BFS Health Visiting HUB

What is the BFS Virtual Hub?

The Birmingham Forward Steps Health Visiting Virtual Hub offers a single point of access, making it easier for you to contact us and have your questions answered. The hub provided parents and carers of pre-school children, and professionals virtual access to a Health Visitor who can offer advice and support.

What can I get help with?

The Hub is a Health Visiting Service advice line only and can provide support to parents who have queries in relation to the development of their children aged 0-5.

Who will I be speaking to?

Our dedicated admin team will answer your call, and will then ensure that you are directed to the right clinician, who will support you with your query, or signpost you to the right services for your needs

Who can access the Virtual HUB?

The virtual HUB pilot is currently only available for families living within the following districts:

Erdington and Sutton Coldfield
Ladywood
Selly Oak
Yardley
Hall Green

The Hub is open for calls 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. Please call: 0121 683 2330

See below for a list of useful contacts, resources and apps.

Useful Contacts

Acacia: 0121 301 5990
Pre and postnatal support for the whole family:

Audiology: 0121 313 9364
Hearing assessment service from birth to 16 years of age.

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid: 0121 685 8686
Support women and children affected by domestic violence and abuse.

Breast Feeding Network Advice Line: 0300 1000 201
An independent source of support and information for breastfeeding women and others.

Cerebra: 0800 328 1159
Sleep advice and support.

Central Booking: 0121 683 2320 option 3
For Children and Young People who are referred to the Community Paediatric service, Speech and Language Therapy, Paediatric Physiotherapy and Paediatric Occupational services.

Occupational Therapy advice line: 0121 683 2325

Speech and Language advice line: 0121 466 6231

Women’s Aid: 0808 800 0028
Support for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.

Useful Resources

Your local Children Centre’s deliver a range of key services for 0-5’s including:

Antenatal programmes
Breastfeeding support
Emotional wellbeing
Family support
Health eating
Speech and language
and more!

To find your local Children’s Centre, please click here and enter your postcode.

To find your local stay and play, please click here and enter your postcode.

Useful Apps

Baby Buddy App

Developed by UK charity Best Beginnings in collaboration with parents, healthcare professionals and partner charities across the country: the free Baby Buddy app is with you throughout your pregnancy and parenting journey, day by day.

Baby Check App

The Baby Check App features 19 simple checks that parents can do if their baby is showing signs of illness. Each check tests for a different symptom and when completed, a score is calculated that tells parents or carers how ill their baby is. The app then lets parents know whether their baby needs to see a doctor or health professional.

EasyPeasy App

Parenting tips and activities, personalised for you and your 0-5 year old, from our playful community of parents and experts.

Additional Needs

ADHD Foundation

The ADHD Foundation is the UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering a strength-based, lifespan service for the 1 in 5 of us who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome and more.

Autism West Midlands

AWM are the leading charity in the West Midlands for people on the autism spectrum. They use expertise to enrich the lives of autistic people and those who love and care for them.

Birmingham SEND Local Offer

Help, advice and information about the services available for a child or young person from birth to 25 years with a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND).

Cerebra

Cerebra is the national charity helping children with brain conditions and their families discover a better life together.

Council for disabled children

The umbrella body for the disabled children’s sector with a membership of over 300 voluntary and community organisations and an active network of practitioners that spans education, health and social care.

KIDS

KIDS supports almost 15,000 disabled children, young people and their families every year by delivering over 60 services across England.

Behaviour Management

NHS Behaviour Management

There are lots of possible reasons for difficult behaviour in toddlers and young children. This website will give you tips and advice that can help you and your child.

NSPCC Positive Parenting

This guide shares practical advice and tips for positive parenting techniques that work well for children

Cost of Living Support

Food Banks

There are lots of different ways you can get food for free or low cost. Visit the Birmingham food justice network map to find local options including food banks, food clubs/pantries (cheaper food) and community cafes (free/cheaper meals).

Tax Free Childcare

Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and receive benefits. See if you are eligible today.

Warm Spaces

Inclusive and non-judgmental free access to heated communal spaces with the option of spaces for children and families only. Find a warm space local to you.

Dental Health

Dental Hygiene

It is recommended to start cleaning a babies teeth around 6 months or when the first tooth erupts. Children under 7 should be helped or supervised by an adult to clean their teeth but this does not need to mean they cannot try cleaning their teeth themselves too. Startwell’s Smiley Shen can help.

Find your Local Dentist

The NHS ‘find your dentist’ allows you to find a dentist near you, it also details if they are accepting new patients.

Feeding

Breastfeeding Lounges

Find your local breastfeeding lounge where you can access advice and support and make new friends for you and your baby.

Breastfeeding Network – Support

The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) is a source of support and information for breastfeeding women and others.

First Steps Nutrition

Eating well in pregnancy, infants and new mums and in early years information and resources.

Healthy Start Vitamins

Healthy Start Vitamins are FREE for children under 4 years old and pregnant women from the start of their pregnancy up until their child is 12 months old. You must be with a Birmingham GP.

Infant and Toddler Forum

The Infant and Toddler Forum is dedicated to early-life nutrition from pregnancy to pre-school. Visit to see fussy eating, weaning, portion sizes.

Startwell Birmingham

The Startwell programme is based around 8 key characters and their messages to help early years settings, parents and health professionals create a healthier environment for our children and families.

Unicef

Information on nutrition.

Sleep

Cerebra

A range of sleep services will help your child and everyone in your family get a good night’s sleep.

Lullaby Trust

The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families.

The Sleep Charity

The Sleep Charity provide advice, information and support for those living with sleep issues.

Speech and Language Support

BBC Tiny Happy People

Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child’s language skills. Explore simple activities and play ideas and find out about babies and toddlers’ amazing early development.

BCHC Speech and Language Therapy

BCHC SLT provide evidence based specialist support to children (0-19) with a range of specific speech, language and communication difficulties and those with difficulties swallowing, eating and drinking.

Hungry Little Minds

Tips and ideas to help with speech development.

ICAN

For at least 1.7 million children in the UK, learning to talk and understand words feels like an impossible hurdle.  ICAN give children and young people the skills they need so they aren’t left behind, waiting to be understood.

Literacy Trust

An independent charity working with schools and communities to give disadvantaged children the literacy skills to succeed in life.

Speech and Language UK

Free resources and services can help with understanding what to look out for, how to get support and even some simple ways you can help your child at home.

Toilet Training

ERIC

ERIC is the national charity dedicated to improving children’s bowel and bladder health. Their mission is to reduce the impact of continence problems on children and their families.