DHSC:GAPH: Specialist Health Visiting Requirements

The Healthy Child Programme is this country’s universal public health offer for children. Based on proportional universalism it provides a service to all babies, children, young people and their families and a targeted offer for those requiring additional support. The Family Nurse Partnership programme Family Nurse Partnership programme - GOV.UK is DHSC’s current specialist service for the most vulnerable: first time parents – such as teenage parents, care leavers, or those who would otherwise be at highest risk of poor outcomes for them and their children and who require intensive interventions delivered by specially trained staff. However, this offer is only available in less than a third of Local Authorities. A recently commissioned report by Fortia Insights highlights the inconsistency of the specialist offer across England and confirms the requirement to reduce this unwarranted variation if we are to strengthen health visiting and achieve the governments ambition in raising the healthiest generation ever.