Growing healthy Stockton on Tees Consultation and engagement: service review

Healthwatch Stockton on Tees collaborated with the Stockton-on-Tees Community Wellbeing Champions (SCWC) and Stockton-on-Tees Public Health (SPH) to support the review of the 0-19/25 Service. The purpose of the engagement was to ensure that the voices of local children, young people, their families, and those involved in supporting them are central to the review and re-commissioning of the 0-19/25 service. A total of 89 parents and carers and 9 young people completed the survey questions.

Only 44% of young people knew where to get help if their family did not have enough food. When asked in their view how dangerous smoking, alcohol, vaping, and gambling were on health 78% thought smoking was very harmful, however 56% thought drinking alcohol and gambling were a little harmful and 22% were not sure.

78% of people knew who they would go to for help with alcohol, smoking, vaping and relationships, but only 55% knew where to go for help with weight management and 44% did not know where they would go for advice regarding LGBTQIA.

The most popular answer for who the young people would go to for advice was a resounding 78% who would go to a parent or family member, closely followed by talking to a friend and 33% would look on the internet. No one said they would speak to a teacher or a school nurse.

The most prevalent factor that would prevent a young person talking about their worries or concerns was lack of trust or a previous bad experience, embarrassment or not being taken seriously were also seen as important contributory factors.

When asked what the best way would be to talk about worries with an adult who is not a parent or carer, the preferred options were in person or text messaging, with a definitive response was that it was NOT in school. Of the nine young people spoken to none were aware of having ever spoken to a school nurse.

One in five parents, carers or cared for children with SEND. Over a third did not know what help was available for them or their child in their local area.

73% reported receiving help from the Health Visiting Service in the last two years. 77% of those who received help from the Health Visiting Service said that their needs had been met and 16% described their needs as not being met. • There was positive feedback of the existing Health Visitor Service with 84% of people rating the service 3 or above (1=Low 5=High) describing the service as good overall.

There was little knowledge of baby weighing services, one person told us they were advised to buy own scales. Better communication and a consistent Health Visitor would have been seen as helpful, with more face-to-face meetings. Various people provided feedback that their Health Visitor had changed and that this had led to disruption, some people reported still not having contact with a new Health Visitor. It was also stated that moving home caused additional disruption and there was concern “that people fell through gaps.”

There was very little knowledge or awareness of breast-feeding support, weighing, weaning and behavioural support were also services that people would have found helpful, they described how there was a lack of clear accessible information.

Family Hubs were seen as a great source of information, it was echoed by various people that better signposting to Family Hubs would have been helpful. Father-specific support would be seen as advantageous.

94% of those spoken to had not received support from a school nurse. Five people have said they had accessed a school nurse in the last two years of those 100% rated the service 4 or 5 (1 = Low 5= High).

When asked ‘Thinking about the last two years. The service was able to support my child or children with their SEND needs?’ 73% said no. One person provided feedback detailing how they felt there was a lack of support after leaving school and their child now suffers with depression. Focused social groups for those with a SEND diagnosis seemed to be lacking.