Phirst- 7- Blackpool EPS Evaluation

A nurse-led home-visiting programme in Blackpool has already supported over 100 families since July 2023, offering flexible, personalised care to parents facing complex challenges. This matters because existing programmes like the Family Nurse Partnership restrict support to first-time young mothers, leaving many vulnerable parents—including those with previous care experience or other difficulties—without help. The Early Parenthood Service (EPS) fills that gap by serving parents of all ages and backgrounds, aiming to improve child health, safe parenting, and reduce inequalities. Co-designed by former nurses and commissioners, it uses evidence-based tools and is integrated into the local Family Hub Triage system. If the evaluation shows EPS improves outcomes, it could reshape how the UK delivers early parenthood support. Rather than a one-size-fits-all model, local authorities might adopt similarly flexible, nurse-led programmes that reach families who currently fall through the cracks. The service is fully funded until 2027, with ongoing data collection and evaluation. This is an applied service evaluation, not fundamental science—its direct practical impact on family support services is the explicit goal.