Wrap around support in Health Visiting Service

A vital service to local residents, children and carers is the Health Visiting Service.

I recognise the importance of this service and would like to explain in a little more detail what the proposed changes, as detailed in our council budget, will look like.

The five mandated contacts we have within this service will continue to be undertaken by staff who are trained and proficient in delivering these contacts.

Currently, all families are offered a new birth contact and a full family health needs assessment by a qualified health visitor.

This will continue to be the case, and based on this assessment and the level of need identified, it is proposed that in the future the remaining contacts will be delivered by a member of the team, either a staff nurse or a nursery nurse.

This will be overseen by the health visitor; for example, if a parent has a history of postnatal depression, then the health visitor will follow up and ensure that the correct support is put in place.

The level of service provided can be altered depending on a family’s changing needs.

Currently, our most vulnerable children and families receive a targeted health visiting service and this will continue.

The health visiting service will be integrated into our new family hub service, meaning that children and their families will have access to a wide range of early help services, depending on their identified need.

The intention is to improve the offering and to further our commitment to enhancing early life chances and ensure every child and parent gets the support they need.

Being targeted and ensuring there is wrap around support within an integrated service will help deliver better outcomes and a more focused service offering. The integrated family hub model has been recommended by the National Children’s Commissioner; an All Party Parliamentary Group and wider expert evidence.

As a council, we believe in following the evidence and data to best deliver transformations to improve outcomes but also to seek the most cost-effective options for the rate payer. This transformation, following diligent review by council officers, offers exactly this opportunity.

I therefore want to reassure all residents that we are committed to maintaining the integrity of this service, but we also want the service to be as efficient as it can be to ensure it is sustainable and highly effective in the future.

Cllr STUART CARROLL Royal Borough lead member adult social care, children services, health and mental health