Health Visitors

What is a health visitor?

A Health Visitor is a qualified and registered nurse or midwife who works primarily with pre-school children and families. The role of the Health Visitor is about the promotion of health and the prevention of illness in all age groups. The health visitor leads a skill mix team of community staff nurses and community nursery nurses
 
The health visiting team are be able to support and advise on areas such as breast feeding and weaning, emotional wellbeing, attachment, safety, immunisation, physical and emotional development and other aspects of health and childcare. They are also able to provide support with behaviour management, toilet training, sleep and school readiness.
 
Health visitors can advise on all aspects of family health and social issues that may impact on families. Health visitors work in partnership with GPs and other members of the primary healthcare team, and other health professionals such as therapists, community paediatricians, and child and adolescent mental health services.

Health visitors work in collaboration with other agencies such as local authority children’s services and early years children’s services.
 
The health visiting service also has close contact with, and may refer families to, support groups in the voluntary sector such as Home Start. The team are able to signpost clients to services in the local community.