As a health visitor, you will work with children aged 0 to 5 and their families to ensure they have the best start in life possible. This includes identifying health or developmental needs, improving health and well-being, and reducing disparities. You’ll work with parents to help and support them and provide any necessary information and guidance.
You will visit families in their homes, clinics, or communities and work with other professionals such as nurses, general practitioners, midwives, social workers, and childcare providers.
To become a health visitor, you must first be a trained and registered nurse or midwife, followed by completion of an approved training programme.
In addition to children and their families, you may work with at-risk or underprivileged groups such as addicts, the homeless, or travellers.
Responsibilities
Throughout your apprenticeship, you may help:
- give advice to new parents on baby feeding, hygiene, safety and sleep
- support parents with their children’s development needs
- coordinate child immunisation programmes
- organise special clinics or drop-in centres
- support children with special needs
- advise on how to reduce the risk of accident and injury
- work closely with social services and other organisations to safeguard and protect children.
Salary
- Health visitors usually begins with salaries of £32,306 for those with less than two years’ experience and rises up to £39,027 once you’ve got more than five years’ experience.
- Team managers and health visitor specialists can earn up to £45,839.
Working hours
You’ll usually work 37.5 hours each week. Clinics, drop-in centres, and support groups may need evening hours.
Working environment
You could work at a client’s home, at a health centre or at a GP practice.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and you’ll travel often.
Qualifications
Qualifications you can achieve as an apprentice health visitor include:
- Level 7 Specialist Community and Public Health Nurse – You must be a qualified registered nurse or midwife to complete this qualification.
This typically takes 18 months to complete as a mix of 50 percent workplace learning and 50 percent academic study at an accredited university.
Skills
On a health visitor apprenticeship, you’ll learn:
- sensitivity and understanding
- active listening skills
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to understand people’s reactions
- knowledge of psychology
- the ability to use your initiative
- to be flexible and open to change
- administration skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device.
Employers
Health visitors are usually employed by the NHS in various locations, although they may also be employed by local governments.
In addition to treating patients in the surgery, you may be linked with a general practice and make home visits within the practice region. You might also work in community and outreach clinics or Sure Start centres.
Working as a member of a staff ‘bank’ and filling vacancies is possible in certain areas. Work may be available via specialised nursing companies as well.
After obtaining experience, you might become a professor or instructor for universities or other academic institutions. You might also serve as a mentor to new health visitors.
Professional development
To work as a nurse or midwife and a health visitor in the United Kingdom, you must be registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). Revalidation is required every three years to keep your registration current.
It is necessary to complete at least 450 hours of licenced practice and 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD), including 20 hours of interactive learning.
Attending conferences or seminars, learning online, and doing independent research are all examples of professional development activities. In addition, the Institute of Health Visiting offers training and professional development opportunities.
Your local trust will often give the training to aid your professional development.
Depending on the trust, further opportunities exist to broaden professional interests via post-registration degrees or research studies.
Career prospects
Many health visitors remain on the front lines for their careers. Still, there are alternative avenues you may follow using the skills you obtained as a practising health visitor.
You could choose a team leader or a community matron. You will manage and oversee teams of health visitors and other community staff in addition to your health visitor duties. You must have relevant experience and a postgraduate diploma level of study.
You might also work as a professional health visitor, helping communities, families, and individuals with unique health and social needs. This might entail specialised service planning and cooperation with other organisations. You will also train and oversee health visitors and students. You must have a Masters degree or an equivalent certification to be considered for this role.
Another possibility is to rise to strategic or clinical control roles or to teach or train nurses or other health visitors.