Health Visiting

The Health Visiting Service is part of the HCP 0-19 Service. This programme is our national framework for improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 0 to 19 (age 25 for care leavers or those living with special educational needs and disabilities) in England.

The Health Visiting Service support all parents/carers to help give a child the best possible start in life.

All families are offered 5 contacts with the Health Visiting Service, from pregnancy until a child starts full time school.

These are –

• 28 Week Antenatal contact. This will include practical and emotional support and advice about pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent.

• New Birth contact (10-14 days after baby is born). This will include advice and support about babies’ growth, development and feeding.  Practical and emotional support and advice in all aspects of parenthood.

• 6-8 Week contact. (This is in addition to the Postnatal Appointment with a GP). 6 Week Antenatal and 6 Week HV Review. This will include advice and support about babies’ growth, development and feeding.  Practical and emotional support and advice in all aspects of parenthood.

• 9-12 Month contact. This will include advice and support about infants’ growth and development.  Practical and emotional support and advice for parents. Health Visiting – Importance of Development Reviews Poster.

• 24-30 Month contact. This will include advice and support about infants’ growth, development and school readiness. Practical and emotional support and advice for parents.

It is important to attend these appointments. The Health Visiting Service are here to support all families.

What to expect from your Health Visiting Service poster

The Health Visiting Service can offer:

• Support from antenatal through to when a child starts full time school
• Support and advice on family health and minor illnesses
• Advice on feeding, introduction to solids and healthy eating
• Support with behaviour, toilet training, sleep and emotional health
• Support and sign posting to other services, such as dental health, eye health and hearing
• Integrated reviews in Nurseries
• Support around Safe sleep
• Support to prevent accidents
• Well baby clinics – weigh and measure
• School Readiness (School Readiness Poster )

The Health Visiting Service also work closely with other professionals to provide the best service for your child.

The type of support can include:

• Referring families to specialists, such as speech and language therapists
• Signposting to other organisations
• Organising practical support, for example- working with a nursery nurse on the importance of play
• Offering advice and further information on housing issues, benefits, training and education
• Supporting families through difficult periods and identifying needs
• Support to access Family Hubs

The HCP0-19 Service has tailormade pathways to ensure continuity of care for families. These are –

• Teenage Pregnancy Team
  The team offers support for teenage parents aged 13-19 (up to age 25 for those with special educational needs or a disability) and targeted intervention to prevent teenage pregnancy
• Health in Pregnancy Team
  Supporting preparation into parenthood, guidance on infant/parent relationships and early child development
• Medical and Premature Pathway Team
  The team offer tailored support for parents/carers of premature infants and infants/children with medical needs.
• Infant Feeding Team
  The team are here to provide specialist support during your feeding journey to help you attain your goals.
• Family Hub and Strengthening Families Team
  Tailored support to help infants, children, young people and their families to have the best start in life.
• Vulnerable Team
  The team offer health support to families with children who are refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. They provide health support to families fleeing domestic abuse, families living in temporary accommodations and families subject to safety plans.
• SEND Team
  Supporting children, young people and their families with special educational needs, development and disabilities up to 19 years of age (25 years for some children).
• School Nurse Service
  Works in partnership with children, young people and their families to ensure that children’s and young people’s health needs are supported within their school and their community.

HCP0-19 Service Breakdown poster