The aim of the health visiting service is to promote the health of the whole community and to help in promoting healthy lifestyles addressing concerns about physical, social and psychological well being

Health visitors are an integral part of the NHS’s Community health services.  All health visitors are qualified nurses or midwives with additional specialist training and experience in child health, health promotion and education.  Health visitors offer practical support and advice in a number of diverse situations.

Health visitors aim to promote the health of the whole community and not just families with new babies.  They work from GP surgeries alongside practice staff or from local health centres and clinics.  Contacting your local GP practice, health centre or clinic will put you in touch with a health visitor who can visit you at home or arrange to see you at their base.  Health visitors are subject to a professional code of conduct which requires them to act in your best interest.

Every family with children under the age of 5 years has a named health visitor who can advise on everyday difficulties such as breast feeding, sleeping and general nutrition as well as immunisation programmes, parenting classes, managing difficult behaviour and any special needs your child may have.

Health visitors are working towards a new child health promotion programme and aim to see families with children under the age of 5 years old at key stages as detailed below:
• At lease once during the ante-natal period
• Following the birth of the baby between 7-14 days or earlier as deemed necessary
• At 2, 3 and 4 months
• At 8 months
• At 12-15 months
• 2-2.5 years
• 3-5 years if not in full time education

Health visitors can advise on:
• Employment rights and benefits,
• Support fathers-to-be and reassure new fathers about their role
• Give information on local support networks including ante-natal classes, post-natal groups, breast feeding café and support networks, mother and toddler groups, weaning groups, leisure activities etc.
• Advise on options for child care available locally
• Provide support for parents to include teenagers and advise on teenage health matters
• Domestic violence and the impact on family life signposting families to specialist intervention services
• Support on parenting and general child care management to include accident prevention, diet and nutrition, behavioural problems, growth and development

Health- visitors provide support to promote emotional well being and can point families to specialist help and services e.g. unemployment, recent bereavement, serious illness, and family conflicts.  Health visitors are key practitioners who will support families where there is a child with disabilities or a family who has recently arrived in the country from abroad.

Health visitors can also provide practical help and advice on how to stay healthy.  They run health promotion groups including parenting, baby massage, keep-fit, stress management and also advise on stopping smoking.  Health visitors can also advise and help with HIV/AIDS, screening, alcohol and drug misuse, disability, housing and homelessness, isolation and depression.

Health visitors undertake many interesting and useful projects relating to their work which helps to improve the service they deliver.

Health visitors work closely with various health professionals e.g. school nurses, midwives, GP’s paediatricians, speech and language therapists and also with voluntary and statutory agencies e.g. social services sharing information on a need to know basis ensuring that children, families and young people receive an enhanced supportive service.

For further information contact:

Childrens Centre
Wembley Centre for Health & care
116 Chaplin Rd
Wembley HAO 4UZ
020 8795 6030