Last week's conference in London, called 'Investing in our Future - Making the NHS Childcare Strategy Work', was organised by the Daycare Trust and the Department of Health.
Colette Kelleher, head of partnership operations and advisory unit at the Department for Education and Skills, told delegates that childcare co-ordinators employed by NHS Trusts to help deliver the childcare strategy should work with other key agencies, particularly EYDCPs. She said, 'There are shared targets, but we need to make this more than a happy coincidence by bringing the two interest groups together by co-ordination and sharing of plans centrally as well as locally. By working together the money goes further and parents and children have more help.'
Stephen Burke, Daycare Trust director, said, 'The NHS is leading the way as a flagship employer. The NHS Childcare Strategy is a fine example of what employers should do to aid recruitment and retention of staff by supporting parents.
'It is important that we think beyond the workplace nursery. There are lots of ways NHS staff who are parents can receive support, including childcare vouchers, childminder networks, out- of-school clubs and back-up care.'
Sarah Mullally, chief nursing officer at the Department of Health, said, 'Childcare is everybody's business in the NHS. It is a central issue for staff because if they have enough people to work with them they are able to deliver their jobs.'
