Health visiting
A health visitor is a qualified nurse with specialist qualifications. Health visitors aim to promote the physical health and mental well-being of children and their families.
Health visitors are part of Northumberland Care Trust's community health services and FACT (Families and Children’s Trust). They work with midwives, GPs, Sure Start Children Centres, and local community and voluntary services.
What do health visitors do?
Health visitor teams include nursery nurses and staff nurses. Health visitor teams provide a wide-ranging service to children and their families. They can also refer you to other services to support you with more specialist problems.
Health visitors work with parents and carers to ensure that children have the best start in life and are able to achieve their full potential. They work jointly with other groups, including schools, children’s services and children’s charities, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, so they are protected from significant harm.
The health visiting team offers support and information directly to parents and their children about:
- Family health and wellbeing including support for mothers with postnatal depression
- Infant feeding with special knowledge of breast feeding
- Parenting
- A child’s growth and development – including advice for a child who is either underweight or overweight
- Common childhood infections/illnesses and immunisation
- Common skin problems
- Language development and early learning guidance
- Behaviour difficulties, including sleeping, eating, potty training, temper tantrums
- Healthy eating, play, safety and exercise
- Accident prevention
- Acting as key worker for young children with disabilities
Child health clinics, support groups and parenting groups provide up to date information about bringing up your family as well as opportunities to meet other parents.
How can I access the service?
When you become pregnant you will have a named health visitor assigned to you and you will receive a home visit before the baby is born. Your health visitor will let you know about the child health promotion programme and when to expect a routine contact from the health visitor team. Contact details will be provided for services that can help or advise you as required. If necessary you can contact a health visitor via a GP surgery.
Contact details
If you would like to receive more information about Northumberland Care Trust/ FACT health visitor service please contact:
Health visitor professional and management lead
Northumberland Child Health Centre
Woodhorn Lane
Ashington
NE63 9JJ
Tel: 01670 564030
Useful websites
NHS direct - this is a website and a 24 hour nurse-led helpline providing advice and information. You can telephone NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
Sure start - sure start improves health and education for children up to 4 years of age and provides a range of support for their families.
NHS Choices - this is the main NHS website providing up to date information for parents on the importance of immunisations for children.
UNICEF the baby friendly initiative -this site offers information to mothers on feeding babies.
La Leche League Great Britain - offers breast feeding support to mothers. Also provides a helpline telephone number for information and support.
Information provided on this website about child development is based on research, but it is only a guide. If you have any concerns regarding your child's health or development, then please contact your health visitor or GP.
