Parenting And Family Support

Parents bring up children, not Government, but sometimes families need extra help and support, for example;

• when a baby is expected
• when children are very young
• to encourage their children’s learning
• to find out more about being the best parent they can be
• when life is changing, for example finding a new school or the family is splitting up
• when life is challenging, for example mum or dad is out of work or having health problems.

Parenting and Family Support is one of the six multi-agency partnerships under the Children's Trust Board.

Key actions for this partnership include;

• Ensuring all partner agencies are signed up to and are using CAF (the common assessment framework) as a multi–agency planning tool, supported by practical materials, to better identify needs and to intervene in a targeted and timely way
• Beginning to re-commission early intervention and preventative services, to meet or narrow gaps, including those identified as a result of CAF
• Completing the programme of developing a Sure Start Children’s Centre in every community, and reconfiguring local early childhood services across all agencies to maximise the impact of these facilities
• Introducing the Family Nurse Partnership programme of intensive home visiting for vulnerable first time mothers
• Commissioning evidence based parenting programmes
• Supporting promotion of healthy lifestyles among children and young people, and their families

Chair: Liz Bailey, Head of Children's Services, NHS Medway Community Healthcare

For more information please contact Liz Bailey on liz.bailey@medwaypct.nhs.uk or 01634 382275.