Coronavirus daily round-up: Friday 1 May
Fiona Simpson
Friday, May 1, 2020
Health visitors have released new guidance aimed at parents unable to book six-weekly postnatal checks for their babies and those who have had appointments cancelled.
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Each day, CYP Now will summarise the key issues affecting the children and families sector as it tackles the effects of the pandemic. The daily update signposts children’s services practitioners and leaders to the latest developments, expert views, advice and resources.
Updates for Friday 1 May:
New guidance on six-weekly checks for babies
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Institute of Health Visitors have released guidance for parents who face missing their babies' six week postnatal check.
The guidance encourages parents to attend appointments where possible but includes a list of checks for parents to carry out at home to ascertain whether they need to contact a GP or health visitor.
Dr Cheryll Adams, executive director of the Institute of Health Visiting said: “We really want parents to attend this check-up, but we know that it may not always be possible due to the impact of COVID-19. If you’re a new parent who has struggled to get an appointment, or if it’s been delayed, we’ve produced some easy to follow signs to look out for while you wait to see a GP.
“The Institute for Health Visiting is asking every health visitor to share this important guide with all parents when they are first in contact with them after the birth of their baby.”
Food banks hit with record demand for support
Food banks have recorded a surge in demand to support struggling families amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Trussell Trust has seen a 112 per cent increase in demand for parcels for deprived children while the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) reported an average 59 per cent increase in need from February to March this year with demand thought to be 17-times higher than this time last year.
The new findings have led to a coalition of charities calling on the government to provide more support for families at risk of falling into poverty due to the crisis.
Thousands of childminders miss out on government funding, sector leaders say
At least one in five childminders is not eligible for government support during the coronavirus, sector leaders have said.
According to a new survey by the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (Pacey), 21 per cent of 5,000 childminders asked made under £5,000 profit over the last year, meaning they are likely to receive just £83-a-week under the current government scheme.
A further 18 per cent of respondents started their businesses within the last three years, meaning they will not qualify for any help.
Liz Bayram, chief executive at Pacey, said: “Childminders are among the unsung heroes of the coronavirus pandemic. Our survey reveals over half of them are open to provide childcare to vulnerable children and children of key workers, providing care in their own home despite the risk to their own families. They – like other early years and childcare providers – will play a critical role in supporting the UK to get back to work. More needs to be done to ensure childminding still provides the 250,000 high quality and flexible places that families across the country need.”
Children’s commissioner rejects changes to local authority duties to young people
The children’s commissioner for England has called on the government to revoke the “unnecessary” relaxation of regulations designed to protect the country’s most vulnerable children.
Anne Longfield has called on ministers to reinstate local authorities’ full statutory duties changed by the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 which came into force on 24 April.
She said: “I would like to see all the regulations revoked, as I do not believe that there is sufficient justification to introduce them. This crisis must not remove protections from extremely vulnerable children, particularly as they are even more vulnerable at this time.”
Young people record information video for young offenders
A new video sharing information on Covid-19 and social distancing has been recorded by young people for their peers currently in the youth custody estate.
Created by NHS England in partnership with youth justice charity Peer Power, it is the first in a series of clips that explains basic information about coronavirus including what it is and how to stay safe.
It sees young people with experience of the youth custody estate speak directly to peers to help them understand more about the virus.
