24 July 2023

Camden’s Early Years’ Service has been awarded Baby Friendly status by UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund), making it one of only eight NHS services in London to have achieved this accreditation.

The service, a partnership between CNWL and Camden Council, includes family health visiting and baby feeding, supporting over 8,000 families in the borough.

Work towards this accreditation began in 2017 and during the assessment, UNICEF recognised the high quality and sustained practice improvement within the service to support with infant feeding as well as parent-infant relationships.

Jo Collins, Head of Children, Young People and Family Services (Inner London) said:

“It is a huge testament to all our staff that we have achieved level three accreditation. The award shows we are able to provide families with the support and advice needed to make informed choices about how you feed and nurture your baby, wherever you go and whatever the setting”.

Jonathan Freedman, Deputy Operations Manager, Camden Integrated Early Years Service said:

“The earliest experiences shape a baby’s brain development and have a lifelong impact on mental and emotional health, so we’re very proud to have received this award as it recognises the high-quality care provided by our integrated team. Special thanks go to the infant feeding and health visiting colleagues who worked at pace to undertake audits with and feedback from parents, as well as supporting implementation of the standards into practice. Congratulations to all teams involved!”

Councillor Marcus Boyland, Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families said:

“The early years of a child’s life is a crucial time, and the foundations of almost every aspect of development – physical, intellectual and emotional – are laid down in early childhood. That’s why we want to ensure parent-infant relationships get off to the absolute best start and this award recognises the hard work and determination of the team to achieve this. This is fantastic news - well done to all.”

The Baby Friendly Initiative works to support all families to develop close and loving relationships with their babies, and to feed them in ways that support health and development so they can get the best possible start in life.

It also focuses on promoting and supporting breastfeeding, so all mothers can continue to breastfeed their baby for as long as they wish to do so. More than 75% of babies in Camden are still partially breastfed at eight weeks.

Angie Ellis, Infant Feeding Coordinator, said:

“Breastfeeding provides many long-term health benefits and providing nothing but breast milk is recommended for the first six months of a baby’s life. Many families in the UK stop breastfeeding before they are ready to, and studies have shown that the availability of qualified support improves breastfeeding rates and the outcomes for both parents and babies.”

Here’s what parents said:

“I had my first baby in 2020 and felt really on my own – I’m so very happy about all the help and support I have had this time around.”

“I've been really happy with my health visitor. I've felt very well supported. It has been beyond what I expected. As soon as I had an issue, someone rang me back or came around.”

“Really blown away with the care that I have had, they have been very supportive”.

The integrated early years’ service offers information and support to mums, dads and carers during pregnancy and after their baby is born – helping over the phone, online, at children’s centres or visiting families at home.

Every week, they offer baby feeding groups and baby bonding drop-ins, helping to get infant feeding and parent-infant relationships off to a good start.

Find more information on Camden’s Health Visiting and Integrated Early Years Service here.