Joint Strategic Needs Assessment: early help

An early help chapter within the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) contributes to a holistic understanding of family needs, informs strategic planning, and guides the development of effective health and well-being strategies.

Specifically, the chapter on early help serves the following purposes:

1. Informs Decision Making: By including a chapter on early help, it highlights the specific needs and challenges faced by families at an early stage.
2. Identifying Needs and Priorities: The early help chapter identifies existing services and areas where early intervention can make a significant impact. It helps partners and professionals prioritise resources and develop targeted support programmes.
3. Promoting Prevention and Early Intervention: Early help aims to prevent problems from escalating by intervening at an early stage. By assessing the needs of children and families within their communities, the JSNA informs strategies that focus on prevention, early support and timely interventions.
4. Collaboration and Partnership: Early help facilitates joint working, ensuring that services are coordinated and responsive.
5. Addressing Inequalities: By examining the needs of different groups, early help helps address health inequalities and disparities by tailoring services to meet the specific needs of vulnerable individuals.