Early Help services for families in Islington

Bright Start 0-5

Support for families from pregnancy until your child is five.

Family Support Surgeries, Monday-Friday between 9am-12noon: if you have a question, need some information, advice or guidance our family engagement workers are still here to talk over the phone. If lines are busy, leave a message we will get back to you when we can. 

  • Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am-12noon
  • Tel: 020 7527 8376

If you are not sure which Bright Start area you are in, please contact Islington Family Information Service: 020 75275959; fis@islington.gov.uk

We are encouraging all parents to sign up to our fortnightly Bright Start, Bright Ideas newsletter and Quick Tips

Bright Futures, Early Help 5-19

Family Support, primary and secondary school age: 020 7527 4343.  

If you think a child may be at risk of neglect or abuse call the Children’s Services Contact Team (CSCT) on 020 7527 7400 who will make sure the family are referred to the right service including Children’s Social Care teams.

What is Early Help?

Most of the time families cope well with the demands of family life, but when circumstances change, or their usual networks of support let them down, there is help available. Islington is committed to making sure that families get support when they need it, quickly and with the minimum of fuss. This is referred to as Early Help and is available to families with children aged 0-19, to ‘nip problems in the bud’ before they become more serious.

Lots of families won’t need a formal service and will get the help they need through advice or information, for example through The Family Information Service or their local Bright Start children’s centre or local Bright Start community venue. These services are referred to as ‘universal’ meaning they are open to everyone.

When additional support is needed, for example with physical or mental ill health parenting or practical challenges like debt, rent arrears and unemployment, Early Help Services can step in. This support is delivered by a lead professional, usually a Family Support Worker, and is tailored to individual families with an emphasis on building skills and resilience to manage and solve problems.

Early Help thinks about the needs of the whole family and coordinates this support so there is one lead person bringing together other services as a team around the family. This means the family don’t have to keep repeating their story and there is better communication between professionals.

How to refer to Early Help Services

Families can self-refer to most Early Help services or professionals can refer with parental consent.

Professionals can request support by completing a request form available from the Children's Services Contact Team (CSCT). Where possible, please send any completed forms or any personal or sensitive information by secure email.

Children with special educational needs and disabilities

Islington SEND (Special Education Needs and Disability) Community Support Service provides free confidential information, advice and support on all matters relating to special educational needs and disabilities for families with children aged 0 to 25.

Parenting Programmes

Parenting programmes are free and available to all Islington parents and expectant parents. See further information and a current timetable

Young People

Targeted Youth Support (TYS) works with young people aged 10 to 21 years, providing outreach, group work, counselling and more.

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