrals from the Early Help (EH) and social care team, offering up to 12 weeks of focused support to families. Initially, the autism specialist will assess both the child’s needs and the family’s capacity, agreeing on the intensity of support – ranging from weekly to three times per week. Together with the family, they will identify key challenges, set achievable targets and develop a personalised support plan.
Support will include:
- Demonstrating practical strategies during visits.
- Building the family’s confidence to apply and adapt strategies independently.
- Scaling down support as the family becomes more self-sufficient.
- Each family will receive specialist resources designed for their specific needs.
- Upskilling social care teams in their understanding of autism.
Service Outcomes:
- Reduces the number of cases re-referred to Early Help and MASH teams.
- Prevents crisis and reduces family breakdown.
- Increases carers confidence in supporting distressed behaviours.
- Improved parental mental health and resilience.
