Before a CWD referral: West Northamptonshire family pathway

Step by step

1. Start with the people already around your family

   Talk to your child's nursery, school, SENCO, GP, health visitor, therapist or other trusted professional. Ask what support can be put in place now, what reasonable adjustments are available, and who will coordinate the next step. You do not need to wait for a diagnosis before asking for practical support.

2. Use West Northamptonshire Family Hubs and the Families Information Service

   Use Family Hubs for local family support and activities, and the Families Information Service for childcare, early years and family resources. These routes can help you find universal and targeted support before assuming that a social-care referral is the only route.

3. Use the West Local Offer as the main SEND directory

   Search the West Local Offer for activities, leisure, health, education, finance, housing, transport, short breaks, parent-carer support and adult provision. Use its age, need, category and locality filters, then check the provider's own details because publication is not an endorsement.

4. Ask education and early-years settings about ordinary SEND support

   Early-years settings and schools should identify needs, make reasonable adjustments and provide ordinarily available SEND support. West's Inclusion and Intervention Support Team (IIST) and Portage routes may be relevant for younger children. Ask the setting or the current Local Offer page which route fits your child's age and needs.

5. Use Family Help when needs are growing or joined-up support is needed

   Family Help, previously called Early Help, is voluntary support to coordinate services around a child and family. A Family Help Conversation can be started with a professional such as a school, GP, health visitor or youth worker. Consent is normally used for an Early Help plan, but it is not required before safeguarding information is shared on a lawful basis. Do not delay a safeguarding referral or inform someone if doing so could increase risk.

6. Check short breaks before specialist respite

   Universal activities, clubs and leisure may be accessed directly. Targeted youth groups and holiday clubs may have provider criteria. Overnight or specialist respite normally involves a social-care assessment or referral. Use the current West short-breaks page and directory for the latest offer rather than relying on an old timetable.

7. Search specifically for youth work and positive activities

   For a child or young person looking for social time, confidence, participation or youth work, search Services for Youth Inspired, Action for Children clubs, Enfold groups, Shooting Stars participation and other youth activities. Check age, area, support level, diagnosis or eligibility, cost, referral and whether a parent or carer must stay before relying on a session.

8. Ask for statutory help when ordinary routes are not enough

   Do not treat these steps as a test you must pass before asking for statutory help. If disability-related needs are substantial or complex, caring pressure is becoming unsafe or unsustainable, family life is breaking down, or there are safeguarding or urgent welfare concerns, ask for the appropriate assessment or contact the council/Northamptonshire Children's Trust route. For specialist CWD support, referrals are made through MASH and the current eligibility information must be checked.

9. If there is immediate danger, skip this guide

   This guide is not a safeguarding screen and it must not delay urgent help. Use emergency services for immediate danger, and use the current Northamptonshire Children's Trust safeguarding or MASH route if you are worried a child is at risk of harm.