Children and Families Single Point of Access (CaFSPA)
The CaFSPA, often referred to as the hub, is a central point of contact for Staffordshire families and young people:
Freephone 0808 178 0611 (option 1)
ChatHealth Text Messaging Service
Parents/ Carers text: 07520 615722
For young people living in Staffordshire, text 07520 615721
The Families Health and Wellbeing 0-19 service is the integrated Health Visiting and School Nursing service for Staffordshire.
This service seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of children, young people and families and improve school readiness.
It offers a balance of self-support, support from professionals and from the wider community. This includes using digital technology to meet the individual needs of busy modern families. See below for further details of what we offer.
All families in Staffordshire will be offered an antenatal contact from the Health Visiting team, a new birth visit at home, and a 6 week, 9-12 months, and 2-to-2-and-a-half-year development review. When your child starts school, you will receive information about your child's health. Weight and height reviews will be offered in reception and year 6 as part of the National Child Measurement Programme.
Families requiring extra support will have a named Health Visitor or School Nurse from the strengthening families team.
In addition to these routine contacts parents and young people can contact us for support or advice on by calling the hub, texting our chat health service or attending one of our drop-in clinics. We also have active Facebook and Instagram sites - see below for links, further information and contact details.
Children and Families Health and Wellbeing Single Point of Access (CaFSPA)
The CaFSPA, often referred to as the hub, is a central point of contact for the service. You can call if you need to speak directly to a Health Visitor, School Nurse or Nursery Nurse for advice, support or guidance. Our team of administrators can book or change an appointment for you. The CafSPA operates Monday to Friday 9am-5pm (excluding bank holidays).
The 0-19 service can be contacted on a single freephone number: 0808 178 0611 (press option 1)
ChatHealth
ChatHealth is a text message service for parents/ carers and young people to ask for health and wellbeing advice and is available between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Outside of these times, anyone who texts the service receives a message explaining where to get help if their question is urgent, and when they can expect a response.
Messages sent to the dedicated number are delivered to a secure website and responded to by one of the trained health professionals in the Families Health and Wellbeing team. Texts are usually replied to within one working day.
We do not usually inform parents, teachers or anyone else if a young person contacts the service. We might inform someone if we were concerned about their safety, but we would usually speak to the young person first. Your messages are stored and can be seen by other healthcare staff who follow the same confidentiality rules. We aim to reply to you within one working day and you should get an immediate response to confirm we have received your text. Texts will not be seen outside of normal working hours.
If you are a young person and need help before you hear back from us, contact a member of school staff or your doctor. Our text number does not receive voice calls or MMS picture messages. We support messaging from UK mobile numbers only (which does not include messages sent from landlines, international mobile numbers and some 'number masking' mobile apps). Prevent our service from sending messages to you by texting STOP to our number. Messages are charged at your usual rate.
If you require a previous edition in a different format, please contact the Families' Health and Wellbeing service.
The Families' Health and Wellbeing Service are offering virtual group sessions on a range of subjects; including ‘Moving on to Solid Foods', 'Amazing Babies, Amazing Brains', 'Infant Feeding', 'Safer Sleep' and 'Toilet Training'. The sessions will be facilitated by Health Visitors, who will share information and aim to answer any questions you may have.
Our friendly, informal virtual groups are open to parents and carers living in Staffordshire.
Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Price: Free
In this workshop we will give you evidence-based information how to breastfeed your baby. We will also talk about feeding cues, responsive feeding, signs your baby is feeding well, baby development, normal infant behaviour, normal infant sleep, 4th trimester and much more.
Recommended for expectant parents.
To book into a session please click on the date you wish to attend:
A workshop designed for parents and carers to find out more about safer sleep practices based on guidance from the Lullaby Trust. We will talk about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and how to reduce the risks. We will discuss bedding, bed sharing, swaddling, sleep equipment, baby wearing, car seat safety, safety away from home, knowing where to get advice if your baby is unwell, normal infant sleep, normal infant crying, coping with crying and where to go for more information.
Recommended for parents and carers from before birth until one year old.
To book into a session please click on the date you wish to attend:
If you are thinking about starting toilet training or wondering when you should start, then we have got top tips to help you start off the right way. What to do before you start, how to start, what to do if things don't go the way you imagined.
Recommended for parents and carers of babies and children over the age of 6 months.
To book into a session please click on the date you wish to attend:
Each locality within Staffordshire has an active Facebook page, where we share evidence-based health information and resources for your local area. Our Community Development Practitioners also operate Instagram and X/Twitter accounts, why not give them a follow? See the information below for the page names and handles.
Health Visitors and School Nurses from our service have launched a podcast series with the aim of sharing health advice and information to parents, carers and young people.
The episodes are available on The MPFT Podcast. You can listen free and subscribe using your favourite podcast software through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts and Radio Public.
The MPFT podcast channel also includes a range of podcasts from the Trust’s mental health, physical health and social care services and discussions about wider projects and initiatives taking place across the Trust.
Health Visitors Caroline, Kristy and Carolyn discuss baby blues - a common experience for many new parents in the first few weeks after giving birth, resulting in low mood and tearfulness.
Join Caroline as she talks to Sadie, a children's respiratory consultant nurse about asthma. The episode covers what asthma is, the symptoms, how it is treated, the importance of Personal Asthma Action Plans and 'Count it out' methods.
Kristy, Carolyn and Caroline talk about 5 Ways to Wellbeing. Our mental health is important, and evidence suggests there are ways we can look after it which can help to improve our mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive, cope better with life's ups and downs and get the most out of life. These 5 Ways to Wellbeing are simple things that we can all try to fit into our everyday lives and give ourselves a boost.
It can be a daunting prospect thinking about returning to work while breastfeeding. Carol and Stacey discuss your rights as a breastfeeding employee and top tips on how to practically manage your return.
Health Visitor Carol shares how mindfulness can be enjoyed in everyday experiences and invites you to join her on a short, guided meditation concentrating on your breathing, to help you focus on the here and now.
In this episode Health Visitors Carol and Caroline talk about crying babies and the ICON messages that help people who care for babies cope with crying.
In this episode Health Visitors Caroline and Leanne talk about bed sharing or co-sleeping with baby. They share evidence-based advice so that parents can make informed decisions about their choices, but also highlight when it is considered dangerous.
Health Visitors Carol and Caroline talk about the dangers of button batteries. They share great advice and information about why they are dangerous, what parents and carers can do to keep their children safe, and what action to take if a button battery is swallowed.
In this episode Gemma and Tori discuss why returning to school after a long break can be a challenging time for many children and young people. They talk about strategies to help your child or young person to overcome this and have a positive return to school.
Episode length: 15:39
Below are translated copies of the Families' Health and Wellbeing service leaflet. Please select the image to download the leaflet:
Dari
Pashto - پښتو
Russian - Русский
Ukrainian - українська
Antenatal contact
In addition to the care and support from your Midwives, all pregnant women will be contacted and offered a visit from a member of a Health Visiting team after 28 weeks of pregnancy. You will be given information about our service, including how and when to contact us. You will have the chance to discuss your feelings about becoming a parent, any concerns you may have and to ask any questions. You will be offered health promotion advice to help you and your unborn baby stay healthy, including infant feeding, diet and safe sleep.
New birth visit
A Health Visitor will visit you and your family at home, usually when your new baby is between 10-14 days old. This visit gives you the chance to discuss any concerns about the health and well-being of yourself, your new baby or the rest of the family. You will be able to ask for any advice and discuss any worries you may have. You will be offered a Bookstart pack to encourage reading with your baby.
Well baby clinic
Well baby clinics are weekly drop-in clinics where you can bring your baby or child to be weighed or ask questions about your own or your baby’s health. Please do not bring your baby or child to this clinic if they are unwell.
6 week review
This review is usually done by your Health Visitor in a clinic (before you have a check with your doctor at 8 weeks). This is a chance to discuss any worries, even minor things. Your baby’s weight, health, growth and development will be reviewed with you. You will be asked about your emotional wellbeing and if you feel you need any additional support.
3-4 month contact
This review is usually done in a clinic and gives you the opportunity to discuss any worries and have your baby weighed. We will give you information about introducing solid foods so you are prepared for when your baby is ready.
Between nine and twelve months your baby’s general health and development will be reviewed with you by a member of the health visiting team. You will be able to have your baby weighed and measured.
This is a chance to talk about your baby, their health and general behaviour and discuss any worries. You will be sent a questionnaire before the appointment. This gives you the chance to try out some activities with your baby at home, where they are comfortable and in familiar surroundings. Your Health Visitor will go through this questionnaire at your appointment; it is just a guide, and it is not expected that your child will be able to do all the things on the questionnaire.
Some things you may want to discuss when you go for the review include:
Your child’s progress will be reviewed at around 2 - 2½ years by a member of the health visiting team. This is a chance to talk about your child, their health and general behaviour and discuss any worries you may have, for example:
Speech and language development
Behaviour
Toilet training
Home safety
Brushing your child’s teeth/ registering with a dentist
Immunisations.
Getting ready for nursery
You will be sent a questionnaire before the appointment; this is just a guide, and it is not expected that your child will be able to do all the things on the questionnaire.
If your child is in a child care setting they will also receive a progress review which is completed by the setting. Further information can be found below:
Remember; if you are worried about your child’s behaviour, health, growth or development you can contact your Health Visitor at any time through your local Hub or ChatHealth.
During your child’s Reception year, we will send you an e-leaflet (a paper copy is available if you prefer). The e-leaflet shows some of the key areas that support your child’s growing, learning and overall health. Every child is unique! After reading the leaflet there may be some areas you have concerns about. The confidential contact link at the end of the leaflet enables you to reach out for support from your School Nurse.
National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)
This programme is delivered within school and aims to weigh and measure all children in England in Reception and Year 6.
You will be sent a letter and information about the programme when your child’s class is due to take part. You are given the option of opting out of this programme if you wish.
Young people are invited to drop-in clinics at their school to discuss any concerns with their school nurse*. The nurse can provide confidential advice and support around issues including:
Health promotion and education
Health screening and assessment
Healthy eating and weight management
Emotional wellbeing support
Bedwetting (enuresis)
Referrals to other services
Signposting for sexual health and stop smoking
Safeguarding
*The School Nurse must have parental consent to see children
You can find details of when the School Nurse is available in your local area via the Drop-in schedule page.
Community & Virtual School Nurse Drop-in Clinics
Parents and carers of children aged 5-19 are invited to attend local community drop ins (either in person or virtually), where you can speak to your child’s School Nurse about your child's health. A Community Drop-in is an open access, confidential service that provides parents with the opportunity to “drop-in” without an appointment to discuss any aspects of your child’s health or wellbeing with a member of the Team.
Young people who are not attending school can also attend these clinics.
You can find details of when the School Nurse is available in your local area via the Drop-in schedule page.
Our Area Manager looks after all the localities within Staffordshire. Each locality is supported by the Children's and Families Single Point of Access (CaFSPA), often referred to as the Hub. The Hub and 8 locality teams are made up of the following:
Team Leader: The team leader manages the day to day running of the team. The team leader is usually either a qualified Health Visitor or School Nurse.
Health Visitors: Your Health Visitor is a trained nurse or midwife, who has completed additional training in child development and public health nursing to become a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse. Your Health Visitor looks after you and your family, from pregnancy through to when your child starts to school.
School Nurses: Your School Nurse is a trained nurse or midwife, who has also completed additional public health and child development training to be a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse. Your School Nurse looks after you and your family, from the age of 5 through to 19 years.
Staff Nurses: Our staff nurses support the work of the Health Visitor and School Nurse. They carry out development sessions within a clinic setting and may visit families at home too.
Nursery Nurses: Our Nursery Nurses all hold a relevant child development qualification and are experienced in supporting children and families. They either work in clinic settings or within the hub.
Health Care Support Workers (HCSW) and Clinical Support Workers (CSW): The HCSW and CSW work under the direction of the Health Visitor or School Nurse. They have a varied role, often working within the Well Baby Clinics or out and about within Schools as part of the National Child Measurement Programme.
Administrators: Our administrators provide office support to the teams and are your initial telephone contact within the locality hubs for appointments and general queries. They may signpost you to an appropriate health professional or service as required.
Further members of the Families' Health and Wellbeing Service
Professional Lead for Universal Services: Our professional lead ensures the health visiting and school nursing services are implementing the latest standards. The lead has responsibility for ensuring all policies and procedures are in place for the service.
Clinical and Quality Practitioners (CQPs): The health Visiting and school Nursing CQP’s ensure all the clinical training needs of new and existing staff are met. You may meet them during home, school and clinic visits when they’re out and about supporting staff.
Community Development Practitioners (CDPs): The CDPs are all trained Health Visitors or School Nurses who work within their local communities. They work with voluntary and partner agencies to ensure health messages and interventions are in place, based on the needs of the community they work within.
The Specialist Practice Team: The team comprise of an Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner, a Health Lifestyles Practitioner, Infant Feeding Lead and Perinatal Mental Health Lead. The leads and practitioners provide specialist support and advice to the wider team. They develop and deliver training in their specialism as well as shaping policies and procedures.
All the images in this section have been designed by the young family members of our team during the Covid-19 pandemic 2020.
