A pilot scheme to further improve health and wellbeing services for families with babies and toddlers has been launched in Barnsley.  

The additional investment in family services from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) comes after Barnsley was selected as one of five councils nationally to be part of the pioneering Start for Life Workforce pilot. 

Barnsley will recruit a small mixed team of made up of members from maternity services, 0-19 years public health nursing team, early help navigators, and a fathers’ worker. The team will be led by an experienced Health Visitor.

The team will work across the central and northern parts of the borough and be co-located in a family hub operating as an enhanced part of the Start for Life Service for families.

The aim is to ensure that families get the right level of service support at the right time and in the right place.

The additional funding will be used to provide a personalised service offer for new families during pregnancy and the first two years of their child’s life, supporting emotional wellbeing of parents and the optimal health and development of their child. 

It will help parents to participate in a wide range of family services and feedback from families will be used to improve the service offer. 

Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, Cllr Wendy Cain said: “It’s a great honour that Barnsley has been selected as one of five councils to pilot the new Start for Life Workforce service. 

“Our workforce will expand and be given the skills to make a real positive difference; it’s an additional public health offer for Barnsley families. 

“With this investment in addition to our new Family Hubs model, our team of amazing professionals will be able to work together to address any challenges that families in the borough might be facing.” 

For more information about Family Hubs and Start for Life, follow the Facebook page: facebook.com/BarnsleyFamilyHubs  

You can also find out more about the work of our 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service on their Facebook page: facebook.com/BarnsleyPHNS