Family Nurse Partnership celebrates their 10th anniversary

Tameside’s Family Nurse Partnership celebrated their 10th anniversary at their annual review on Thursday 8th May. 

The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) is a voluntary home visiting programme for first-time young mums and families aged 19 and under.

The service helps young people have a healthy pregnancy, improve the child’s health and development and helps people plan for their futures and achieve their aspirations.

They partner parents with a specially trained family nurse who pays them regular visits, from early pregnancy up until their child turns two.

FNP has been commissioned in Tameside since 2015, and over the past decade the nurses have worked with over 400 babies and their parents.

Greater Manchester only has two Family Nurse Partnerships, one in Tameside and one in Stockport.

The local authority and the public health department play a vital role in keeping the FNP running in Tameside.

Alison Goodall, Family Nurse Partnership Service Lead, told us about the importance of the local authority commissioning the service: “It is Tameside and Glossop integrated care and NHS Foundation trust that provide the service. We rely on the local authority and the councillors to make the decision to commission our service. We’ve showcased in Tameside for the last 10 years how important it is that we support our young parents of the borough.”

The Family Nurse Partnership is a national service.

Vicky Webb is the practice development lead from the 0-19 clinical programmes unit.

Vicky attended the 10^th annual review on behalf of the national unit to show support for Tameside Family Nurse Partnership team and all the work that they do: “I think that the impact that the Family Nurse Partnership team is having in terms of early intervention for childhood development, for supporting young parents to become the best parents that they possibly can be is great.”

Many of the parents attended the event with their children.

The FNP had many pop ups for the young parents to gain information on services such as the early attachment service, library services where their children could get a library card and even information on a play group especially for young parents.

Tameside College beauty students were even in attendance to give the parents free hand massages and do their nails.

There was also face painting for the parents and the children, a soft play area set up by Active Tameside, plenty of crafts including plant a sunflower and of course a buffet which was a big hit!

The parents in attendance were all very grateful for the support that the FNP has provided for them.

Jen and Matthew, who’s son is almost two years old: “It’s helped us so much. We were quite young when we had him, so they helped us know everything about it.

“It helped us to learn things about the baby before he was born and after he was born. It has been really helpful.”

Gabby also attended with her son who is three years old, she had him when she was 16: “They’ve given us loads of good advice, loads of good resources. They helped us join baby groups and stuff. The staff are all really nice people, and they have their own kids so they understand where you are coming from, they don’t judge you when you say certain things.”

Ella and her son Archie who is 18 months old, told me how they enjoy the company of having a family nurse: “It’s just having that support there every week or so just to know that if you ever need anything then you’ve got someone there. As well, it’s someone to talk to and someone else for Archie to see, it’s only really us since his dads not really involved, so he doesn’t really see many people and I’ve not really got much support.

“I also don’t know what I am doing all of the time so she’s there no matter what, even if it’s on the weekend and she’s not working I can just message or ring her and she helps me out.”

Oreola and her daughter 19-month-old daughter have really benefited from the support of the FNP as well: “They have helped me a lot because I am going through a very hard process and they have been there for me. I struggle a bit with my mental health, but they have given me a lot of help.”

The FNP not only helped Oreola but also her daughter: “They do check-ups and see how she’s dealing. She plays with her all the time that I can’t because I am a single mum. They are just so great with her!”

Oreola and her daughter

Abigail and her daughter Dahlia who just turned one were enjoying playing on the soft play together: “I don’t think I could have done it without the partnership. I had a difficult pregnancy in and out of hospital and Caroline my nurse was there to help me all the way. I genuinely couldn’t have done it without her she made pregnancy the best thing ever.”

Lucy and her daughter were also playing: “I also had Caroline and she’s just been amazing, she’s built my confidence so much and really helped with my daughters’ milestones as well.”

More information on the Family Nurse Partnership in Tameside can be found at www.tamesideandglossopicft.nhs.uk/services/family-nurse-partnership