Continuum of Need
From October 1st the new Continuum of Need 2026 will replace the Multi-Agency Threshold of Need Right Help, Right Time Guidance.
Continuum-of-need-2026 pdf
My Safety Battery: PRACTITIONERS VERSION
Documents to use with families
CE NWIP - Providing the Right Support at the Right Time Framework - FAMILIES VERSION
My Safety Battery: FAMILY VERSION
Key Changes at a Glance
- One coordinated system of help and support.
- Greater focus on Family Help and earlier support.
- Stronger emphasis on relationships, strengths and restorative practice.
- Family networks at the centre of assessment and planning.
- Family Led Decision Making embedded throughout support.
- Child's lived experience at the centre of decision-making.
- Improved response to exploitation and harms outside the home.
- Child Protection delivered through a specialist Multi-Agency Child Protection Team.
What's Changed?
Traditionally, need has been described through a threshold model progressing from Universal Services, Early Help, Child in Need and Child Protection. While levels of need remain important, this needs to be understood through the lens of children's lived experience.
Children and families may move between different types of support as their circumstances change, but should experience one coordinated system of help, support and protection.
Support should be provided as early as possible
All practitioners working with children, young people and families have a role in identifying where families can be supported early to prevent escalations in the level of need, and to work with families to build resilience and capabilities within a network of family and community support.
Practitioners are encouraged to offer Extra Help to children, young people, and families they work with who may be experiencing challenges and would benefit from coordinated support from one or more services within their local community. You may also hear this referred to as Early Help.
Extra Help focuses on building on family strengths and understanding what matters most to children, young people, and their families. Using a Team Around the Family approach, families work alongside professionals and trusted people in their family network to identify what is working well, what support may be needed, and the outcomes they want to achieve.
An Extra Help Assessment and Plan is used to capture the family's strengths, needs, and goals, and to agree the support and actions that will help improve outcomes for the child and family.
If you think a child, young person, or family could benefit from Extra Help, further information and access to the Extra Help Assessment and Plan can be found on the Cheshire East Live Well website
Family Help is now the main way that multi-agency support is coordinated for children and families with emerging, multiple or complex needs. Support is provided through a Family Help Lead Practitioner, a shared assessment, one plan and coordinated multi-agency intervention. Family Help brings together targeted support and Child in Need support within a single, coordinated approach.
Children, young people and families should experience support that is relational, restorative and strengths based. Professionals will work alongside families to understand what matters to them, build on strengths and involve them in decision-making wherever possible.
Family networks are central to planning and decision-making
We recognise that families, friends and community networks often play a vital role in improving child wellbeing. Family Led Decision Making in the form of family network meetings are being embedded into assessments and planning.
The child's lived experience remains at the centre
Decision-making should be informed by what life is like for the child day-to-day. Professionals should be curious about children's experiences, understand the impact of concerns on them and ensure their views, wishes and feelings inform planning.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility
Where a child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm, the statutory duties and protections within the Children Act 1989 continue to apply. A specialist Multi-Agency Child Protection Team works alongside Family Help services to ensure a robust and proportionate response to neglect, abuse and harms occurring both within and beyond the family home.
Our response to Harms outside the Home
The Continuum recognises that children may experience harm outside the home, including exploitation, missing episodes, serious violence and other contextual safeguarding concerns. Professionals should consider all aspects of a child's lived experience and work together to understand and address risks wherever they occur, including within peer groups, schools, neighbourhoods and online spaces.
The Continuum of Need supports Cheshire East's commitment to ensuring children, young people and families receive the right help, at the right time, through a coordinated, relational and strengths-based approach to support and safeguarding.
What is the difference between Extra Help and Family Help?
Extra Help is additional support provided where emerging needs have been identified and additional coordination may be beneficial.
Family Help provides coordinated multi-agency support for children and families with emerging, multiple or complex needs that cannot be effectively met through Universal or Extra Help alone. Support is coordinated through a Family Help Lead Practitioner, a shared assessment and one family plan.
What is Family Help?
Family Help brings together targeted early help and Child in Need support within one coordinated system. It focuses on understanding children's lived experience, building on family strengths, involving family networks and coordinating support through one assessment, one plan and one Lead Practitioner.
What is a Family Help Lead Practitioner?
The Family Help Lead Practitioner is the professional responsible for coordinating support around the child and family. They work with the family, professional network and wider support network to ensure everyone is working towards agreed outcomes.
Do I always need to make a referral if I am worried about a child?
Professionals should consider what support can be provided by their own service, what support is already in place and whether children and families may benefit from Universal Services, Family Hubs, Extra Help or Family Help.
However, where there are safeguarding concerns, practitioners should seek advice, discuss concerns with safeguarding leads and take action without delay.
What should I do if I am unsure about the level of need?
The Continuum should be used to support professional judgement rather than replace it. Practitioners should think about the child's lived experience, what support is already in place, what worries exist, what is working well and whether the child is safe.
Advice should be sought from safeguarding leads, managers or the Integrated Front Door where required.
What happens after a referral is made to the Integrated Front Door?
The Integrated Front Door will consider the information provided, gather information from partner agencies where appropriate and determine the most suitable response. This may include advice and guidance, Extra Help, Family Help or statutory intervention.
Do I need consent before making a referral?
It is good practice to seek consent where appropriate. However, there are circumstances where consent may be overridden if a child is at risk of harm or where seeking consent may impact a criminal investigation.
Concerns about information sharing should never delay action to protect a child.
What if I disagree with a decision?
The Safeguarding Partnership has an Escalation Process for Professional Disagreements. Practitioners are encouraged to discuss concerns professionally and constructively to ensure children receive the right support and protection.
What role do families play in decision-making?
Children, young people and families should be involved in assessments, planning and decision-making wherever possible. Cheshire East is embedding restorative practice and Family Led Decision Making approaches which recognise that families are often best placed to identify solutions and support networks.
What is Family Led Decision Making?
Family Led Decision Making (FLDM) is an approach that helps families identify and involve people who are important to them, such as relatives, friends and community members. These networks can help create plans, provide support and contribute to achieving positive outcomes for children.
What if a child is at immediate risk of harm?
If a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact the police on 999 and follow your safeguarding procedures without delay.
Where can I find additional guidance and support?