County Durham Early Help Strategy 2024-26 consultation

We asked you to get involved in the final phase of our Early Help Strategy review to help shape our approach, commitments, and priorities for 2024-26.

We have now launched the strategy - see the Next Steps section below.

Background

Throughout 2023, we have been working with children, young people, parents and carers to develop the new Early Help Strategy for 2024-2026. Through workshops, they have told us what is important to them when they need early help support in County Durham.

We have also listened to our partners to understand what we can achieve by working together.

The Strategy is also based on the priorities of the Prevention and Early Help Partnership which are underpinned by the national Supporting Families Programme and specifically reflects how County Durham can improve the early help support offered to families.

What we want to know

This final stage of consultation will get feedback from those we have talked to already, as well as anyone else who wants to have their say. We what to make sure we captured what you told us and we have not missed anything important in the draft strategy.

We are now asking for your views on:

Is the vision clear?
Are the statements outlined in the Early Help 'approach' section clear? Is there anything missing?
Are our 'commitments' right? Is there anything missing?
Are our key priorities right? Is there anything missing and why?

The Strategy

Draft County Durham Early Help Strategy (PDF, 3 MB)

Have your say

The closing date for comments was 5.00pm on 16 February 2024.

Next steps

We used your feedback to make any updates to the final Early Help Strategy. It was then considered and approved by the Prevention and Early Help Partnership, and Staring Well Partnership.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation. Over three phases of 16 co-production sessions, consideration and comments from the Prevention and Early Help Partnership and a round of public consultation, which took part between March 2023 and February 2024, we were able to develop a Strategy and approach which has been supported by families, our voluntary sector partners, and support services.

Cabinet met on 4 June 2024 to endorse the Early Help Strategy. The Strategy and the consultation approach are contained in the Early Help Strategy 2024-26 Report, item 5 on the Cabinet agenda and minutes 4 June 2024.

The Strategy has been launched. Find it at Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership: early help.