Health visitors are specialist community public health nurses, (SCPHN) registered midwives or nurses. They specialise in working with families with a child aged 0 to five to identify health needs as early as possible and improve health and wellbeing by promoting health, preventing ill health and reducing inequalities.
Health visitors are NMC registered nurses or midwives who have undertaken additional training in community public health nursing to become specialist community public health nurses. Health visitors lead the Healthy Child Programme (0-5) and are fundamental in ensuring every child has the best start in life.
They usually provide individual support and advice for families in their homes. But they also facilitate clinics and groups with different professionals, including early years practitioners, children’s social care professionals, GPs, school nurses, allied health professionals, and voluntary services to support the needs of children and families.
Health visitors are leaders of the Healthy Child programme, and they work with the family to assess health needs and provide support which includes monitoring and reviewing your child’s development and providing appropriate support.
Our services include:
- Antenatal visits or online session
- Parenting support and advice during their transition to parenthood and in the weeks following the birth of their baby
- Advice on family health and minor illness.
- Home visits shortly after birth, which include advice on diet, Infant feeding and immunisations
- Offer information and support for families on issues such as, sleep problems, solid foods/weaning, dental health, managing toddler behaviour, home safety and accident prevention, minor illness, hearing and speech and language concerns.
- Working with other health and social care partners to safeguard and protect vulnerable children.
Key stages at which the health visitor will see you after the new birth visit are:
- 10 -14-day new birth visits
- Visits to your local child health clinic
- 6-8 week contact to assess feeding and your progress, including screening and support for post-natal depression.
- 10 -12-month health and development review
- 2-2.5 years health and development review.
Contact
Brent 0-19 Single Point of Access (SPA)
- Phone: 020 8102 4900
- Email: clcht.brentadminhub@nhs.net
- Opening hours: 5 days a week, 9am to 5pm