Early / family help JSNAA (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

Predicting which children will benefit from early / family help is not straightforward.

The 2018 national guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children, identifies specific groups which are more likely to benefit from early / family help. These include:

• Those in a family situation which is presenting challenges for the child, such as substance misuse, adult mental health, domestic violence
• Misuse of drugs or alcohol themselves
• A disablity or specific additional needs
• Those showing signs of engaging in anti-social or criminal behaviour
• Those showing signs of neglect 

The economic impacts of the pandemic were disproportionately felt by those who were already on lower incomes and economically disadvantaged; many lost their jobs or saw their pay reduce, used up their savings or took on debt.

The cost of living crisis has exacerbated these trends.

According to a recent Barnardo's report:

• 54% of parents have had to reduce food spending for their family
• about 20% have struggled to provide sufficient food
• more than a quarter have said their child's mental health has worsened due to the situation 

There were 4.9 million households claiming Universal Credit in November 2022.

37% of these households were single parents with children and 13% were couples with children.

The number of children living in households with debt deductions being taken from their Universal Credit has risen to more than 2.2 million, more than half of all children in households receiving Universal Credit.