Councillor Zena Brabazon, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools & Families, approved the acceptance of significant grant funding and the extension of a contract for vital family support services. The meeting confirmed the continuation of the Family Hubs Programme and the Parent Infant Psychology Service (PIPS).

Family Hubs Programme and Parent Infant Psychology Service

The meeting approved the acceptance of approximately £1.3 million in grant funding from the Department of Education (DfE) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to continue the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme in Haringey for the financial year 2025/2026. This funding is part of a national initiative aimed at supporting families in areas with high levels of deprivation.

In conjunction with this, Councillor Brabazon also approved the variation and extension of the contract for the Parent Infant Psychology Service (PIPS), delivered by Whittington Health NHS Trust. This extension, for a further 12 months from 1st May 2025, will cost £265,955, bringing the total aggregate value of the contract to £757,865. The PIPS service is a crucial component of the Family Hubs Programme, offering support for parent-infant relationships, addressing issues such as feeding and sleeping difficulties, and helping parents understand how past experiences might impact their current relationships with their infants.

The decision to accept the grant funding and extend the PIPS contract was made to ensure the uninterrupted provision of these essential services to families. The report highlighted that sourcing a new provider for PIPS would be time-consuming, resource-intensive, and not cost-effective, potentially leading to gaps in service delivery. The existing provider, Whittington Health NHS Trust, has a proven track record and existing infrastructure within the borough, making them well-positioned to continue delivering the service efficiently. The PIPS service has already supported numerous families through antenatal groups, one-on-one appointments, and young parents' groups, with overwhelmingly positive feedback received from participants.

The Family Hubs Programme and its PIPS component align with several key council strategies, including the Corporate Delivery Plan 2024-2026, the Early Years Strategy 2023-2026, and the Early Help Strategy 2024-2027. These strategies aim to ensure happy and healthy childhoods, build resilience in families, support positive parent-baby bonds, and reduce health inequalities.

The decision was made in accordance with Contract Standing Orders (CSO) 21.01 for the acceptance of grants and CSO 18.03 for contract variations. Legal and financial officers confirmed that the proposed actions were compliant with council procedures and relevant regulations, including the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The report also noted that the decision would not have a disproportionately negative impact on any group with protected characteristics under the Equalities Act 2010.

The meeting also noted the standard information regarding filming at meetings and confirmed there were no declarations of interest or urgent business.