Review of the Healthy Child Wales Programme INFORMATION SHEET FOR PARTICIPATING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OLD

Please see the privacy notice for information about how we will use your information safely.

1.    Who is doing the research?

The Welsh Government has commissioned OB3 Research (OB3) to review the Healthy Child Wales Programme in Wales. OB3 is an independent research, evaluation and consultancy firm.

2.    Why is the research being conducted?

The aim of the research is to provide evidence about the perceived impact of the Healthy Child Wales Programme and to assess whether the way it is currently being delivered is suitable.  

The research is expected to provide recommendations for the future development of the Healthy Child Wales Programme.  

3.    Why have you been asked to take part?

OB3 wants to talk to parents and caregivers of children under the age of five about their contact and experience with health visiting teams and other health professionals between the maternity service handover and the first years of schooling (when your child was between the age of 10-14 days and 3.5 years).

4.    What will taking part involve?

You told us via Angelfish, the focus group recruitment agency, that you would be prepared to take part in a discussion group with other parents and carers of children under 5 to help us understand more about the timing and content of your contact with the health visiting teams and how they supported you with health screening, immunisation and your child’s development. You will be invited to take part in an online discussion held via Microsoft Teams in November 2025. The focus group will take up to an hour. Parents/caregivers will be able to participate in Welsh or English, according to their preference. 

5.    Will you be paid for taking part?

We do offer a £40 gift voucher to parents/carers who participate in our focus groups.

6.    Do you have to take part?

No, participation in this research project is completely voluntary. Participants can decide not to take part at any time and no reason needs to be given. Participants can say no to answering any questions during the focus group.

7.    What are the possible benefits of taking part?

We hope that the research will support the Welsh Government to develop their approach to helping children develop healthy behaviours in their formative years and reach key developmental milestones.

8.    What are the possible risks of taking part?

Focus group discussions will be held in confidence and nothing that you tell us will be shared with anybody outside of the research team, unless there is a risk of harm to you or someone else. Focus group participants will be asked not to repeat anything that is disclosed by other focus group participants.

9.    What will happen to my personal information and the recording of the discussion?

Please see the Privacy Notice that accompanies this information sheet, which describes how we securely handle any personal information.

10. What will happen to the results of the research project?

The information collected during the project will be included in a report published on the Welsh Government website and possibly in other publications by OB3 and Welsh Government. These reports will not include any information that could be used to identify individual participants.

11. What if I have a question?

The contact for this research at OB3 is Heledd Bebb.

E-mail address: heledd.bebb@ob3research.co.uk

Thank you for considering taking part in this research project.