Children and families

We offer advice, support and services for children and families. We may be able to help if:

• A child has particular health or developmental problems and extra support will promote their well being
• A parent is young or very young without a supportive network
• Parents or families are not able to provide good enough care without help
• A child has a permanent or substantial disability
• A child is at risk of harm
• A young adult has been looked after by social care and is now living independently
• A child has caring responsibilities for others
• There is risk of family breakdown
• A child has emotional or behavioural difficulties
• A child is, or is alleged to be, an offender
• A child is homeless

We are committed to ensuring that everyone who is entitled gets the right help. If we are unable to offer you a service we will point you in the direction of other organisations that could help. We work closely with health, education and voluntary organisations. An interpreting service is available for people whose first language is not English, and services are delivered, as far as possible, to meet the needs of children and families from different cultural backgrounds.

Getting help

How quickly you get help depends on the urgency of the problem. If a child is at risk of serious harm, we will start to make enquiries straight away to make sure that the child is safe. In all other cases, we undertake to complete an initial assessment of what is needed within seven working days so that then you will know what is likely to happen next.

Contact us

Please contact the office closest to you. Offices are open 9am-5.30pm Monday to Thursday; 9am-5pm Fridays.

Aylesbury Vale and North Bucks area:
Buckinghamshire County Council, County Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1YU
Telephone: 01296 395000

High Wycombe, Chilterns and South Bucks area:
Buckinghamshire County Council, Council Offices, Easton Street, High Wycombe, HP11 1NH
Telephone: 01494 475000

Emergencies

For serious emergencies in the evening, weekends or public holidays, call the emergency duty team for advice on 01494 675802.

Child protection

For child protection queries during office hours 9am - 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9am - 5pm on Friday, please contact the duty teams:

All calls relating to child protection issues should contact the duty teams (office hours) or emergency duty teams (evenings, weekends and public holidays). For general queries relating to Children's Services, please email children@buckscc.gov.uk.