Support for Children, Young People and Families

We know every family is different and we want to provide support and information that is right for you...

We provide support and information that is unique to families and residents when everyday issues become difficult. By using resources to support families we can implement a coordinated approach to resolving issues.

The team are on hand to chat with you about what’s concerning you or anything you feel you need support with. We are here to listen and to help resolve your issues.

Here are a few things you can chat to the team about:

• Benefits
• Family Support
• Local groups and activities
• Childcare
• Anti-social behaviour
• Housing support
• Employment
• Debt and financial concerns
• Education support for your child as well as information for adults wanting access to adult learning courses.

For more information around support Your Place offers head over to Your Place Team - YourLifeDoncaster

To request local help from Your Place and family hubs please use this form to request support

If you would like to request Early Help Support for yourself, or on behalf of a family member, please phone 01302 734110. 

What is Early Help?

Early Help is a way of getting extra help and support when your family needs it, as difficulties start, rather than waiting until things get worse. It’s for children and young people of any age and their family. Families may need help for lots of different reasons,  it could be that you’re worried about your child’s health, development, or behaviour, or perhaps because you are caring for a disabled child. Maybe you, your child or your whole family are affected by relationships within the family, drugs or alcohol or you are experiencing personal distress or anxiety, financial or housing problems. 

Help can come from all kinds of services and organisations who work together to support your family, you might be using some of these services already.

When you phone, we will explore your families support needs and you may be allocated lead practitioner; this is likely to be someone you already know. They will work with you to understand your family’s needs. This is known as an Early Help Assessment which helps us speed up your access to almost any service. When you start the Early Help process, you’re on the path to getting support with any problem you might be facing.

If you would like to know more about the support Early Help can provide, please visit the DSCP website: Early Help Support

Questions you can expect to be asked:

• Your details, your child(ren)’s details, including contact numbers.
• What is happening for your family and how is everyone effected.
• What would help improve things?
• What support do you already have in place
• If you know what support you need please tell us

Doncaster Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service provides mental health assessments, therapy and interventions for children, young people up to the age of 18 years and their families or identified carers when the child and young person is experiencing emotional or mental health difficulties. 

To request CAMHS support please use this form to request support

Where you believe there is an immediate risk of significant harm the police should be contacted on 999.

If you are worried about the safety or well being of a child, contact us on 01302 737777. This phone line is open Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5pm. Your call will be answered and transferred to an available worker.

Questions you can expect to be asked:

• Details of the child / family details – e.g. name, age, address, parents
• Details of your concern
• What have you seen? (Where and when)
• Who was involved?
• Do you have an idea what life is like for the child?

Contacting out of hours

If you need to report urgent safeguarding concerns outside of office hours, please contact the Emergency Out of Hours Team at 01302 796000. Only use this number if a child is at immediate risk of harm and the matter cannot wait until the office reopens at 8:30 am the following day.

Parental Conflict- Remember, conflict is a normal part of relationships. Sometimes we manage our conflict fairly well, other times we struggle and conflict gets frequent, intense and poorly resolved. The most important thing is to recognise when things are difficult and to get the help needed to improve things for every ones sake. Conflict is difficult for everyone but our children are most affected. Don't let your conflict affect them

Here’s a breakdown of steps:

1. Local Help - Helping yourself  Sometimes, it's not the right time or place to resolve a disagreement, especially when emotions are high or we're busy. In these moments, it's better to postpone the conversation and suggest a quieter time, such as saying, "Can we talk about this later?" However, it's important not to ignore or forget the issue, as unresolved conflicts can build up and lead to more frustration later. The key is to reschedule the discussion, not abandon it.

2. Speak to a professional you're working with: Midwives, Health Visitors, Nursery Workers, School staff, or pop into your local Family hub, or your place. 

3. Early Help Assessment: Early Help is a way of thinking and working together with families that have additional or more complex needs. Your Lead Practitioner can arrange for you to access the Reducing Parental Conflict course, the Family Transitions course, or the Parenting Cooperatively After Separation programme, alongside any other support you or your family need. 

4. Specialist Help: Mediation is an organised process in which you will be helped by the mediator to find solutions and reach agreement. For some families the right step is to apply to the court to make arrangements about the care of your child.

Take a look at the information, advice and guidance available from the Relationship Matters Website. There are top tips to help you stay calm and work it out, along with resources for you to use to explore your relationship and communication styles, and develop them: http://relationshipmatters.org.uk/

For more information around specialist help visit:

Mediation support you can access mediation support here 

Alternatively, you can head over to the CAFCASS website where you can find more support around court orders.

 

Cost of Living - Food Banks

Find details on food banks and support available in your area, head over to Your Place . Here you will find opening times and locals of food banks near you. 

Citizens Advice - Doncaster Borough 

If you require advice and support on issues such as debt, housing, employment, benefit entitlement, accessing grants and saving money on bills, visit the Citizens Advice - Doncaster Borough website

 

We know every family is different and we want to provide support and information that is right for families...

We provide support and information that is unique to families and residents when everyday issues become difficult. By using resources to support families we can implement a coordinated approach to resolving issues.

The team are on hand to chat with you about what’s concerning you or anything you feel you need support with. We are here to listen and to help resolve your issues.

Here are a few things you can chat to the team about:

• Benefits
• Family Support
• Local groups and activities
• Childcare
• Anti-social behaviour
• Housing support
• Employment
• Debt and financial concerns
• Education support for your child as well as information for adults wanting access to adult learning courses.

 To request local help from Your Place and family hubs please use this form to request support

You will need consent to refer families to your place. 

If a family have agreed to Early Help and you would like the Early Help pathway open to you as a Lead Practitioner make contact to your local Early Help Coordinator directly or via their duty line: 01302 736250 or earlyhco@doncaster.gov.uk

If a family have agreed to Early Help and you are unsure who is the appropriate Lead Practitioner would be or believe the family would benefit from a worker from specialist service becoming their Lead Practitioner please phone the Early Help Hub duty line on 01302 734110.

 

You must have consent for an Early Help Assessment.

Questions you can expect to be asked:

• Details of the child(ren) names, date of birth and address
• Who is in their family? Include names, date of birth, addresses and phone numbers
• When did you get consent?
• What is happening for the family and what impact is this having on everyone?
• What help and support is already in place from professionals, their community, family, and friends?
• What help and support has been provided in the past and what was the impact of this?
• If you know what support is needed for the family, please tell us.

A request for support only needs to be requested for a child or family that needs level 2 or 3 support. It's important that you review each level of support so that the child or family can receive the right support at the right time.

Level 1: universal services The child's needs are being met through open-access services.

Level 2: additional support and early help The child or family is struggling and needs additional support. Find out more about level 2: additional support and early help.

Level 3: multi-disciplinary support and Family Solutions The child or family needs more complex and intensive support. Find out more about level 3: multi-disciplinary support and Family Solutions.

Level 4: specialist intervention The child or young person is likely to suffer significant harm, lasting impairment or be removed from home without specialist intervention.

 

Doncaster Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service provides mental health assessments, therapy and interventions for children, young people up to the age of 18 years and their families or identified carers when the child and young person is experiencing emotional or mental health difficulties. 

To request CAMHS support please use this form to request support

Where you believe there is an immediate risk of significant harm the police should be contacted on 999.

If you are worried about the safety or well being of a child, contact us on 01302 737777. This phone line is open Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5pm. Your call will be answered and transferred to an available worker.

Questions you can expect to be asked:

• Details of the child(ren) and family composition- including their names, age(s), current living situation, contact number(s)
• Have you spoken to parents about your worries, if not what has prevented this? What have parents said? Do you have consent for this referral?
• Who is in the family network and the TAF supporting the family? Please have names, numbers, address etc ready.
• Who has PR? What are contact arrangements like? Are there any orders in place?
• What are your concerns? What has led to you calling today?
• What has changed or escalated recently that makes these concerns more urgent than before?
• Have you completed a risk assessment? Have you completed an Early Help Assessment? When?
• What actions have you taken to address or reduce these concerns? Have you provided any support or made any referrals to other services?
• What is the impact on the child?
• Who could help the family?
• If there is an injury – what does this look like? What is the child saying?    Why does it concern you?
• Has this happened before?

 

Contacting out of hours

If you are reporting urgent safeguarding concerns and our offices are closed, please contact 01302 796000. Please only contact the Emergency Out of Hours Team if you have a concern whereby a child is at immediate risk of harm and the call cannot wait until the following morning. If you are unable to contact the following morning, please complete the online referral form here

This form is to be used to request information ONLY. This form is not for sharing information with Doncaster City Council.

This form is only for governing bodies, e.g. CAFCASS, Probation , Local Government, Other Local Authority Social Worker.

If you're not a governing body, you will be expected to phone MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) on 01302 737777.

To request information, you must have the necessary consent.

Please use this form