Fathers Programme

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) is seeking to commission acomprehensive Fathers Programme that supports fathers and male identifying co-parents throughout the perinatal period and the early years of a child’s life. The service will form part of the wider family support and early intervention offer and will contribute to improving parental wellbeing, strengthening parent infant relationships, and supporting positive outcomes for children and families.

The commissioned service will provide targeted support for fathers experiencing mild to moderate perinatal mental health difficulties from pregnancy until a child reaches two years of age. Support should focus on promoting emotional wellbeing, building resilience, increasing confidence in the parenting role, and preventing the escalation of mental health concerns through timely, accessible, and evidence informed interventions.

In addition to perinatal mental health support, the service should incorporate elements of parenting support that help fathers and co-parents strengthen their relationship with their baby, understand child development, and build the knowledge and skills required to support their child’s healthy development and family wellbeing. Providers should adopt a strengths based approach that recognises and promotes the important role fathers and co-parents play in their child’s life.

Peer support should be embedded throughout the service model and, where appropriate, continue beyond the period of targeted intervention, with ongoing peer support opportunities available until the child’s fifth birthday. This will help to reduce social isolation, encourage sustained engagement, and create supportive communities of fathers and co-parents.

LBBD is seeking a model that works in a proportionate universalistic approach, providing a universal offer which acts as a gateway into more targeted support. The service should provide accessible, welcoming, and non stigmatising opportunities for engagement, enabling all fathers and co-parents to access information, advice, social connection, and early help, whilst ensuring those with emerging or identified needs can be identified and supported appropriately.