The Resource Centre exists to help local practitioners share their experiences and to learn from each other as their role's evolve.

It has three elements:

Underpinning the Resource Centre is the Innovations Network which puts local innovators directly in touch with each other.

For more information about the work of the Resource Centre and the Innovations Network you can either e-mail CIPC or call him on 0117 963 2836.

The Policy Context

Over the last couple of years, the Government has published a number of documents setting out a new path for the NHS and for health visitors and schools nurses.

The enhanced family centred public health role means that health visitors will be working in new ways to meet the identified needs of parents and carers. Health visitors will need to harness the skills of the primary care team, voluntary bodies, social care and other community resources, to initiate and develop programmes for outreach by developing new partnerships e.g. to lead teams of community mothers and to deliver high quality and effective services in addressing the challenges of health inequalities, parenting and family policy. Their practice also addresses health needs assessment, health promotion and illness prevention; this includes child development and parenting skills.

A number of policy developments recognise the potential for school nurses to contribute to this Government's agenda such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health, parenting, Quality Protects, teenage pregnancy and parenthood and smoking. Healthy Schools gives a structure for the shared responsibility for promoting health and integrating initiatives aimed at the school population. Healthy Schools provides school nurses with the opportunity to contribute to a common health and education agenda.

The innovative work highlighted in this Resource Centre demonstrates new ways of working and family and child centred public health approaches such as community development and working with socially excluded groups.