A NEW, innovative approach to delivering joined up care for children aged up five year’s old – and their families – has been commissioned by Hampshire County Council.

The new service delivered by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust brings together the existing health visitor and family nurse partnership services – which provides intensive support for very vulnerable young families for up to two years – with expertise provided by the well established charity Barnardo’s.

Patricia Stallard, the council’s executive member for health and public health, said: “This new contract is one of the first of its kind in the country, where an existing health provider works alongside a leading charity to ensure the youngest members of our society have the best possible start in life.

“The new contract is all about helping parents to be successful, and builds on the very effective support already provided to new parents and young children in Hampshire.”

Through the health visiting and other professional services provided by Southern Health, all new mothers and babies in Hampshire receive ante-natal and new baby reviews, as well as a six to eight-week assessment, one year assessment and a two to two-and-a-half year review.

Families have access to child health advice where they can get extra support from health visitors and nursery nurses, and if needed can be referred to specialist services, should a more complex issue arise.