Child protection: requests for support

Families First Hub/triage

This is a central team which processes all the referrals that are not child protection but are likely to need early help. They may give advice and information to the referrer and signpost to an organisation that can support the family. They'll contact parents to gain consent to share information and take cases to the local Triage Panels. A member of the team will also contact other agencies such schools, GPs, health, family centres etc. for information. Families First Triage Panels are currently held weekly. These multi- agency panels are chaired by a Triage Manager who is a qualified Social Worker. Health Visitors, children’s centres, Senior Families First Coordinators, Targeted Youth Support, Intensive Family Support, YC Herts and Police sit on the panel and share information about the family and collaboratively agree who should be the key worker and lead the FFA. This is for families who require a targeted or intensive level of support which requires a multi-agency team around the family.

Request for support form available at:

Hertfordshire County Council: Families First assessment and Early Help

Family Group Conference (FGC)

Family Group Conferences are a way of making decisions about the care of children by involving the extended family and friends in the planning process. Their aim is to empower the family rather than have professionals impose decisions. The main decision makers at an FGC are the family who get together with their family, friends and with the young person/child to talk, make a plan and improve their home situation. Further information available at:

Hertfordshire County Council: Family Conference Service

Intensive Family Support teams

Intensive Family Support teams (previously known as Thriving Families teams) work with families with multiple and complex needs who would benefit from intensive support.

Hertfordshire County Council: Intensive Family Support teams

Specialist Adolescent Service Hertfordshire (SASH) 

The service provides support to:

• young people aged 11 to 17 in families at risk of breakdown or on the edge of care
• young people who go missing from home or those that are at risk of, or subject to, child exploitation, including gangs and county lines
• young people in the Youth Justice system to prevent offending and re-offending; and to support victims of youth crime and their communities.
• young people aged 16 to 17 years old who are homeless

To speak to someone in the team, call 0300 123 4043.