Around half of the UK’s children living in separated families go without child maintenance because their parents don’t have any arrangement in place.
Child Maintenance Options is a free information and support service and has launched a new leaflet on the issue.
It aims to dispel the myth that mothers have to use the Child Support Agency and says the easiest and most flexible arrangement for separated parents is often to set-up a family-based arrangement.
Work and pensions minister Maria Miller said: ‘Health professionals are ideally placed to spot families and children who could benefit from child maintenance.
‘Simply asking whether they have an arrangement in place may help nudge them into thinking about setting up a family-based arrangement.
‘When they’re in place they can work wonders for the families you work with.
‘A Health Professional’s Guide to Child Maintenance also contains handy information to help health professionals answer questions from parents about child maintenance.’
She added that child maintenance can make ‘an incredible difference to children’s lives, making sure they get the best possible start in life’.
RCM general secretary Cathy Warwick has also welcomed the initiative.
‘Midwives can make a valuable contribution to improving the health and the wellbeing of mothers and babies and reducing health inequalities,’ she said.
‘The RCM believes that all midwives should be able to identify and understand key health and social issues that affect women and be able to signpost them to the relevant specialist services.’
To view the leaflet, please
click here.
