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Local teenage parents get help from national programme
Teenage mums and dads in Peterborough are to benefit from an innovative national programme that helps support them through pregnancy, labour and parenthood.
The Family Nurse Partnership Programme funded by the Department of Health, is being run by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and is set to make a real difference to the life chances of some of the most disadvantaged families living in the county. The service will start to take on families from mid February.
Dr Attila Vegh, Chief Executive at CPFT, said: “Because this programme provides early intervention, it means we are able to support young parents’ right from the start. This program targets areas of high deprivation. Due to pockets of rural isolation in this county, young parents don’t always get the support they need. This project will have a positive impact on the well-being of the whole family.”
Dementia support team triumph at awards
The Dementia Carer Support Service (DCSS) is celebrating winning first
prize in the Dementia category of the Spotlight on Mental Health competition organised by Health Enterprise East (HEE), the regional NHS partner for innovation.
The DCSS is an innovative project that aims to link former carers with current carers of people with dementia. The volunteers use their expert knowledge and experience to offer regular and consistent support as a befriender or buddy. Sharing their time, the volunteers offer emotional, practical and social support, as well as signposting carers to other services. This means that the current carers have consistent support throughout the journey of their caring role from someone who understands the challenges that living with dementia presents. This benefits the person with dementia, their carer and the volunteer who wishes to share time, knowledge and experience with others.
HEE presented staff with an engraved trophy and a cheque for £2000 towards the next stage in the development of their innovation.
Fe Frankin, one of the DCSS Project Co-ordinators said: “Our Trust promotes a model of recovery in mental health and one of the principles we have identified is that family carers and other supporters are crucial to recovery. For many shouldering the weight of caring, peer support is crucial to avoid feeling isolated and anxious.
“This scheme complements other support and help available and harnesses the hands-on experience gained by ex-carers who really do understand the challenges that living with dementia presents. Out of a total of 61 people who have been referred to the service, over one third have been successfully matched with a befriender. A further third are currently in the process of being assessed and matched.”
New website supports young people’s mental health
A website called has been launched to help professionals and voluntary groups within Cambridgeshire support children and young people with mental health problems.
The website provides information and contact details for local support services, making it easier for people access suitable support. The website is managed and run by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
Lenja Bell, chair of the steering group that designed the website said: “We know that there is a lot of good work going on throughout Cambridgeshire, but the problem is that people do not always know what is available or how to access it. This website allows professionals to search a directory with their client’s age, location and the difficulties they are experiencing and to immediately see what organisations, both statutory and voluntary, are there to help.”
An initial grant was made by the County and City Councils to develop the website and it has now been handed over to CPFT to manage and maintain.
A further grant from the County Council and NHS Cambridgeshire allows organisations free access to the site for the first year after which a £10 administration fee will be charged.
www.allaboutmentalhealth.org.uk