Action for Children’s Devon Children’s centres provide Early Help, to the whole family from pregnancy through to aged eight, when families most need support using the “team around the family” approach.

Early Help means taking action to support a child, young person or their family early in the life of a problem, as soon as it emerges. It can be required at any stage in a child’s life from pre-birth to adulthood, and applies to any problem or need that a family needs support to resolve. It also applies to all children and young people, with any form of need.

In Devon, Early Help is made up of service users, community resources, and a range of service providers who will work together to enable families to manage their own dilemmas and solve their own problems, making changes to secure the well-being of their children.

Early Help can be provided in the most complex of circumstances as well as the simplest. Early Help means responding promptly if a child is at immediate risk of harm (or has other significant or complex needs), as much as it means responding to a need which only requires advice or guidance.

Children’s Centres across Devon provide a range of services to support any parent with a child aged eight years and under who feels they would benefit from Early Help.