Barnsley Local Authority Family Hub Nursery promotes a holistic approach where the family, the child’s key person and a health professional from the 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service work together to conduct the Integrated Review at two.
Parents can share their concerns, and if required, an Early Help Assessment can be completed during the meeting to develop an action plan and identify what support could be offered to the family.
Barnsley Local Authority Family Hub Nursery delivers integrated services for children. The centre offers a variety of provision according to the needs of local families. It also has an on-site nursery which is owned and managed by the local authority. This nursery offers sessional childcare for funded children only from the ages of 2 to 5.
At the centre, a key person completed their key child’s 2 year progress check, when the child joined the setting in the term after their second birthday. During this check, the key person identified that the child’s progress was below expected levels of development against the prime areas of development. An integrated review gave an opportunity to understand this further.
The integrated review involved:
- the child’s parent
- the child’s key person
- the 0 to 19 Public Health Nursing Service (PHNS) Child Development Practitioner.
During the integrated review process, the child’s parent was able to share their concerns with the child’s key person and the health professional at the same time. This gave everyone a clear understanding of the child’s needs and how best to support them. The parent commented on how much easier it had been to have one single meeting, with both professionals offering advice and support. They also found having the child’s key person at the meeting reassuring when meeting unfamiliar health professionals.
An Early Help Assessment was agreed at the integrated review meeting. This is a type of assessment completed with the help of the child’s family to:
- identify the child’s strengths and needs
- agree what the family would like to change
- develop an action plan.
The integrated review provided an opportunity to discuss concerns identified from the child’s two-year progress check. Using a holistic approach with the family and health professional, we identified what support could be offered to the family. We completed an Early Help Assessment, referred to occupational therapy, and arranged for an Early Years Graduated Response to be completed. This helped to identify the child’s strengths and needs, as well as the support required for them and their family.
Key person
The key person recognised that the parent had felt comfortable sharing their concerns during this meeting. This then encouraged further discussions about the wider support the family might need. Involving both the child’s setting and a health professional in the integrated review created a supportive and emotionally safe environment for the parent. It also enabled early identification and timely intervention for the child and family.
Following the integrated review, the family has benefited from:
- a family support worker
- support with parental literacy skills
- guidance on the education, health and care plan (EHCP) and SEND processes
Parent
“I am really happy with all the support and advice given from the Family Hub Nursery. I could not be happier.”
The child’s key person reflected that, through the integrated review process, parents gain a better picture of their child’s progress. They felt this was thanks to the consistency of messages and the holistic approach to the child’s development.
They also emphasised that communication is critical for the success of the integrated 2 year review. This example shows how the strong working relationships and regular communication between Barnsley Local Authority Family Hub, and the 0 to 19 Public Health Nursing Service, enables an equal partnership. In turn, this helps to ensure early intervention for children who need it.
September 2024