Additional Support - Level 2

Children, young people and families with additional needs who require extra help to improve education, parenting, behaviours, or to meet specific health needs. These needs can be met by universal services working together or with the addition of some targeted services.

Below are examples of the indicators that suggest a child or young person would be in Level 2.

Children and young people

I occasionally traut of have absences from school
I have had some fixed term exclusions
I have started to go missing, or been absent from school or home
I have not developed good attachments / relationships
I am a young carer with some responsibilities at home
I am teenage parent and I require some low-level support
I am not reaching my development milestones
I have language / communication difficulties
I need some low-level support due to a diagnosed disability or sensory impairment
I am showing early signs of associating with peers who are involved in crime or anti-social behaviour
I am showing early signs of instigating or experiencing problematic sexual behaviour and language
I have low-level mental health or emotional issues, or self-harm
I am saying I want to 'runaway'
I have disruptive / challenging behaviours
I am struggling due to bereavement issues - read more about help for children following the death of someone close to them
I am at risk due to low level / emerging neglect - View KMSAB Clutter Rating Tool
I am starting to crawl but there are hazards due to poor home conditions potentially including poor hygiene or hoarding
I am home educated and there are concerns about my welfare
I am struggling with understanding or learning in school and need extra support as I may have additional educational needs
I am negatively affected by difficult adult / family relationships
My use of online technology is becoming risky or concerning - read more about online safety
I present with low-level indicators from the Exploitation Toolkit

Parents and carers

my family is impacted by poverty affecting their access to appropriate services / affecting my development
my family home is in a poor state of repair, impacting on my health / development, or there is serious level of overcrowding
my parents / carers has started hoarding, which is creating hazards within the home potentially including increased fire safety risk
my family are facing eviction / statutory homelessness
my parents / carers struggle to meet my needs, or they place their own needs above mine
my parents / carers struggle to provide me with good supervision or behaviour management
my parents / carers often do not take me to my appointments which impacts negatively on my health or development
my parents / carers health including physical / mental / learning disability or substance misuse, impacts negatively on my health or development
my parents / carers require support to understand and manage my disability or sensory impairment
my parents / carers are at risk of entering the Criminal Justice System due to low-level offending / anti-social behaviours
my parents / carers used to be a Child in Care
my parents / carers are starting to argue and shout, this is affecting the parental relationship and negatively impacting upon me. Read about low-level domestic abuse present in the family home
there are some low-level neglect issues starting to impact on me as they emerge in my family home

Risks to me outside my home

This is when my experiences of potential risks or harm are outside my harm, my family or carers. It's when the different relationships that I form in my neighbourhood or community, in the places where I spend my time with my peer group or friends, my school, or online, may feature elements of low-level manipulation or coercive control. These elements of control are exercised by others who may be peers or older people that I meet in my neighbourhood. I may not be able to see, or accept, that manipulation is present, because I want to think that my friends are good, hence I cannot see the harm this may hold for me in the future. Furthermore, my parents or carers have little or no knowledge or influence, over me of these contexts, therefore my experiences outside the home are likely to undermine my relationship with my parents or carers. Read about the Kent Youth Offer.

I am being encouraged to use substances - read about support in Kent
I am being encouraged to commit low-level crimes or become involved in anti-social behaviour
I am being encouraged to truant from school
I may be at risk due to content, conduct or contact online

Support and next steps

To support a child, young person or family at Level 2:

discuss any concerns with the family and find out which services, if any, are already involved. Agree with the family what action is needed and where the family would like to, or they will happy to, receive support from
signpost the family or contact the service direct to discuss the support
ensure you have the families 'agreement to engage' before taking any action
use all your in-house resources before considering involving another agency
check online for other services you can contact locally for support
with agreement other options available may include:
- the child's school
- a local group or charity
- your local district / borough council
- the School Health Team - read more about emotional wellbeing and school health
- your local youth hub
- your local children's centre

If you feel the needs of the family sit below Support Levels 3 or 4, and you have exhausted the support that your agency can offer, and wish to talk to Early Help about your concerns please contact your local Early Help Team for a District Conversation.

View contact details for your local Early Help team.