Family Nurse Partnership

We know from research that a healthy pregnancy gives your baby the best start in life. The relationship you have with your baby right from the start is crucial for their future health and happiness. 

Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) works with parents aged 24 and under, partnering them with a specially trained family nurse who visits them regularly, from early pregnancy until their child is two. This voluntary programme offers intensive and structured home visiting, delivered by specially trained nurses, from early pregnancy until aged two. The programme uses in depth methods to work with young parents on attachment, relationships and psychological preparation for parenthood. 

The delivery of the service is highly personalised based around the specific strengths and needs of each young person.

Young parents who are referred to the service and reviewed by the FNP team to make sure they meet the service eligibility criteria and if programme capacity allows, a Family Nurse will contact the family to make a home visit. 

The family’s decision whether to join this voluntary programme will then be communicated to the referrer. 

Benefits of the programme

Your family nurse will provide you with information and will support you to make decisions which:     

• Increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy
• Help you manage your labour          
• Improve your child's development
• Build a positive relationship with your baby and others
• Help you plan for the future
• Enable you to make lifestyle choices that will give your child the best possible start in life
• Enable you to achieve your aspirations (such as finding a job or returning to education)

Research also shows that mums (and dads) who take part in this programme are more likely to achieve what they want for themselves and their children.

Family Nurses support you to give your baby the best possible start in life, which could make a difference to you and your baby's whole life.

What’s involved? 

Your family nurse will visit you every one or two weeks from early in your pregnancy until your child is at least one year old. Home visits usually last about an hour but the Nurse will work with you to tailor the programme to your needs. 

You will share different ideas at each visit with your family nurse and decide together what topics to talk about. Your family nurse will help you develop new skills and make plans for a healthy, happy future for you and your baby.

Visit the 0-4 section of this website to find information about caring for your new baby.