Worried about a child?

Universal Support - Level 1

Universal services are provided to or are routinely available to all children, young people and families. These services are accessed in the local community and delivered by partners including schools, GPs, hospitals, community health services, children's centres, youth hubs, police, fire service and voluntary and community groups.

Below are examples of the indicators that suggest  a child or young person would be in Level 1.

Children and young people

  • I am physically healthy and my development checks are up to date
  • I have an adequate and nutritious diet, regular dental and optical checks
  • my attendance at school / college / training is above 90%
  • there are no concerns about my home / school link
  • I am able to discriminate between 'safe' and 'unsafe'
  • I am able to understand right from wrong and act appropriately
  • there are no concerns about my mental health
  • there are no barriers to my learning and no concerns about my cognitive development
  • there are no concerns about my behaviour
  • I have a positive sense of self, with no concerns about me forming relationships
  • there are no concerns about my attitude to drugs and alcohol
  • there are no concerns about my use of technology
  • I have positive relationships with my parents / carers
  • I have positive relationships with my siblings and peers
  • I have a positive sense of self including my own skills or abilities
  • there are no concerns regarding my response in emotions and functions
  • I have access to positive learning and physical activities.

Parents and carers

  • my parents / carers provide me with secure and caring parenting
  • my parents / carers provide adequate housing in a safe and secure environment
  • my parents / carers can meet all my health and development needs
  • my parents / carers encourage me with my schooling
  • my parents / carers take me to all my health appointments
  • my parents / carers provide me with guidance and boundaries to support my development
  • my family and I feel part of the community
  • I have access to appropriate leisure facilities
  • I have good family relationships including if parents are seperated.

Risks to me outside my home

  • I am safe outside my home
  • I am safe in online spaces.

Support and next steps

Any needs for a child, young person or family at Level 1 are low-level. However, they should not be disregarded as trivial as this is the start point of all developing concerns. Therefore, if needs are identified early and responded to quickly, the family should be able to move on with very limited impact. Whilst some of these needs may initially appear trivial, if left these can grow and quickly become unmanageable for some families.  Below are some steps to follow and things to consider:
  • discuss any concerns with the family and agree what action is needed. This may be that your service is able to provide some extra support or it may be that you can signpost the family to another agency
  • if the family are requesting support, discuss the support required, and if you can access these resources
  • if you can't access these resources, find out where they can be accessed locally
  • get the family's agreement to engage with support services
  • use all your inhouse resources before considering involving another agency
  • check online for other services you can contact locally for support
  • next steps will depend on the support required. Firstly, speak with the family about which professionals or services are already involved with the child, young person and family. Consider GP, health visitor, nursery, school or other education, church, local district / borough council services, local charities or voluntary and community groups.

If you think the child needs additional support read about level 2 - additional support.