Most families will get the support they need by accessing universal and community services, although the support they will receive will look different depending on their specific circumstances.
However support is provided this should always be underpinned by a ‘whole-family approach’. This is where professionals wrap support around the family, to address challenges at the earliest opportunity.
Any professional who knows your family, for example, a health visitor, teacher, school nurse, or GP can help you explore the universal services available in your local area.
Universal and community services in Devon
- Family hubs
Whether you need advice, support, or just someone to talk to, our family hubs help you find the right help, in the right place, at the right time.
Family hubs are here to help families across Devon bring together lots of services under one roof, including health, education, and children’s services, as well as local charities and community groups. We support children from birth up to age 19 (or 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or care experience) by connecting families to local services that support emotional, physical, social, and financial wellbeing.
Contact us and find out how we can help – Family hubs
- Early help
Early help is the extra support your family can get if you need it. It may be that you want help to prevent a problem, or change things for your family early, supporting you and your child or children to have a healthier and more settled future.
It is not a specific service or team, it’s an approach that brings together people from a range of services and teams who will work together with your whole family to help improve the situation for everyone.
Those accessing early help may also access additional targeted services. Please talk to your lead practitioner about the services we provide or explore our targeted early help services: Getting more help.
- Children and Family Health Devon
Our partners at Children and Family Health Devon provide a range of services and support, including helpful resources in areas such as:
- Behaviour
- Complex physical health
- Early years developmental delay
- Eating disorder
- Learning disability
- Mental health
- Movement
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Persistent Pain
- Neurodiversity
- Physical disabilities
- Sensory
- Speech, language and communication
- Swallowing difficulties
- Parent Carers Needs Assessment
When caring for a disabled child or young person a Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA) is used to understand how a parent’s caring role affects their wellbeing, feelings and choices about caring.
The PCNA helps us to explore what:
- the impact is on you as a parent carer due to your caring role
- what help is needed to support you as a carer of a child or young person with additional needs or disabilities or both
Find out more about getting a Parent Carers Needs Assessment.
- Universal and community activities
These are services that are open to all children and young people, both with and without a disability, and enable parent carers to have a short break. They should be services that are accessible to anyone within their local community. Some are free and for some there is a cost which is equal to those who do not have a disability.
These may include:
- Early years settings
- Childminders
- Breakfast or after-school clubs or groups
- Holiday play schemes
- Drama and dance groups
- Music or sports activities
- Youth groups, including Scouts or Guides
- Libraries, leisure centres and gyms (including swimming)
- Computer gaming and coding courses
- Community and voluntary organisations
- Parks and theme parks
Space Youth Services in Devon run youth clubs across the county.
For children young people and families who love to get outdoors and enjoy nature try The Outdoor Explorer Club, organised by Libraries Unlimited. Enjoy accessible walks with a short story and audio recording. Leaflet information can also be requested in braille by demand.
- Universal+ activities
Universal+ activities and services are offered as an Early Help provision. They are designed to support children and young people with a disability or special educational needs, where universal services alone may not fully meet their needs. They’re for those who can’t get universal services without extra help, which may mean they require a bit more support to access activities alongside their peers.
Universal+ activities help remove barriers so children and young people can take part, build confidence and develop skills.
Universal+ may include:
- Supported activities to help your child take part safely and confidently
- Direct intervention or additional learning to help develop skills and meet your child’s needs
- Access to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme (subject to eligibility criteria)
Space Youth Services in Devon run youth clubs across the county.
For children young people and families who love to get outdoors and enjoy nature try The Outdoor Explorer Club, organised by Libraries Unlimited. Enjoy accessible walks with a short story and audio recording. Leaflet information can also be requested in braille by demand.
You can also find and book activities on Devon Connect which may have a cost, without the need for a social care assessment or find out more about short breaks in Devon.
If you need something more specific that will make a difference in the longer term, please talk to your Family Hub or Early Help lead practitioner. We will help explore what is needed and how services can best support you and your family.
Find out more about what else is available
- Advice and support organisations
- DIAS – Devon Information Advice and Support for SEND offer free, confidential and impartial information about special educational needs and disabilities.
- Other support from national organisations and charities – a list of useful organisations that may be able to offer you financial support or assistance.
- Childcare and holiday activities
- Childcare and wraparound support – information about childcare for under 5’s, and out-of-school and holiday care for children and young people.
- Help with paying for childcare – information about the financial support available from the government to help with childcare costs.
- Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme – Holiday support and activities for eligible children and young people aged 5-16 years.
- Family support
- Family support in Devon – Advice, guidance and support for all families across Devon is available on our children, families and education website. This includes support for parents and carers, information on parental relationships, domestic violence and abuse and much more.
- LEAP workshops. A new programme of practical workshops, to support families and professionals to better understand SEND.
- Short breaks for disabled children and young people – Support for parents or carers of children (0-17) to have a break while their child is accessing an activity which supports their social care outcomes.
There are four levels of short breaks available in Devon read our guide to Understanding Short Breaks to find out more. - Support groups and networks – Groups, networks and services, both in Devon, and nationally, that can help support your family.
- Things to do in Devon – Some ideas of activities and things for children and young people to do in Devon.
- Financial support
- The Max Card – allows discounted admission to more than 800 attractions nationwide.
- Quids for Kids – helping you to understand and claim the benefits you are entitled to.
- Support for children and young people
- Health and wellbeing – Health services for children and young people provided both by the NHS and Devon’s Public Health Nursing Service including health visiting and school nursing services across Devon.
- Support for children and young people– information and advice for young people in Devon, on staying well and safe, where to go for help and specialist child support.