The guidance, which emphasises the damaging nature of disadvantage in a child’s early years, says that health visitors and midwives should offer a series of intensive home visits to parents in need of extra support, such as families affected by drug or alcohol misuse, mental health problems, criminality or relationship problems.
It also suggests that the social and emotional wellbeing of vulnerable children must be addressed in all local health and wellbeing board strategies, and says that local health and wellbeing plans should include outcomes on ensuring healthy child development and “readiness for school”, and for preventing mental health and behavioural problems.
The guidelines also say that all councils must provide vulnerable children with high quality, part-time or full-time childcare outside the home, and access to the free entitlement where appropriate.
“Attendance times should be flexible so that parents or carers have the opportunity to take up education, training or employment opportunities,” the guidance says.
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