Yvette Cooper has set out her plans to expand Healthy Babies support and boost the adult social care workforce. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is also backing NHS action on violence against women and girls (VAWG), announcing £49.4 million for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) over three years.
Recognising VAWG as a “public health epidemic,” the Secretary of State says up to £34.4 million over three years will support 12 ICBs across England to deliver the first phase of the Steps to Safety referral service, making sure women and girls experiencing violence and abuse can access specialist support through their GP. A further £15 million over three years will be invested in victim support services through ICBs across England.
A targeted consultation will be launched with stakeholders on the development of a national framework for a public health approach to VAWG covering prevention, early identification, support and recovery.
A new National Clinical Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls will also be appointed to support a stronger, joined-up health response.
Healthy Babies
Expanding this programme to all local authorities will take a more integrated approach to family support based on the Sure Start principles. It forms part of the government’s push to neighbourhood health and will see integrated early years, family and elderly support delivered closer to home.
Parents will get enhanced infant feeding and mental health support, as well as help to form strong relationships with their babies, alongside health visiting and midwifery support, at more than 1,000 hubs by 2028.
The government has announced the roll out of the Healthy Babies programme to every Best Start family hub in England as Yvette Cooper set out plans for a more integrated approach to family support, similar to that provided by Sure Start.
Best Start Family hubs have been rolling out across England, but more than half of local authorities have hubs without Healthy Babies services, meaning families cannot always access integrated health, early years development and family support in one place.
The Healthy Babies programme will now be expanded to all local authorities with the Sure Start principles of a more integrated approach to family support.
Adult Social Care
To build a resilient workforce that underpins the National Care Service, the Secretary of State has also announced that a new adult social care workforce plan is set to be published by the end of the year and it will open up more opportunities for jobseekers to start careers in care.
Care workers will also benefit from the first national collective pension scheme for adult social care announced today, providing stability in retirement and a fresh incentive to pursue a career in care.
To support millions of unpaid carers across the country, Yvette Cooper also announced that she will appoint a new champion for unpaid carers.
Together, the measures mark the next steps towards a National Care Service, alongside Baroness Louise Casey’s Independent Commission, which is due to report by summer 2027.
