Brief No: RB798 September 2006 I ISBN 978 1 84478 812 5 EARLY SUPPORT: AN EVALUATION OF PHASE 3 OF EARLY SUPPORT Alys Young 1 , Bogusia Temple 2 , Linda Davies 3 , Gillian Parkinson 4 , Joanna Bolton 1 , Wendy Milborrow 5 , Graeme Hutcheson 4 , Adrian Davis 6 . 1 School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester; 2 Department of Social Work, Un iversity of Central Lancashire; 3 School of Medicine, University of Manchester; 4 School of Education, University of Manchester; 5 Independent consultant; 6 MRC Hearing and Communication Group, University of Manchester Introduction The Early Support (ES) programme represents the translation into practice of key DfES/DH joint policy guidance on improving multi-professional services and enhancing child and family outcomes for disabled children from birth to three years. Phase 3 of its implementation involving 46 Pathfinders throughout England was the focus of the evaluation study. Aims of the research !" To assess the extent to which ES has improved inter-agency working between children’s services, both in terms of planning and delivery. !" To assess the outcomes of ES in terms of: engagement of families of disabled babies and children 0-3 years, access to services and timeliness of intervention; the impact on children and families; and the impact on professionals. !" To assess the effective use of resources in relation to ES. Key findings !" Overall, Early Support is a very successful programme (as measured by positive developments in multi- agency planning and delivery at strategic and operational levels; improvements in the appropriateness and responsiveness of multi-professional practice; and as recognised by parents themselves). As one parent commented: “It’s helped me achieve that little boy what I’ve got now. That little star that’s here now.” Scope and nature of benefit !" The nature of ES benefit for families varied considerably, with a third of those engaged (N = 1009) benefiting from the condition-specific information materials only without any other form of provision. For others, around half of the number of families recorded benefited from a key worker service within ES (N=1589). R ESEARCH Brief No: RB798 September 2006 ISBN 978 1 84478 812 5