A consultation on the proposed model for the future of Child Health Provider Services in North East Lincolnshire has been launched.

The formal 3 month consultation is being led by North East Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus.

When North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus was established on 1 September 2007 it brought together all community health and adult social care services into a single organisation.  Within the ‘Plus’ element the organisation places health functions alongside a range of council services (e.g. road safety, leisure and recreation and strategic housing) and puts in place plans for a Children’s Trust for North East Lincolnshire. The ‘Plus’ element makes North East Lincolnshire’s organisation unique from other Care Trusts across the country.

A Children’s Trust is a set of arrangements for partnership working, led by the local authority, to provide children’s services which respond to the requirements of the Government strategy ‘Every Child Matters’ and deliver on five key outcomes;

• Be Healthy
• Stay Safe
• Enjoy and Achieve
• Make a Positive Contribution
• Achieve Economic well-being.

The Children Act 2004 placed a duty of care on local authorities to work with health and job centre plus to improve outcomes for children. They are required to plan and deliver care in an integrated way to maximise access and benefits to young children and their families.

The realignment of infrastructure and resources in the Children’s Trust arrangements include some changes in community based children’s health services.  Services covered include health visiting and school nursing. The proposal is that the services will be centrally managed by North East Lincolnshire Council.

The consultation document containing details of the proposed model for the future of children’s health services is available to download at www.nelincs.gov.uk/education/childhealthconsultation.

North East Lincolnshire Council and the Care Trust Plus are keen to hear from as many people, key stakeholders and any other interested parties as possible. All feedback will be used to inform the development of child health services across the Borough will help to ensure that services best reflect the needs of the families of North East Lincolnshire.

The consultation period will end on Friday March 14.