CHS 0-19 Children's Commissioning

The London Borough of Newham is exploring options for the delivery of CHS 0 - 19 Children's Commissioning.

This is a voluntary preliminary market engagement notice for a health service that falls under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. This market engagement notice relates to an integrated 0-19 Child Health Service covering Health Visiting (0-5 years) and School Nursing (5-19). As part of the Council's commitment to transparent and inclusive commissioning we are conducting a Market Engagement Exercise to better understand the capacity, interest, and innovation within the provider market.

The service will combine health visiting and school nursing into a single model delivered through family hubs and children's centres, with a focus on early intervention, prevention, and reducing health inequalities.

Your feedback will help to:

• Shape the service specification
• Identify opportunities for integration and innovation
• Ensure the commission service meet the needs and reduce health inequalities

The service will be embedded in family hubs and children's centres, delivering accessible, community-based, and culturally appropriate care that addresses health inequalities. It will focus on early intervention, prevention, and strong multi-agency collaboration across health, education, and social care, supported by data-driven planning and resident engagement. The programme aims to improve child development, emotional resilience, key health outcomes, and transitions to adulthood while reducing long-term demand on acute services. By targeting vulnerable groups and closing gaps in health outcomes, it will strengthen families and promote sustainable, equitable health and wellbeing across the population.

The 0-19 Health Visiting and School Nursing Service in Newham delivers the Healthy Child Programme from birth to age 19, providing universal and targeted support to children, young people, and families. Health Visiting (0-5 years) includes health and development reviews, safeguarding, maternal mental health support, and targeted interventions for vulnerable families. School Nursing (5-19 years) covers health and wellbeing advice, early intervention, safeguarding, and public health programmes such as immunisations and sexual health, alongside targeted support for those with additional needs. Services are delivered through a place-based model integrated within family hubs and children's centres, supported by outreach to engage underrepresented groups.

The service is delivered by a mixed workforce comprising Health Visitors, School Nurses, nursery nurses, safeguarding specialists, and administrative staff, working in partnership with local NHS providers, primary care networks, schools, early years settings, and the voluntary sector. The model is designed around early intervention, prevention, and equity of access, with targeted provision for children with SEND, those from low-income households, and others at greater risk of poor health outcomes. Co-production with families ensures that services are culturally appropriate and responsive to local needs. Digital tools and data-driven planning underpin delivery, improving efficiency, accessibility, and responsiveness.

Objectives

 Deliver sustainable, high-quality care

 Strengthen prevention and early intervention

 Reduce inequalities experienced by families and children

 Improve parental engagement and school readiness

 Improve health and wellbeing outcomes across the life course

 Reduce health disparities and support vulnerable groups

 Enhance integration across health, education, and social care

 Empower families through accessible, culturally competent support

 Deliver a seamless, integrated model from pregnancy to early adulthood

Expected Outcomes

Enhanced Family and School Engagement

 Families actively involved in service design and delivery, improving parental engagement

 Stronger school-nurse services and adolescent health initiatives

 Improved coordination with schools and community organisations to ensure holistic care for children and young people

Sustainable and Integrated System

 Reduced NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rates through health-related support services

 Equity focus with a concerted effort to reduce health inequalities and ensure services meet diverse community needs

 Integrated digital tools for service tracking and engagement with families

 Strong partnerships with local schools, health, and community providers to ensure long-term system sustainability

Improved Health and Development

 Enhanced child development with better outcomes in early years

 Higher immunisation rates and improved breastfeeding initiation and prevalence

 Strengthened emotional resilience and mental health support for children and young people

 Reduced childhood obesity, injuries, and hospital admissions due to unintentional and deliberate injuries

Reducing Health Inequalities

 Improved access to health services for SEND children, those in temporary housing, and adolescents

 Targeted support for disadvantaged families, particularly those from minorities and vulnerable groups

 Better transitions to adulthood, with increased access to sexual health, mental health, and independent living support

We would like to hear form potential providers interested in delivering this service, to inform the options, exploration, and potential procurement.

This market engagement is not a formal tender process, but an opportunity to contribute to the development of a high quality, equitable and sustainable public health service. Please note that this exercise is solely for information- gathering purposes only. The Council is not committing, at this stage, to carry out such a process.

If you feel that your organisation has the ability and experience to help us deliver the above objectives, then please email: Daniel Parsonage: [email protected] who will provide a market engagement questionnaire for you to complete and return by: Tuesday, 24th February 2026 (Instructions will be contained within the form).

Engagement Deadline: Tuesday, 24th February 2026