The Family Nurse Partnership is a preventative programme
providing support and parenting education to 100 of the
most vulnerable first time teenage parents-to-be in Derby
City. The team visit from 14 weeks pregnancy until the child
is two years of age. The evidence based parenting
programme, imported from America, offers many health
and social benefits to teenage parents, including an
increase in breast feeding rates at birth and six weeks, and
a reduction in child abuse and neglect.
The key to the success of the project is good links with
midwifery services and health visiting teams. Four family
nurses, a supervisor, an administrator and a project
manager set up the project in March 2007. One year on,
the team is still highly committed to the programme which
has become embedded with local services and across other
agencies. Evidence shows that the team is reaching high
risk families in the most disadvantaged areas of Derby,
effectively working with Children’s Centres and other
young parent’s groups, and achieving a positive
engagement and involvement of teenage fathers, (83%
have become involved, are taking part in the education and
committing to changing eating and lifestyle habits).
The baby of one service user champion is now six months
old. “I have really valued the support from my Family Nurse,
especially knowing that she was there for me throughout
my pregnancy and then after the baby was born. I am a
young mum with a disability living on my own. My Family
Nurse has made me feel better about myself and helped
me to learn about my baby’s growth and development. I
enjoy the different learning activities we do and am
beginning to feel more confident about bringing up my
baby on my own”.
For more information on this project, please contact:
Chris.tully@derbycitypct.nhs.uk
