Nice guidance focuses on wellbeing in the early years
Joe Lepper
Friday, April 20, 2012
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) is calling on early years and health professionals to do more to improve the emotional wellbeing of vulnerable children.
In draft guidance launched this week, Nice said it wants to see a greater focus on early intervention projects targeting vulnerable families.
The proposals suggest that all health and early years professionals prioritise building trust with vulnerable families. Other professionals such as housing officers and police should also focus on children’s emotional wellbeing, according to the guidance.
Professor Mike Kelly, director of public health at Nice, said: “This draft guidance responds to a real need to improve the level and quality of early education and childcare services, especially to make sure these services are readily available to those who need them most, vulnerable children and their parents.”
The guidance stipulates that any concerns about children’s wellbeing should be raised with GPs and health visitors.
Specialist health visiting and midwifery services, offering home visits to vulnerable groups such as victims of domestic abuse and teenage mothers, must also be established in all areas to help secure the best outcomes for young children.
Nice recommends the use of interactive videos as an example of engaging vulnerable families.
The draft guidance has received the backing of Simon Antrobus, chief executive of the charity Addaction.
He said: “To help vulnerable children you must intervene early and any intervention must include the whole family. We, therefore, strongly welcome the Nice draft guidance recommendations.”
A consultation on the draft guidance has been launched and closes on 15 June.
