Working in partnership with the voluntary sector: early explorer clinics.
The first three years of life have been identified as key to promoting children's later wellbeing, and partnership working across the statutory and voluntary sectors has been proposed as one of the best ways to meet the needs of families. Child health clinics are attended by parents seeking reassurance or help and advice from a health professional regarding child health and development. They have been used in Oxford to develop Early Explorer clinics, in which the statutory health visiting service and voluntary sector Peers Early Education Programme work together with the aim of improving outcomes for children and families. These Early Explorer clinics provide the opportunity to engage parents in supporting their child's development through interaction and non-directed exploratory play. They also offer opportunities to identify vulnerable families, who are provided with additional support. This paper examines a model of partnership working between statutory and voluntary sectors aimed at maximising opportunities to promote the health and wellbeing of infants and their families.
Warwick Infant and Family Wellbeing Unit, University of Warwick. c.j.coe@warwick.ac.uk
Chris
C
Coe
Jane
J
Barlow
D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*