Embedding The Voice Of Young People Within Early Help

Oliver Mellor | August 12 2024

2 min read

Strong Early Help teams form the bedrock of effective services. Their impact can be huge. According to a study by the Early Intervention Foundation (2016), effective early intervention can reduce the number of children in care by up to 30%. And the cost savings associated with Early Help services are substantial. Research by the UK Department for Education found that for every £1 invested in early intervention, the public sector can save up to £2.40 in the long term.

Participation at the heart

An effective participation strategy within Early Help teams is pivotal for embedding the voice of young people throughout a service. This is our first opportunity to understand and engage with the young people we support. Their participation in this is not merely beneficial – it is essential – for creating effective, respectful, and responsive interventions. Early Help sets the tone for everything that follows.

Building trust

Truly listening to, and understanding children’s views ensures that interventions are tailored to their unique needs. When young people feel heard and understood, they are more likely to engage with the services, fostering trust and collaboration from day one.

Balancing children’s voice with parents

Sometimes, the voices of parents or caregivers can overshadow those of young people. Especially at the early help stage. While their input is crucial, we need to ensure children’s perspectives are equally considered, balancing the support process.

Early identification of issues

Uncovering issues not immediately apparent to adults, such as safeguarding concerns or emotional struggles can be challenging if we don’t have trust from young people – and building this quickly can be challenging. Early identification ultimately allows for prompt intervention, and resolving issues sooner.

So how can we help at Mind Of My Own…?

Leveraging digital tools for better engagement

Tools like One app, Express and Xchange are essential in Early Help to ensure you have the complete picture of the child’s lived experience. These platforms allow children to articulate their views and concerns at their own pace, providing professionals with high-quality information directly from the child, leading to accurate assessments and personalised plans.

Earlier identification

Mind Of My Own provides a neutral platform where young people can talk about those more challenging topics, such as emotional struggles, neglect or abuse. This can help highlight safeguarding concerns much sooner.

Ensuring child-centered support

Consistent use of Mind Of My Own in Early Help Services ensures children’s voices remain central throughout their interaction with your service. Whether that’s short, or long term. This promotes a stable, trusting environment and ensures their needs are continually understood and addressed.

Get in touch hello@mindofmyown.org.uk