Tower Hamlets Family Nurse Partnership for Young Parents

The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) programme supports the needs of first-time young parents. The team offer personalised support,helping parents nurture their child's health and development. They help establish positive parenting styles to create lasting benefits for both the child and their families.

Smiling woman wearing a headscarf holding an open book interacts with a woman holding a baby dressed in pink.

The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) is for a young mother or birthing parent who is:

  • Living in Tower Hamlets
  • Within the first 28 weeks of a first pregnancy
  • Aged 21 and under, or
  • Up to 24 years in discussion with the FNP Team. 

Looking for Waltham Forest services for parents & families?

Find our full range of Waltham Forest services on the the your health service page.

Click Here

How FNP supports parents

  • Healthy pregnancy: Guidance on maintaining a healthy pregnancy and planning for labour and birth.
  • Emotional wellbeing: Support for parents’ emotional health and wellbeing.
  • Child development: Assistance in improving a child's health and development.
  • Positive relationships: Fostering relationships between parents and their baby.
  • Lifestyle goals: Help in creating a lifestyle that gives parents and their children the best possible start.
  • Achieving goals: Support in identifying and achieving personal goals i.e. finding a job or returning to education.

More information about the FNP programme can be found on the National Family Nurse Partnership website.

Learn more about the Family Nurse Partnership - watch this video

Our Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) services

Who is the FNP service for?

A young woman who is:

  • Living in Tower Hamlets
  • Pregnant with her first child and is within the first 28 weeks of pregnancy
  • Aged 21 and under
  • Up to 24 years in discussion with the FNP Team
What is the purpose of Family Nurse Partnership?

The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) programme was initiated to specifically cater to the needs of first-time young mothers. The FNP team offer personalised support, helping parents to nurture their child's health and development and establish positive parenting styles to create lasting benefits for both the child and their families.

How the FNP supports parents
  • Healthy Pregnancy: Guidance on maintaining a healthy pregnancy and planning for labour and birth.
  • Emotional Wellbeing: Support for parents’ emotional health and wellbeing.
  • Child Development: Assistance in improving a child's health and development.
  • Lifestyle Goals: Help in creating a lifestyle that gives parents and their children the best possible start.
  • Achieving Goals: Support in identifying and achieving personal goals i.e. finding a job or returning to education.
  • Positive Relationships: Fostering relationships between parents and their baby.

More information about the FNP programme can be found on the National Family Nurse Partnership website.

Information for parents

  • Personalised support where you are most comfortable.
    Our family nurses are dedicated to providing you withpersonalised care and support in an environment where you feel most comfortable.This could be, for example, in a café, your home or a local children’s centre.
  • Working together for your family’s future
    Your family nurse works closely with you to develop a supportive relationship that respects your individual needs and those of your family. We believe in building strong and positive relationships that empower you as a parent. We focus on enhancing your child’s development and wellbeing, while also supporting you to achieve your aspirations and parenting goals. Our approach is flexible and responsive to your circumstances.
  • A specialised team dedicated to you.
    Our FNP teams are made up of a small group of specially trained nurses who are already health visitors or midwives. This expertise allows us to address a wide range of needs and challenges, ensuring that your eceive a programme tailored to your needs.
Woman in navy blue hoodie sitting on the floor holding a toddler dressed in brown playing with a colorful activity toy.

Tower Hamlets GP Practices

Referrals are to be made as early as possible in the pregnancy, before the 28th week of the pregnancy.
You can refer yourself to the Tower Hamlets FNP programme by either:

Self-Referral form

Information for healthcare professionals

How to refer someone to FNP in Tower Hamlets

Referrals are to be made as early as possible in the pregnancy but must be made before the 28th week of pregnancy.

Enhanced Support through the Family Nurse Partnership

Your Health Visitor will provide you with advice and their contact details should you wish to get in touch for any reason.

Key aspects of our programme:

Home visiting programme

Regular visits at home or in community venues by specially trained family nurses who have midwifery, health visiting and nursing backgrounds.

Enhanced Healthy Child Programme

FNP augments the Healthy Child Programme, providing additional support tailored to the unique needs of the young parents, focusing on the parent's health and wellbeing and their child’s health and developmental milestones.

Advocacy for Young Parents

Family nurses actively advocate for the needs and rights of young parents, ensuring that they receive the comprehensive support and resources necessary for them and their child’s wellbeing.

Collaborative Approach

Our family nurses work collaboratively with a range of professionals involved in the care of young parents and their children, such as healthcare providers, social care, educators, and early help. This integrated approach helps to create a supportive network around each family, facilitating coordinated care and intervention.

Early Intervention

A core goal of the FNP Programme is to intervene early to support young families. By providing targeted support early in the child’s life and during critical stages of pregnancy, FNP aims to improve long-term outcomes for both children and their parents. By enhancing the Healthy Child Programme and fostering a collaborative environment, FNP supports young families in laying the strongest foundation for their future.

A woman wearing an NHS lanyard smiling and interacting with a woman holding a child dressed in green inside a room with a stroller and pastries on a table.

How to refer someone to FNP in Tower Hamlets

Referrals are to be made as early as possible in the pregnancy but must be made before the 28th  week of pregnancy.

Tower Hamlets Professionals’ referral form link
Young couple sitting on a colorful blanket holding a baby dressed in pink in a playroom.

“I did not expect to be involved. I thought it would be more for my girlfriend’s benefit but when I turned up, she said it would help me as well. I’ve learned about being a parent and that has helped a lot”

Dad aged 18 years

A woman holding a baby sitting next to a person dressed in a white and pink Easter bunny costume holding a bouquet of white flowers and a carrot.

“I knew my family nurse understood me as a mother and I never felt judged”

Mum, aged 18 years

Smiling woman wearing a headscarf holding an open book interacts with a woman holding a baby dressed in pink.

“Having my family nurse support, me through pregnancy was absolutely great. Having her tell me how my baby will be developing and learning new things helped me and my partner understand our baby and her needs”

Mum aged 17 years