To become a health visitor, you need to be a registered nurse or midwife committed to training and then qualifying as a specialist community public health nurse (SCPHN).
What can I expect from a career as a health visitor?
As a health visitor, you will typically work with families from the late antenatal period until their child is five years old.
Your expertise and training will help you identify needs and risks, ensuring that the right support is provided early. You may work with at-risk or deprived groups such as the homeless, addicts, or travellers.
Your role often includes:
- Providing individual support and advice for families in their homes.
- Facilitating clinics and groups with various professionals, including early years practitioners, children’s social care professionals, GPs, school nurses, allied health professionals, and voluntary services.
Typical day-to-day responsibilities:
- Supporting parents during their transition to parenthood and in the weeks following the birth of their baby.
- Providing support and advice on breastfeeding, infant feeding, and healthy eating for young children.
- Assessing children’s growth and development needs.
- Delivering health reviews, including the two-year health review, to ensure children are ready for school.
- Promoting early speech, language, and communication development.
- Supporting maternal and infant mental health.
- Encouraging healthy weight and nutrition to prevent childhood obesity through behaviour change techniques.
- Advising on minor illnesses, home safety, safer sleep, and accident prevention.
You will also complete holistic assessments with families, building on their strengths and identifying any difficulties in meeting their child’s needs. Often, you will be the first to recognise if a child is at risk of harm, and a crucial part of your role will be working with other health and social care partners to:
- Safeguard and protect vulnerable children.
- Identify those at risk.
- Support local safeguarding arrangements and ensure the child’s voice is heard.
Related courses at City
This programme meets the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) proficiencies for SCPHN (NMC, 2022).
You will learn about the latest theory and practice influencing service provision and critically evaluate approaches to developing and delivering effective services to enhance your role as a Health Visitor.
Applications to the health visiting programme are welcomed from applicants who are sponsored by either the NHS, private and/or third sector Health and Social Care organisations.
Applications are also welcome from applicants who are either self-employed and/or self-funded.
Who can I work for as a health visitor?
In England, health visiting services are provided by local authorities, who either employ Health Visitors directly or commission NHS organisations, third-sector organisations or private agencies to provide these services on their behalf.
Some regions operate a ‘staff bank’ to cover vacancies, and you might also find work through NHS Professionals or other specialist nursing agencies.
What are my prospects as a health visitor?
Health visitors often remain in active frontline roles throughout their careers. You might also become a specialist health visitor, working with communities or individuals with specific health and social care needs.
Opportunities for career progression include:
- Operational or management roles, leading teams, specialising in quality and governance, service transformation, or commissioning.
- Teaching within the community, working as a practice assessor, or supporting clinical academic research.
- Academic positions as a lecturer or researcher at a university.