Family nurse partnership
The Family Nurse Partnership is a Tayside wide service available for clients living within the Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross areas. It is a voluntary home visiting programme for all eligible first-time mums (and dads), aged 19 or under at the start of pregnancy. A specially trained Family Nurse visits the mum regularly, from early in pregnancy until the child is two.
The Family Nurse Partnership programme involves regular home visits by a specially trained Family Nurse, which can help young people prepare to become parents. Family Nurses are helpful, friendly, non-judgmental and respectful to clients and their families they work with.
The programme is underpinned by a robust evidence base research from America. Three randomised controlled trials have shown significant improvements for health, social and educational outcomes over a 20-year period for mothers and their children, following their participation in the programme.
Research has shown how important health in pregnancy and the positive relationship between a mother and her baby is for a child’s future health, happiness, relationships, and how well they do at school.
Research also shows that mums (and dads) who take part in the Family Nurse Partnership are more likely to achieve what they want for themselves and their children. We know dads are important to their babies, so we welcome dads or partners to join in during the home visit if the mum would like them to. Family nurses will support both parents to give their baby the best possible start in life.
A Family Nurse will provide parents with information and support to make decisions which:
- Increase chances of a healthy pregnancy. Improve a child’s development.
- Build a positive relationship between a young parent and their baby, and others. Help plan for the future.
- Enable young people to make lifestyle choices, which gives their child the best possible start in life.
- Enable young parents to achieve their aspirations (such as finding a job or returning to education).
D&A College Find Your Future, Even in Lockdown!
The pandemic presented new challenges for Dundee & Angus College, in the 2nd year of Tackling Child Poverty funding. The College were fully prepared to deliver another 2 practical Academies and continue with the successful Touchpoints programme, until full lockdown reared its head.
The project team were able to work creatively and considerately by developing and delivering online opportunities, in place of face to face. These included two successful Gaming Academies in partnership with INTO Games and industry experts, Outplay. They also included a weekly Wellbeing Group in partnership with Community Learning & Development (CLD) and Get Out Get Active (GOGA).
The 2 Gaming Academies were very successful. For academy 1 they recruited young people in the NEET group, and for academy 2 they recruited neurodiverse students at risk of not reaching positive destinations through a lack of work-ready skills. 16 young people completed the academies where they were given professional briefs, had to work in project teams with specific roles and responsibilities, and had to pitch each day to industry professionals.
Positive outcomes include a clearer understanding and appreciation of the gaming industry and the work-based skills that are required, in terms of collaboration, presentation and pitching. The current students shared that they enjoyed and benefited from the programme and will have more confidence moving forward. Positive outcomes for the NEET group include turning up and being prepared each day, full participation, learning and growing, increase in self-confidence and efficacy and some have applied to start mainstream college in September 2021.
The Wellbeing Group was set up in partnership with CLD and GOGA as a way to keep the young people engaged and looking after their wellbeing during lockdown. The 12 young people who attended the group were referred in as needing extra support. The programme ran for 6 consecutive weeks following the 5 Ways to Wellbeing model, offering different activities each week. This was a pilot and will be developed further. Alongside the employability support In April last year, the College worked in partnership with Arbroath foodbank, Forfar Social Supermarket and Rocksolid to provide food provision for those students in need. The partnership was able to act quickly and effectively in providing students with what they needed; to support college retention and wider wellness.
The Learner Engagement and Student Services teams coordinated and delivered over 450 food parcels, many including period products. They also arranged a large-scale toy appeal and were able to deliver a host of toys, books, clothes, and baby items to many of the student parents/ carers. Again, this activity supported overall engagement and wellness.
Learning Points
Gaming Academies: This was a pilot project delivered by Into Games and never before had they worked with vulnerable young people from these target groups; previous delivery was final year and university students who were all ready to enter the gaming industry.
Luckily, the College had wraparound support in place for all students through the Community Engagement Officer and Student Support Officer. The College realised quickly that full time support would be required to ensure active and meaningful engagement, learning and completion.
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