The Family Nurse Partnership team at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded the Exceptional People Team Award for December. The award recognizes their dedication in providing vital support to teenage parents, helping them improve their health, life chances, and family stability.
The Family Nurse Partnership offers a preventative safeguarding service specifically for teenage parents. Their program engages young mothers as early as possible during pregnancy and continues to support them until their child reaches the age of two. The team’s primary goal is to enhance the health and wellbeing of both the child and parent, while also positively impacting other family members.
By reducing the likelihood of children being placed into care and improving education and employment outcomes for parents, the service plays a crucial role in breaking the cycle of disadvantage. The team’s consistent support is often cited by clients as life-changing, especially when other professionals have stepped back.
Grant Macdonald, CEO of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, praised the team for their dedication. “I’ve been inspired by their empathy and commitment,” he said. “They go to great lengths to care for the young mothers and children they work with. This excellent service is highly valued by many in our community, and I am proud to acknowledge their hard work.”
The Family Nurse Partnership’s work was highlighted by Emma Leaver, the service director for community services, who nominated them for the award. At the recent annual review, two teenage mothers shared their personal stories of how the program helped them turn their lives around.
One mother, who had been in foster care for most of her life, described how the service helped her become a better parent than she had experienced. Her son, now 17 months old, is described as a joyful, well-bonded child. “Had I not had the Family Nurse Partnership, I would not be in such a positive place,” she shared.
Another mother, who became pregnant at 19 while homeless, also spoke of the transformation the program brought to her life. She now has a healthy, happy six-year-old and a four-month-old baby. She credits the support for helping her not only improve her parenting but also secure housing, which she has now helped her own mother achieve as well. She is currently working as a teaching assistant and plans to start teacher training in 2026.
The Family Nurse Partnership’s dedication continues to have a lasting impact, improving the lives of young mothers, their children, and their communities.
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