Herefordshire’s Early Help approach aims to provide early and effective help and support to children and families when they need it, with the long term aim of helping more families in Herefordshire to be able to help themselves and therefore improving their overall well-being and quality of life.

A continuation of the Family mentoring and family befriending services is vital as it links to the governments Supporting Families programme and the delivery of Herefordshire's Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Due to unforeseen circumstances within Children and young peoples service the Early Help and Prevention Strategy was not finalised in the expected timeframe as such a further extension to contracts is required as the Early Help Strategy plays a key part in informing future commissioning decisions.

Allowing the contracts to end without ensuring a continuation of service would leave a significant gap and negatively impact the local Early Help offer potentially leaving a large number of families without assistance. This may limit the potential for meeting positive outcomes for vulnerable families, with the increased possibility of escalation to social care.