FIFTY contracts to secure the employment of health visitors, community nursery nurses and school nurses have been signed by a North-East council.

Hartlepool Borough Council assumed control of the roles and the Family Nurse Partnership after it was transferred from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust to the authority this month.

The health visitors, community nursery nurses and school nurses have been located at the four early help teams in the Rossmere Children’s Centre, Ward Jackson Children’s Centre, Star Centre and Carnegie Building, since August last year.

Councillor Alan Clark, chair of the council’s children’s services committee, said: “The transfer has been seamless so the public won’t have noticed any difference. It is the same staff delivering these vital services to the people of our town. Moving forward, bringing these contracts in-house will provide an opportunity for better integrated working across children’s and family services across the town.”

Danielle Swainston, Hartlepool council’s assistant director for children’s services met the fifty staff at a recent welcome gathering. She said: “The staff who have transferred will make a significant contribution to public health and children’s services and help the council achieve its vision for a ‘Better Childhood in Hartlepool’.”