Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the all-party Parliamentary group on cerebral palsy’s report, Early identification, intervention and pathways of care of infants and young children with cerebral palsy: The case for reform and investment, published in March 2021, what steps he is taking to increase the (a) size and (c) capacity of the health visiting workforce.

Local authorities are responsible for commissioning public health services for 0 to five year olds. The skill mix in any area will vary depending on local needs and therefore the number and ratio of health visitors to support staff will vary. To help increase the health visiting workforce, a Specialist Community and Public Health Nurse apprenticeship (Level 7) is now available, offering an alternative route direct into the health visiting profession.