150 likes | 273 Views
Healthy Start and Early Years. NAME Healthy Start Lead PCT Name. What is Healthy Start?. Replaced Welfare Food Scheme in 2007 A statutory scheme A nutritional safety net Encourages breastfeeding/healthy eating A public health tool. Inter related infant health initiatives.
E N D
Healthy Start and Early Years NAME Healthy Start Lead PCT Name
What is Healthy Start? • Replaced Welfare Food Scheme in 2007 • A statutory scheme • A nutritional safety net • Encourages breastfeeding/healthy eating • A public health tool
What does it provide? Vouchers:Vitamins: Liquid milk For women Fresh fruit and veg For children Infant formula milk AND: Information on breastfeeding and healthy eating 4
Who is it for? Pregnant women and families with children under four getting: • Income Support, or • Income Based Jobseekers’ Allowance, or • Income related Employment and Support Allowance, or • Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) with an annual family income of £16,190 or less. And ALL pregnant under 18 year olds
The Voucher Worth £3.10 each Issued 4 weekly to beneficiaries Double vouchers for under 1’s Voucher value reviewed annually 6
Health professionals can make a huge difference! Role of HCP The way the parents find out about the scheme effects their relationship with the scheme
Healthy Start is a Statutory Scheme Health Professionals are given the key tasks of: Signposting to the scheme Supporting applications Signing application forms PCTs have a duty to make HS vitamin supplements available
Healthy Start application process Family becomes eligible Midwife/Health Visitor Invitation from HSIU Application form in GP surgery Tax credits helpline Potential beneficiary hears about Healthy Start Pregnancy or Birth to Five Book Jobcentre Plus Internet Poster in children’s centre Get application leaflet/Form Website GP Surgery HSIU Helpline Complete Form Health Visitor Get signature from midwife or health visitor Submit to HSIU
HSIU receives application form Fully completed Wrongly completed Clearly do not qualify Application for pregnant Application includes children Returned to applicant Applicant informed Vouchers Issued Validate against HMRC and JCP data Validation checks later Match not found Match found Inform applicant and invite to give additional information. Repeat 2/4 weekly checks for 3 months Vouchers Issued No match found Match found Vouchers not issued Repeat validation checks every 2 wks (HMRC) or 4 wks (JCP) Voucher Issued Letter confirming match not found
Why give Vitamins? • Enough evidence to convince COMA and SACN to recommend supplementation • NICE report on Maternal and child nutrition (March 2008) places the onus on PCTs to ensure supplementation happens Source: COMA – Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy SACN – Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition NICE – National Institute for Clinical Excellence
Vitamin Facts Children’s Drops Women’s Tablets
Local Uptake • Vitamin uptake is measured by the number of vitamins reclaimed from DH • Levels are low – but improving!
Vitamin Collection Points • Local Vitamin Collection Points • Collection of vitamin coupons