Family & Children
Family support, family court information, safeguarding, mediation, parenting guidance and child-focused information.
Open family guidance
FIND THE RIGHT GUIDE
Start With the Subject Closest to Your Problem
This page is the main directory for Right First Time UK information. Choose a subject below, then use the relevant guide, official service or complaint route.
HELP & GUIDANCE BY SUBJECT
Family, Education, Disability, Health and Daily Life
Open the main information area for the issue you are dealing with.
Education, SEND & EHCP
Education, school support, SEND, EHCPs, autism, ADHD, additional needs and learning information.
Open education & SENDDisability Support
Accessibility, reasonable adjustments, disability benefits, equipment, carers and community inclusion.
Open disability guidanceMental Health & Wellbeing
Mental-health information, wellbeing, crisis routes and practical support for individuals and families.
Open mental-health supportHousing & Homelessness
Housing rights, homelessness prevention, temporary accommodation, council support and related guidance.
Open housing guidanceFinancial Support
Benefits, debt, financial pressure, cost-of-living support and practical money guidance.
Open financial supportEmployers & Employees Support
Workplace rights, flexible working, pay deductions, CMS DEOs, housing or financial crisis, safeguarding and practical support for employers and employees.
Open workplace support
PUBLIC-INTEREST EXPLAINERS
Understand How Power, Systems and Accountability Work
Long-form explainers that connect history, institutions, public records and modern accountability in a clear and accessible way.
From Swords to Pens
Explore how power in Britain increasingly moved from visible force and personal rule into written law, Parliament, administration, records, finance and modern digital systems — and how accountability developed alongside them.
Read From Swords to PensUK Systemic Failures 1960–2025
Explore the long-term evidence timeline covering repeated failures, public inquiries, institutional breakdowns and accountability issues across UK public services.
Open Systemic Failures timeline
PUBLIC SERVICES & COMPLAINTS
Understand the Service, Decision and Challenge Route
Use these areas when the problem involves a public body, benefit decision, payment, complaint, data request or appeal.
Child Maintenance Service
CMS calculations, payments, arrears, enforcement, shared care, complaints, Mandatory Reconsideration and appeals.
Open CMS guidesDWP & Benefits
DWP services, benefits, decisions, data access, complaints and transparency information.
Open DWP guidanceHMRC & Tax
HMRC, tax, Self Assessment, revenue services and complaint information.
Open HMRC guidanceNHS & Healthcare
NHS services, healthcare information, accessibility, complaints and public-service routes.
Open NHS informationPolice & Crime
Police services, crime, complaints, conduct, local forces and public-information resources.
Open police & crimeComplaint Process Guides
Step-by-step routes for DWP, CMS, councils, NHS, SEND, police, financial services, HMRC and more.
Open complaint guides
LOCAL & PUBLIC-SERVICE INFORMATION
Find the Service Responsible for the Problem
Use these areas for councils, local support, transparency, external organisations and wider public-service information.
Find Local Support
One front door for councils, health, housing, SEND, carers, hardship support, advice, advocacy and current local changes.
Open Local SupportRegional Support Hubs
Choose your nation or English region for named services, official finders and practical support routes.
Browse regional hubsLatest Local Updates
New schemes, service changes, grants, closures, moves and community opportunities from the Local Noticeboard.
Open Local NoticeboardLocal Councils
Council services, complaints, transparency and local-authority information.
Open council informationYour Councils
Find your council by region and access official meetings, decisions, spending, planning, SEND, complaints, FOI, SAR and transparency information.
Find your councilPublic-Service Transparency
Government, legislation, data, spending, Parliament and public-service transparency resources.
Open public-services dashboardExternal Resources
Useful organisations, charities, specialist services and outside support routes.
Open external resources
OTHER WAYS TO GET THERE
Do Not Know Which Guide You Need?
You can start with the problem, search the site or use local support instead.
Get Help
Start with the problem you are facing instead of the name of the organisation or process.
Open Get HelpSearch Right First Time UK
Search for a service, organisation, topic, complaint route or specific phrase.
Search the siteFind Local Support
Find council, NHS, police, SEND, housing, advice, advocacy and community support routes.
Open Local SupportLatest Local Changes
Check current local schemes, service changes, grants and support updates without losing the permanent guidance.
Open Local Noticeboard
GAMES & ACTIVITIES
Right First Time UK Games
Open the Right First Time UK games area for simple interactive activities and site games.
Games
Visit the Right First Time UK games area.
Open Games
HOW TO USE RFTUK GUIDES
Guide, Official Route, Evidence, Next Step
RFTUK information is designed to help explain systems and point to useful routes. Where a current official process applies, use the relevant public body's current instructions alongside the guide.
A simple way to use the information
- choose the subject closest to the problem;
- read the RFTUK guide to understand the process;
- use the official service or decision notice for the current procedure and deadline;
- keep letters, emails, records and evidence;
- use the correct complaint, review or appeal route if something goes wrong.
Important: guidance pages should help you understand the route, but they do not replace a formal decision notice, legal advice or the current instructions of the organisation responsible for the service.
Find the Right Information Without Having to Know the System First
Start with the subject or problem, then work through the relevant guide, official service and next step.
Useful RFTUK information hubs
UK News & Public Access DirectoryFind public-interest news and official information sources.Digital Safety & SafeguardingGuidance on identity fraud, digital risks and protecting vulnerable people.Public Services & Transparency DashboardExplore public-service evidence, data and accountability resources.
Understanding local councils
What Is a Local Authority?A straightforward guide to what a local authority is and how it fits into public services.What Services Do Councils Provide?See the main services and responsibilities delivered by councils.Who Makes Decisions in Local Councils?Understand councillors, officers and local-government decision-making.Your Rights When Dealing With CouncilsKnow your rights when contacting or using local-authority services.
UK emergency financial-support guides
Emergency Financial Support — EnglandUrgent financial-help routes for people in England.Emergency Financial Support — ScotlandUrgent financial-help routes for people in Scotland.Emergency Financial Support — WalesUrgent financial-help routes for people in Wales.Emergency Financial Support — Northern IrelandUrgent financial-help routes for people in Northern Ireland.
NHS information and transparency
NHS & Health Support DirectoryFind NHS, health and support services in one place.NHS Public Access & Transparency DashboardExplore NHS public information, evidence and accountability resources.NHS Health & Wellbeing GuidePractical NHS and wellbeing guidance across common health needs.Specialist NHS ServicesInformation about specialist services and more complex healthcare needs.
Police, crime and community-safety resources
Police, Crime & Safeguarding Support DirectoryFind police, crime, safeguarding and victim-support resources.Community Safety & Anti-Social BehaviourGuidance on anti-social behaviour and community-safety issues.Road Safety & Motoring OffencesInformation about road safety, motoring offences and related processes.Violence Prevention & Community SafetyPublic-safety and violence-prevention information.Hate Crime & DiscriminationInformation on reporting and responding to hate crime and discrimination.