Tower Hamlets Council's Cabinet has approved the allocation of up to £1.6 million in ringfenced funding for Perinatal Mental Health and Parent-Infant Relationship services. The funding, part of the Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies Programme, will be spent over three years from April 2026 to March 2029.
The decision, made at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 24 March 2026, aims to enhance early intervention and support for vulnerable families, addressing rising levels of parental mental health difficulties and attachment challenges. The total planned expenditure for these services over the three-year period is approximately £1.54 million, with an annual allocation of £514,000. This funding is broken down as follows: £1,374,000.00 for pathway services (including coordination), £30,000.00 for workforce development, and £138,000.00 for engagement, co-production, and strategy implementation.
This funding is a mandatory component of the national Healthy Babies offer, which requires the delivery of enhanced perinatal mental health and Parent-Infant relationship support as part of the integrated 0–2 pathway. National guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) reinforces this expectation. The approval allows for the commencement of procurement processes to secure specialist delivery partners for these vital services, ensuring continuity and alignment with national requirements.
The Perinatal Mental Health and Parent-Infant Relationship services are crucial for supporting families during the critical perinatal period, from conception up to the child's second birthday. Local evidence indicates a significant increase in these needs, including postnatal depression, anxiety, trauma, and difficulties in forming early Parent-Infant relationships – pressures that accelerated following the pandemic. This is supported by local need assessments and programme papers. The services are anticipated to have a positive impact by providing early intervention and support, aiming to prevent escalation to specialist mental health services or safeguarding pathways, thereby reducing the long-term mental health burden on parents. Improved parent-infant relationships and maternal wellbeing are expected to contribute to better child development outcomes, including improved school readiness.
The Cabinet also approved the commencement of procurement to secure these specialist services, ensuring that vulnerable families continue to receive essential support without interruption. The chosen providers will be expected to deliver a multidisciplinary service, including psychological support and therapeutic interventions. These services are designed to be accessible to vulnerable families, particularly those facing socioeconomic barriers. The programme aims to provide integrated early help through Family Hubs, with a focus on evidence-based and culturally responsive practice. The services are intended to reach traditionally marginalised communities, including refugee and asylum-seeking families, and those newly arrived to the country, who may have limited access to mainstream services. An external evaluation highlighted that these services benefit those most at risk and least likely to access mainstream services.
Further details on the funding and programme can be found in the Cabinet Report and associated appendices, including the Finance Breakdown document Appendix 1 - Finance Breakdown.
