Can Early Help actually help?

[WaitingForBlueSkies]

Is anyone under Early Help? School are offering to refer but I’m apprehensive as I’m not sure what they can offer. I have read the website but it’s a bit daunting as it’s linked to social services.

I don't know this programme, but if they are offering help, I'd suggest you take it. They're not trying to accuse you of anything - which you comment about social services suggests you're afraid of.

Yeah it makes me feel like they think I’m struggling which makes me feel rubbish to be honest as I have just been through a year of part time schooling with my son as they wouldn’t let him attend, I have to take him home for lunch as they refuse to let him onsite, and I have just got him into specialist so I don’t know why they are suggesting help now when things have finally fallen into place. They pushed me so much over the last year calling me almost daily to pick him up, appealing against the local authority because they couldn’t meet his needs and when he finally gets offered a place they suggest I need help. It’s a bit of a kick in the teeth as I spent the last year working with them to support them by being constantly on call and going to their aide at the drop of a hat. He’s finally got a school that is designed for him and now they think I need help 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

They were quite helpful for us, although would've been more helpful if they'd helped when we were first referred rather than when we got to the top of the waiting list six months later. They did give some people a kick up the arse to actually do their jobs, but like you we'd finally got the EHCP by that point so there was limited arse kicking required. What was really helpful was her spending some time doing some work with my DS to better understand his sisters needs, and getting him registered as a young carer. She also found an autism specific parenting course for us to go on, but that was more use to DH than me as I'd already done so much reading up by that point.
Saying that my friend in another borough found they weren't helpful at all, so I think it may depend on who you actually get.

Some find EH helpful. Others don’t. A lot depends on who you get. I would give it a try.

I actually think you should request full social care assessments rather than just EH involvement. A carer’s assessment for you and an assessment by the disabled children’s team for DS. On their website, Contact has letters you can use if this is something you would be interested in. It isn’t saying you are doing anything wrong. It is acknowledging you are caring for a disabled child and by virtue of being disabled DS is a child in need.

BTW, in case it is relevant in the future, the school were unlawfully informally suspending DS. They can send home for lunchtime if they are formally suspending, but they obviously weren’t in your case because there are only so many days in the year they can suspend for. If it happens again in the future, you can refuse to collect unless formally suspended. You could also look at a disability discrimination case.

It gives you info and access to some courses that you wouldn't be able to get on without.

Also coordinate the information and whats available in your area.

They should listen to you and assess what you need.