Early Help
Our Early Help Co-Ordinator works with our Pastoral Support Team and together they are able to offer practical support to the whole family. Helping to empower families to improve the short or long term problems they may face with a view to improving the outcomes for children and young people at school.
The team offers a listening ear, in a non judgmental way. They may not have all the answers but as a team they will endeavour to explore, gather and share information to best support you.
The team are here to offer impartial advice, support and guidance to parents and carers with concerns around:
- Parenting and home life
- Challenging behaviors and relationships in school and at home
- School transition and attendance
- Family Mental Wellbeing
- Signposting to targeted services
- Liaising with outside agencies
- Home finances
- E-Safety
Our Early Help Co-Ordinator is:
Dawn Weir - Email: dweir@okehamptoncollege.devon.sch.uk Tel: 01837 650910
What is Early Help?
Early Help is an early intervention from the Devon Children Safeguarding Partnership and is an approach that brings together people from a range of services and teams who will work with your whole family to help improve the situation for everyone. By identifying and building on your strengths as a family, Early Help can help and support you to find long term solutions as well as developing your skills to help you manage any future challenges.
If you would like to know more about how Early Help could help you, please ask for the DCFP’s Early Help leaflet, visit www.dcfp.org.uk/early-help or contact me at school where I will be happy to chat to you.
The information you and your family provide will only be shared with the people who need to know about it, and only with your permission.
Advice and support is confidential although concerns relating to the safeguarding of children will always be dealt with in accordance with the school's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies. By identifying and building on your strengths as a family Early Help can help support you to find long term solutions as well as developing your skills to help you manage any future challenges.
Our aim at Okehampton College is to work in partnership with you – creating an open and positive relationship - at school we want to maximise each child and young person’s potential, despite the challenges they have experienced or are facing, by helping them to develop physically, flourish socially and educationally, preparing them for adult life.
If you think you could use a little support and guidance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Wellbeing Information and Links
DiAS - (Devon Information Advice and Support)
www.devonias.org.uk tel:01392383080
Provides information, advice and support on special
educational needs and disability (SEND)
Devon Safeguarding Children Partnership
www.devonscp.org.uk/health-and-wellbeing/
Offers support for the health and wellbeing of children and young people together with mental health advice and support for eating disorders, suicide and self-harm.
NSPCC
www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/
Provides a whole host of parenting advice from managing family life to specific child and adolescent concerns.
Devon School Nursing Service
www.healthforteens.co.uk/devon/ tel: 07520631722
Young people aged 11-19 who live in Devon can contact a school nurse for confidential advice and support via text.
Citizen’s Advice
www.citizensadvice.org.uk tel:0800 1448848
Offers advice and signposting to support on a range of issues - benefits, debt, money, work, consumer issues, housing, family, law and courts, immigration and health.