In 2019, the team was invited to join other organisations from across Scotland to be involved in a national financial inclusion improvement project to address the high level of unclaimed benefits by families with young children.

The teams were asked to improve or introduce referral pathways to money advice services in their area. The aim of the project is to maximize the household income of families in Highland to ensure their children have what they need to support a healthy start in life.

To achieve this, the team plans to ensure that pregnant women and parents of young children in are routinely asked by their health visitor about money worries and are offered a referral to an advice service that is accessible and sensitive to their needs.

Ian Kyle, head of integrated children’s services, said: “Health visitors are well placed to do this as they routinely visit all pregnant women and children under five. This would normally be a minimum of eleven contacts or child development reviews in the family home.”

Councillor Linda Munro, chair of the health, social care and wellbeing committee, said: “Health visitors are aware of the impact that poverty can have on a child’s health, development and future life chances.

“Family finances are affected following the birth of a child and can lead to financial pressure. In many cases, families do not claim the full range of benefits they are entitled to.”

Prior to lockdown the team had made “good headway,” testing out the new referral process and a small test of change was carried out. This resulted in a family of four’s household income increasing by over £350 per month and a single parent received an extra £200 to help with her debt.

NHS Highland’s Health Improvement Team have been very supportive of this project and offered extra training to the health visitors to help them upskill and become more proficient when asking families about money worries. They have recently developed a training package in partnership with Highland Council’s Welfare Team that is now available to the teams.

In addition, staff involved in this project will receive training on the ‘Model for Improvement’. This provides staff with a framework for developing, testing and implementing change.

Mr Kyle added: “The hope is that this will lead to a robust and effective process that can be replicated across all of Highland’s health visiting teams.

“This could also be shared with other services, leading to better outcomes for Highland’s children, contributing to Highlands Child Poverty Action Plan.”