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Early help


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What is the Early Help Hub?

The 'front door' to Early Help services led by Cornwall Council and Cornwall Foundation Trust. The Early Help Hub looks at requests for help. These can be submitted by parents and / or professionals with consent, and identify:

  • the right help
  • at the right time
  • by the right service

The early help hub also looks at voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations who can offer help and support.

Who is eligible for Early Help Services

Children and young people who are aged pre-birth to 18, who have a need for early help care and support. If a young person has a special educational need or disability, this is extended up to age 25.

Who can request Early Help services

Professionals, parents and young people can request help, however please note:

  • parents / carers must hold Parental Responsibility (PR)
  • children and young people must be old enough to consent for themselves (age 13 years or above)
  • professionals must have sought consent from parent / carer or competent young person

List of Early Help Services

Parents and/or professionals can request:

The following early help services can only be requested by a professional:

Select referral form for the above services

For any mental health concerns you may wish to call the 24/7 NHS mental health response line for support and advice. Call them free on 0800 038 5300, any time day or night if you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health. The team behind our 24/7 open access telephone response line will listen to you and determine how best to help.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health

CAMHS referral form

Return all completed CAMHS referrals to cft.camhsreferrals@nhs.net

Health visitor and School Nurse Advice Line

The Health Visitor and School Nurse Advice Line is part of the Early Help Hub. It provides basic health advice and guidance to families and professionals.

Consider contacting this team on the details below, before submitting a health request. They can provide lots of helpful information and signposting on a range of health issues including:

  • childhood emotions
  • toileting
  • eating
  • breastfeeding

along with other health issues.

The team will either email or call you back.

How to make a request

Please click on blue button below to submit an early help request. By giving us as much information as possible, this allows us to make more timely and appropriate support. Please ensure you also give us the most accurate contact details. This helps prevent delays in contacting families and processing requests.

If you know the service you are requesting please indicate this. If you are unsure, then you can tick unsure.

Complete an Early help request

What happens once you have made a request for help?

  1. Once you have completed the online form above, the request is sent to the Early Help Hub. You can be emailed a copy of your request if selected
  2. We will carry out extra checks with health, education and social care, to ensure the right support is offered
  3. Your request, with any extra information, will be looked at (within 48 hours). You may be contacted for further information, to ensure you access the right service, or signpost you and your family to the right support.
  4. You will be informed of the outcome of the request by letter or email.

Our contact details

If you need any further advice, please contact us using the details below.

Please note that requests cannot be made by phone, unless there are specific communication difficulties.

 

We can support families from late pregnancy to when your child turns 5 years of age.

We offer all families;

  • the healthy child programme
  • health and development contacts up to the 2 to 2.5 year review

We can also support up to school entry if you need our help and support - we then hand over to our School Nursing colleagues if necessary.

If you need more than our routine core contacts, we can agree together what extra help and support we can provide, or refer you to the right service.  

We offer well baby clinics and support your family’s unique needs including:

  • transition to parenthood and the early weeks
  • perinatal mental health
  • breastfeeding
  • healthy weight and healthy nutrition
  • managing minor illness and reducing accidents
  • health, wellbeing and development of your child

Health Visitors

Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness. They work with families to give pre school age children the best possible start in life.

Health visitors are qualified and registered nurses or midwives who have chosen to gain additional training and qualifications as specialist community public health nurses (SCPHN - HV). 

Find out more about health visitors

Their additional training in public health enables them to assess the health needs of individuals, families and the wider community to promote good health and prevent illness.

You can find out more about what health visitors do by watching the short film on the NHS website.

Watch the short film on the NHS websiteScarlet fever and invasive Group A strep

 Symptoms and what to do

Children's Flu Vaccine 

Key information and how to access 

NHS Healthier Together

Find support for you and your child

Help paying for your childcare

Government help with childcare costs for parents. Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could get support.

Childcare Choices Support 

Download the health visiting poster

 

Last Updated:

16/04/2026

Need help?

Most issues can be resolved online, it's the quickest and most convenient way to get help.

  • Early Help Team
  • We are open:

    Monday to Thursday 8:45am–5:15pm
    Friday 8:45am–4:45pm
    Closed on Bank Holidays
  • 01872 322277
  • earlyhelphub@cornwall.gov.uk