The Early Help Offer – making family life easier

The Early Help Offer – an initiative to help families access the information they need to make their lives easier - has been launched by Rochdale Borough Council.

Part of the offer is the Family Services Directory, which contains details of a wealth of organisations dedicated to helping families solve whatever problems they might have.

The directory, which can be found at www.rochdale.gov.uk/familyhelp, offers information and advice on all aspects of family life, including childcare, activity groups, employment advice and drugs counselling.

In addition, the council has worked with other services to create a common assessment framework (CAF). This helps families to recognise exactly what support they might need, such as a council service, a charity or a health provider, and understand what they can do as a family to address their issues.

Councillor Donna Martin, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, explained: "Every family is unique, and everyone can go through problems that are difficult to deal with.

"A CAF is simply a quick way for families to tell the right people what their problem is. All they have to do is discuss a CAF with someone like a children's centre worker or member of staff at school, who will then agree an action plan with them to bring together the right services to discuss any concerns and help however they can."

The mum of a Heywood family who requested a CAF said: "The meeting was the best thing that could have happened. It was so helpful to have all the professionals in one place so I didn't have to repeat myself and my situation over and over again."

Laura Beesley, Sure Start Team Leader at Rochdale Borough Council, said: "The Early Help Offer is about helping children, young people and families to deal with any issues as early as possible, before they turn into big problems.

"It is about providing information, advice or services at the right time to meet a family's needs and to support them in resolving any concerns as soon as they emerge."

For more information about Family Service Directory, go to www.rochdale.gov.uk/familyhelp or to request a CAF, contact the CAF team for an informal chat on 01706 925127 or email caf.team@rochdale.gov.uk