Early Help

[Needanewadventure2021]

Hi

Has anyone been involved with Early Help and can you tell me the process?

I'll keep this brief, I self referred to EH due to my relationship with old school being extremely strained. Constant parent blaming, dismissive attitude, dismissive of child's needs. Finger was constantly point at me and my parenting and alleged poor boundaries. Things ended up in a serious complaint and I self referred to EH to prove that I am not the problem here. Sadly my complaint resulted in the most horrendous few weeks of my life when the most malicious allegations were made against me. All were found to be false and as I expected there were absolutely no concerns whatsoever with me or my parenting abilities or relationship with my child, so we are being signed off but I haven't heard from our social worker in 2 weeks.

Does anyone know what happens when you get signed off? Is there a report or letter of their findings or do you literally just end all communication without being told? She did say that I never needed their help and I never met the thresholds but totally understood why she needed to be involved. It all ended really positive but I don't know where I stand in terms of things concluding?

I suppose because I've suffered grief and blame for so long It would be comforting to have something in writing with her own opinions of me a be able to show the likes of CAMHS (who were only interested in schools comments) that I've worked with a very senior SW and she never had a single concern against me. But I also understand a signing off report may not be the case.

Just wondered others experiences?

T.i.a

Early help is not social services. They're children's services but are very closely linked and can request a social worker visit and or sw assessment. It's ridiculous high the threshold for this though. If accepted, then you close to early help and open to a social worker. When early help closes, you should get nothing if no family network plan ever took place. Just a text or call saying case closed and signposting to other agencies if relevant.
Early Help is meant to be that.. help. You don't need to self refer but they can help with parenting issues, putting in boundaries etc. If you didn't need any help, then you probably never had a network plan. They won't be a go between with school and if the issues are at school, that is an education issue and EH will close. You also won't get any reports.
Based on what you've put, I'm guessing the allegations led to a step up from early help? You can request copies of any documents. Social worker assessment if done and/or a family network plan (which would have been done by a member of early help team)

We have a TAF set up (arranged today) but I've been told this is purely to satisfy her that everyone is working together, which I'm pleased to say all agencies and people involved are, FINALLY! She has stressed to all involved there are absolutely no concerns or safeguarding, but to sign us off she needs to know that my son is getting the support he needs. After 4 years it's actually nice that someone has seen us through to this point and wants to make sure things are working better before parting. She's been the most amazing support.

I only self referred due to constantly being told it was me so I wanted to address it to make sure it wasn't. I was certain I wasn't but I'd never decline help if there are better ways of doing things. There was nothing to add or help. In fact she said what an amazing Mum I was, how good I am with him, our relationship and bond, and how everything I do is centered around him. She admitted I never needed her or met the threshold for EH but based on my reasons for self referring and the subsequent allegations she fully understand why she had to be involved. I was fortunate to have a very senior family support worker and she was incredible. Even during those horrendous few weeks where I feared her opinion had changed on me she was amazing. It was the most traumatic thing I've experienced bur her validating that I was not the problem and I was a good Mom with absolutely no issue was what I needed. I guess after years of being gaslighted by the school even though you know it wasn't you you still need that validation you are doing a good job.