Agenda item

To receive the enclosed briefing note followed by an opportunity for discussion and member questions.

The Committee received and discussed a presentation setting out details on Sirona’s approach / progress in relation to how Public Health Nursing (PHN) and Therapy services

support the development of the early help offer in Bristol.

Summary of main points raised:

1. The presentation had been circulated to committee members in advance of the meeting.  The key areas covered by the presentation were:

a. Update on the transformation of the PHN service and introduction of the i-THRIVE service delivery model. It was noted that the PHN service had embarked on an ambitious transformation programme that placed children, young people, and families at the heart of the service they receive. This transformation would introduce the i-THRIVE conceptual model, which was a value driven, personalised and preventative/early intervention approach to service provision which supported better outcomes for children, young people and families through its integrated and needs led approach.

b. The ‘Universal in reach, personalised in response’ approach.

c. Update on the intensive home visiting approach.

d. Update on prevention and early intervention work.

e. The school nursing offer.

f. The therapy offer (speech and language; occupational therapy).

2. It was noted that more research would be needed to more fully understand the longer- term impacts on children from the Covid pandemic. Children and young people’s services remained a key priority for the ICB.

3. In response to questions it was noted that Sirona delivered a universal PHN programme to all families. In addition, Sirona also provided two targeted early intervention programmes that aimed to improve a variety of child and parent outcomes and reduce inequalities:

a. The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) had operated in Bristol since 2014 and was a licensed home visiting programme delivered by family nurses for first time young mothers.

b. The Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting (MECSH) programme had also recently been launched in Bristol, delivered by health visitors. This offered sustained support for families at risk of poorer maternal and child health and development outcomes.

4. It was noted that there was a degree of anecdotal evidence suggesting a rise in teenage pregnancies locally; this had not though yet been evidenced through formal data sources – it was noted that the teenage pregnancy strategy in Bristol had generally seen a significant decline in the rate of teenage conceptions.

5. In response to questions, it was noted that each primary school in Bristol had a named Speech and Language Therapist who offered school based drop-in support for families or school staff to discuss concerns with a therapist and identify required support.  Interpreters were used as necessary to help meet the needs of families/children where English was not their first language; there was also some specific, community based support.

6. In response to questions about specialist health visitor support for perinatal and infant mental health, it was noted that a team of three health visitors had recently been formed (sitting within the public health nursing service) and had undertaken additional training in perinatal and infant mental health.  The team had a focus on supporting staff to develop their understanding and support skills around parental and infant emotional wellbeing and

early relationships, through staff training, supervision and consultations. The team

was also building effective relationships with partner organisations engaged in the

delivery of perinatal and infant mental health support to improve referral processes for

families.

The Committee RESOLVED:

- To note the above update and information.