The Cabinet Member Signing meeting of Haringey Council on Thursday 5th March 2026 approved the acceptance of significant grant funding to continue the Family Hubs Programme and awarded contracts to several organisations to deliver these vital services. This decision will ensure the ongoing provision of support for families and young children across the borough.

Family Hubs and Start for Life Grant Funding

Councillor Zena Brabazon, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools & Families, approved the acceptance of £4,692,300 in grant funding from the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to continue the Best Start Family Hubs Programme over the next three years. This funding is crucial for embedding the current delivery model and measuring its impact.

As part of this approval, contracts were awarded to three organisations to deliver key aspects of the programme:

• Whittington Health NHS Trust will receive a contract worth up to £550,620 for the provision of the Parent Infant Psychology Service (PIPS) for two years, from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2028. This service is a vital component of the Best Start Family Hubs, offering direct support to families and infants, as well as training for staff. The decision to award this contract directly was made under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, as Whittington Health NHS Trust was deemed to be satisfactorily delivering its current contract and the new arrangements would not represent a material change.
• Baby's Sake has been awarded a contract for £105,000 over three years (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029) to provide therapeutic interventions supporting parents and babies. This is described as a trauma-informed, attachment-based programme integrated within local services.
• Wards Corner will deliver Latin American Stay and Play sessions for £27,595 over three years (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029). These sessions aim to empower targeted families and help mothers build social and networking skills to combat isolation.

The decision to award these contracts, including a waiver of Contract Standing Order 12.02 (the requirement to obtain three competitive quotations), was made because of time constraints and the need to ensure the uninterrupted provision of services. The report highlighted that alternative options, such as a full competitive tendering process, were not considered viable due to limited time, the challenge of attracting a strong market for specialist services, and the risk of significant gaps in service delivery.

The Best Start Family Hubs Programme aims to improve family services, particularly in areas with high levels of deprivation and poor health and educational outcomes. The programme aligns with the council's Corporate Delivery Plan 2024-2026, the Early Years Strategy 2023-2026, and the Early Help Strategy 2024-2027. The funding will enable the council to consolidate, embed, and enhance the Family Hub network and Healthy Babies services offer.

The report also noted that the providers – Whittington Health NHS Trust, Baby's Sake, and Wards Corner CBS – have all been delivering services via the Family Hubs Programme since 2023 and have established relationships within the local community and with various sectors. This continuity was seen as offering the best value for money.

The decision was made in accordance with Contract Standing Order (CSO) 21.01 for the acceptance of grants and CSO 10.01 and Regulation 9 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 for the Parent Infant Psychology Service contract. The financial implications are fully covered by the grant funding, with no impact on the council's General Fund.

The meeting also noted the council's public sector equality duty under the Equalities Act 2010, and it was stated that the proposed contracts are not expected to have a disproportionately negative impact on any group with a protected characteristic. In fact, the decision is anticipated to have a positive impact on service users, including pregnant individuals, new mothers, and children and young people.