The NSF for children, young people and maternity services: an overview.

Unlike many of the other national service frameworks for England which are disease or condition specific, the children's national service framework encompasses all aspects of children's and young people's health care. The other major difference is that standards do not have detailed targets with set timescales but centre upon principles and examples of good practice. The overriding principle is to ensure quality and safety of care. The implementation of the NSF will form part of the wider programme aimed at improving standards and outcomes for all children. The publication Every Child Matters (DfES 2003) sets out a vision of the outcomes and commitment to support every child to: be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, achieve economic well-being. The NSF standards will feature within the new integrated inspection framework around children's services. Local champions will be crucial to ensuring that the standards are fully implemented at local level. Nurses, midwives and health visitors should take every opportunity to influence developments and ensure that they become actively involved in local discussions and decision-making forums.