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Early Help is about identifying early any areas of help and support required by a child and family at any point in the child’s life (0 to 19) and then swiftly providing the right interventions and services.

The 0-25 Disability Service offers social care support to children from birth to 25 who have a profound, severe or multiple disability or a complex and long-term health condition. We also offer a service to young people aged 18 to 25 who have a diagnosed learning disability.

The Children’s Occupational Therapy team is part of the 0-25 Disability Service for 0-18 Year Olds. The team provides a community based Occupational Therapy assessment service to disabled children, their carers and families. They do this by undertaking a functional assessment in the child's home environment, identifying their needs and planning with the child and family how best these needs can be met. This might include provision of daily living equipment and/or recommended housing adaptations. Self-referrals can be made to the team.

Short Breaks offer activities for disabled children and young people to make sure they have the same opportunities as other children to have fun, spend time away from home with their friends, and develop skills and independence. Short Breaks also give families a chance to take a break from their caring responsibilities.

Assessment and Intervention in Barnet includes our Duty & Assessment, Intervention & Planning, and REACH teams. Sections 17 and 47 of the Children Act 1989 sets out the duty of these teams to protect children and young people, including children with disabilities, in need or at risk of harm.

Barnet Children’s Out of Hours Social Work Service provides safeguarding services for children, young people and families living in the borough after 5pm and at weekends/Bank Holiday’s.

Barnet Council employs a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who has a statutory responsibility for the management and oversight of cases where there are safeguarding concerns/allegations made against people who work, volunteer, or are in a position of trust with children in any setting across Barnet.

The Barnet Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) acts a single ‘front door’ for children in need of additional support and/or protection. Co-located within the MASH is a partnership of professionals from a range of agencies including the police, health, education, children’s social care, early help, substance misuse, housing, probation and domestic violence services who work together to ensure the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people in Barnet. Make a MASH referral

The Children in Care team is responsible for children who are placed in the care of the council because their families can no longer look after them.  The ways children can come into our care: