A new quick and easy guide is now available for all Families across Rotherham with children up to two years old.
This resource promotes services that help to give every Rotherham child the best start to life.
The ‘Giving Your Child the Best Start in Life’ guide includes information on the following services:
- Midwifery
- Health Visiting
- Infant feeding and specialist breastfeeding support
- Family Help
- Support for Dads
- Parent and Infant Mental Health
- Early Years - Special Educational Needs services (SEND)
- Volunteering
- Childcare Information
The guide was developed by the council in partnership with the Family Hubs Parent and Carers Panel, facilitated by Voluntary Action Rotherham. The content of the guide has been provided by key early years services across the council, the NHS, and voluntary sector organisations.
It has been designed as a booklet that will slot neatly into the personal child record (known as the Red Book), and reflects information available online at Giving your child the best start in life – Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Cllr Joanna Baker-Rogers, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health said: “New parents and carers have told us what help and advice they need to give their children the best start in life and we’ve used their guidance to develop this handy new booklet. It contains useful information on the help available to our youngest residents and their parents and will be a valuable point of reference.
“Parents and carers have also helped with the design and posed for photos to make the guide more appealing to their peers who will be receiving and using it.”
Rotherham Council Family Hubs and the Best Start in Life programme were created to support families. They make it easier for families to access support from different organisations when and where they need it.
This Best Start in Life programme is being delivered by the council and partners in the health and voluntary sectors. Read more about the programme at Rotherham Family Hubs and Best Start in Life – Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Information and support for families with older children can be found on the council website.
Cllr Victoria Cusworth, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We have worked hard over the last decade to try to protect and maintain our Early Help services and Children’s Centres, at a time when more than a thousand have been forced to close across the country.
Delivering the Family Hubs and Best Start in Life programme is a continuation of this work which improve the support for local families.”
“Families can access this support in-person at a number of one-stop shops across the borough and online through the council website.”
Evidence shows that prevention and intervention in the very early stages of life is critical. The Family Hubs and Best Start in Life programme support children and young people to lead healthy and fulfilling lives, preventing ill health in the future.