The government has announced a major expansion of the Healthy Babies programme, extending the scheme to every local authority in England as part of a wider drive to deliver more integrated family support services based on the successful principles of Sure Start.
The move will see Healthy Babies services rolled out across all Best Start Family Hubs, ensuring parents can access joined-up support for infant feeding, maternal mental health, early child development and family relationships alongside health visiting and midwifery services.
More than 1,000 family hubs are expected to be operating by 2028, providing communities with easier access to a broad range of support in a single location.
While Best Start Family Hubs have already been introduced in many parts of England, more than half of local authorities currently have hubs that do not offer Healthy Babies services. This has created inconsistencies in access to integrated support, with some families unable to receive health, early years and family services in one setting.
The nationwide rollout is intended to address these gaps, embedding a more coordinated approach to family support that mirrors key aspects of the former Sure Start model.
The expansion forms part of the government's wider neighbourhood health strategy, which aims to bring preventative and community-based services closer to where people live. Alongside support for children and families, the approach includes integrated services for older people and vulnerable adults.
Alongside the family support announcement, the Secretary of State outlined plans designed to strengthen the adult social care sector and support the development of a future National Care Service.
A new adult social care workforce plan is set to be published before the end of the year. The strategy is expected to boost recruitment, create clearer career pathways and encourage more people to enter the care profession.
In a significant development for the sector, care workers will also gain access to the first national collective pension scheme for adult social care. Ministers believe the initiative will improve financial security in retirement and help make careers in care more attractive.
Additional support for unpaid carers is also planned, with the government confirming that a new national champion for unpaid carers will be appointed to represent and advocate for the needs of millions of people providing informal care across the country.
Together, these measures represent the latest step towards establishing a National Care Service, complementing the work of Baroness Louise Casey's Independent Commission, which is expected to report by summer 2027.
The government has also announced a significant expansion of NHS-led support for victims of violence against women and girls, backed by £49.4 million in funding for Integrated Care Boards over the next three years.
Recognising violence against women and girls as a public health epidemic, ministers have committed up to £34.4 million to support the first phase of the Steps to Safety referral service across 12 ICBs in England. The initiative will enable women and girls experiencing violence or abuse to access specialist support directly through their GP services.
A further £15 million will be invested in victim support services delivered through ICBs nationwide.
The government will also launch a targeted consultation on developing a national public health framework for addressing VAWG. The framework will focus on prevention, early identification, support and long-term recovery.
To strengthen leadership across the health system, a new National Clinical Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls will be appointed to help coordinate and improve healthcare responses.
The announcements signal a growing focus on prevention, early intervention and community-based support across health and care services. By extending Healthy Babies services nationwide, reforming adult social care and strengthening support for victims of abuse, ministers aim to create a more integrated model of care that delivers support closer to home and across every stage of life.
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