Thanet Early Intervention Scheme Pilot Project: NEST Evaluation Report

This report describes the process and findings of an evaluation of the work of the Newington Early Support Team (NEST). Based at the Newington Road GP Surgery in Ramsgate, NEST was one of two Early Intervention Pilot Projects established in East Kent in 2004.

Early intervention targeted at families who are vulnerable due to health and social inequalities can facilitate positive long-term outcomes, especially when this intervention is initiated during the antenatal or natal stages (Warr-Leeper 2001). Based on such an understanding, NEST fused health and social care teams to share in preventative work. The project was created with five key aims (Billings 2005):

• establishing an antenatal and pre-school family intervention service through home visiting

• developing appropriate referral pathways

• promoting health development

• prevention of referrals to social services

• supporting families to meet the needs of their children.