Getting Help for Children and Families from Social Services

You may want to get in touch with us for information, advice and help for yourself, for someone in your family or for a friend or neighbour. You might be concerned about a child, or interested in offering time or a home to a child or young person who might need one.

We believe that the best place for a child to grow up is at home within their family and we aim to keep families together wherever possible.

We work closely with children, young people and their parents, relatives or carers, talking together to try to find the best solution to problems. We also work with other organisations, such as education and health services. This gives us opportunities to provide a wider range of services.

We have responsibilities for and will do our very best to help and support:

Children and young people needing some extra help because their families are having difficulties in caring for them
Disabled children who have particular support needs
Children and young people who may be at risk of harm
Children and young people 'looked after' - in care
Children and young people who are in trouble with the law

We promise

To tell you about services we provide
To be fair and open about your entitlement to services
To tell you within 24 hours if we are going to offer you an assessment of your needs. For further information about the assessment, please see 'Understanding Assessment' leaflet - downloadable below, or available in printed form from social services offices.