Published: 18 June 2007
Redefining the role of Health Visitors
An independent review is recommending ‘strengthening’ the role for health visitors to maximises the impact they can have on children and families.
Ros Lowe, Chair of the Queens Nursing Institute, who led the review, was commissioned by Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, to describe a renewed role for health visitors in light of changing health needs and public expectations.
Following engagement with over a thousand health visitors and local leaders, the review recommends that the profession should have two key roles:
· Leading & delivering a renewed Child Health Promotion Programme for all young children & families
· Intensive early intervention and prevention for families who need help most
The report suggests that it is in these areas that health visitors can utilise their skills & knowledge to have the greatest impact and help deliver the Government's commitment to ensure that children & families receive the care and support they need.
Ros Lowe, Chair of the Queens Nursing Institute, said:
"In carrying out this review I have listened carefully to the profession about what they feel health visitors should offer.
It is not simply about more health visitors doing the same job they have always done but rather focussing their skills and expertise: in early intervention with children and families, and in tackling the 'difficult' issues in vulnerable families and communities within a public health context."
Welcoming the review, Christine Beasley Chief Nursing Officer, said:
"I know that there are genuine concerns within the profession that health visiting has lost its focus, which is why we commissioned this review.
I am determined that we clarify the role of health visitors to ensure they are best placed to make the greatest impact.
This review recognises the huge impact that health visitors can have on children's health and well-being and we will be studying the recommendations closely
Dr Peter Carter OBE, General Secretary of the RCN, said
“I welcome this report which provides a clear direction for the modernised health visiting service in the future. Primary care trusts should use this report to strengthen the contribution of health visiting to local child health promotion and review health visiting resources to achieve this”.
Unite(Amicus)/Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association (CPHVA) release a statement saying that they very much welcomed the review which acknowledges the advanced & specialist level of practice of this professional group.
Unite, CPHVA believes this aspirational review provides a clear direction for the profession to be moving towards, and acknowledgement of where they might be most influential in enhancing the health and wellbeing of children and families.
Whilst there is some clarity on what should constitute a service for the most vulnerable families it will now be necessary to also provide clarity on what should constitute an evidence-based family focused public health service, which is responsive to the needs of the whole population.
Dr Cheryll Adams, Unite Acting Lead Professional Officer, said:
“We look forward to working with the Department of Health to use the review to improve access to quality, evidence based services for all children and families in England.
We hope that the government will respond to the review by acknowledging the enhanced health visiting workforce required to make the proposals a reality.
A review of the additional training requirements for health visitors must be a priority if this new model will translate to the proposed enhanced service outlined in the document”.
Angela Roberts, Chair of the CPHVA, added:
“This Review is long overdue and in reading the content I hope that the profession can draw from the positive opportunities within the document to take forward the profession into a new dimension.
The focus now must be on addressing the issue of reaching an effective model of ‘progressive universalism’ from the reality of massive losses of training places and caseloads of, in excess of, 600 children in many areas of England.
Here again we are faced with the rhetoric and reality gap.”
The Government will now engage stakeholders on how they take forward the recommendations within the report and will publish its response to the review in the autumn.
Further information
Facing the Future: A review of the role of health visitors
Queens Nursing Institute
NHS – Health Visiting
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