Health Visiting

Leeds Health Visiting Service
Health visiting teams are located across the city. Health visitors will normally visit you when your baby is born and then follow your child until they start school. Their role is to work with families as well as the wider local community, promoting healthy lifestyles and addressing concerns about physical and mental well being

What is a health visitor (HV)?

• Health visitors are qualified midwives or nurses with additional specialist training and experience in child health, health promotion and education.
• HVs are part of the primary health care team made up of GPs, midwives, practice nurses and district nurses
• HVs can be involved in a variety of work like Well Baby Clinics, baby massage sessions, breastfeeding groups, sleep clinics and parenting groups
• We work with individuals and familiies and the community to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent people becoming ill
• We are here to support parents and carers by sharing information about everyday childhood difficulties such as teething, feeding and behaviour

Health Visiting teams
may include health visitors, nursery nurses, health visiting assistants and clerical support.  HVs or team members may:

• Visit you in your home by appointment
• See you in a clinic or health centre
• Provide information about local support networks to help with parenting
• Direct or refer you to another agency or organisation
• Help you to learn and understand your baby's development and needs
• Develop a programme of support and intervention adapted to your needs

Health advice
Health Visiting teams work with other agencies and voluntary organisations to improve the health of the local population.  We can  help with  information on:

Accident prevention	Baby Massage
Contraception and sexual health	Breast feeding and baby cafes
Coronary Heart Disease	Mums and tots groups
Healthy eating	Parenting groups
Immunisation	Weaning groups
Smoking cessation	Well baby clinics

Who will you see from the team and when?

Antenatal	Health Visitor (HV)	Home visit by appointment for introduction and start family health needs assessment
Post natal - within 21 days of baby's birth	Health Visitor	To assess your baby's and family's needs
4 weeks support visit	Health Visitor	Home visit by appointment
6-8 weeks	GP, HV or community medical officer	Seen at surgery for baby's examination
2 months	Practice Nurse or HV	Seen at surgery for immunisation & weight
3 months	Practice Nurse or HV	Seen at surgery for immunisation & weight
3-4 months	Health Visitor	Home visit by appointment
4 months	Practice Nurse or HV	Seen at surgery for immunisation & weight
8-12 months	HV or Nursery Nurse	Contact offered
15 months	Practice Nurse or HV	Seen at surgery for MMR jab
24 months	HV or Nursery Nurse	Review re further contact needs
42 months	Health Visitor	Review & handover to school nurse service