MPFT was first awarded Gold status in 2021, and the re-validation followed an inspection of the service, which provides advice and support to families across the county, from pregnancy up until a child is 19.
The report commended the knowledge and skills of staff as “exceptionally high”, while mothers interviewed by inspectors were full of praise:
- “Really positive experience. They were really information and really helpful.”
- “I can’t fault the Health Visitors, they were amazing.”
- “Good to have a clinic every week where you can drop in and ask any question about your worries.”
- “Lovely, amazing, can’t fault them.”
The UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative is a global campaign by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund which recognises that implementing best practices in the health service and wider community children’s services is crucial to the success of breastfeeding.
Claire Bailey, Lead for MPFT’s Children and Families services said: “We are immensely proud of our 0-19 services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent for having maintained UNICEF UK’s Baby Friendly Initiative Gold standard. This is testament to the hard work of our Health Visiting colleagues each and every day in making a difference to the families they support; and in particular our Infant Feeding Team who have led the project.”
Liz Lockett, MPFT Chief Nurse, Director of Quality & Professional Leadership and Baby Friendly Guardian said: “UNICEF UK’s Baby Friendly Initiative Gold is a prestigious accreditation that is very difficult to attain, so to have maintained it is a fantastic achievement. I was particularly delighted to read the hugely positive feedback from mothers in the report, which highlights the high standards the service maintains.”
More information about the Trust’s 0-19 services can be found at www.mpft.nhs.uk/services/health-visiting-and-school-nursing