I'm a health visitor AMA

[CosmicTeacup]

I'm going to regret posting this aren't I?

I'm always open and honest with families about why I'm there and what I'm looking for.

You must be the only one who is!

I’m a retired HV and was also a band 7 practice teacher. The only way to practice is by being honest and open. You have absolutely nothing to gain by being any other way.

@elliejjtiny HVs hand over to school nurses when children are due to start school, if you are universal ie needed no extra support and there are no issues then you don't see the HV after the 2-2.5 year development review in England (I understand this is slightly different in Scotland and Wales)

@QueenAravisOfArchenland I've been most shocked by the chaotic lives some children have due to neglect and abuse. Real signs of neglect are failing to seek medical help, poor development in the absence of additional needs and unkempt children but it can be well hidden too. Things added to bottles? Sugar, milkshake powder, tea, I've even encountered a 6 month old with coke in their bottle (that's cola not cocaine!)

to Cosmic

In a previous role I worked closely with the FNP nurses, which I think is a fantastic (if overloaded scheme). Do you have them in your area and do you work alongside them or do they work with the families and hand over once the child is 2? Is it a role you’d be interested in?

Thank you OP, it sounds like you are a hv everyone would like to have. Your answers give confidence to challenge bad practice. You seem an exception to the rule perhaps, as this old but still relevant article shows www.thealphaparent.com/health-visitors-help-or-hindrance/

@PersisFord yes, it is standard to visit mums of multiples more, this is purely because support at be needed more so than with a singleton. If I thought a mum was struggling I'd ask them if they wanted more support and explain why.

That article is an opinion piece which uses often iffy sources (the Guardian isn’t an academically rigorous source) to support their own agenda. Confirmation bias, if you will. This isn’t an intelligent, informed exploration and analysis of the facts on both sides of the argument. The use of the phrase ‘no shit sherlock’ also gave that game away.

Of course HV’s have a safeguarding responsibility, it is a huge part of the role. As it is a huge part of any healthcare professional’s role. However, to say that equates to the automatic assumption that every child is the victim of abuse is utter nonsense and shows the author of the ‘article’ to be entirely unimpartial on the subject.

@CosmicTeacup - Have sent you a pm.

@Sporkintgetoaster an opinion piece or not it totally matches my opinion that formed through experience sadly. When I meet a hv like the op my opinion will change. For example once had 5 different people visit in the first month all with different advice, if I was less resilient it would have landed me with pnd and not breastfeeding. No shit sherlock

Robin we had the opposite problem!

Cosmic would you wash your hands, if the parents requested it? Think very small baby, CLD with home oxygen and flu season.

How common is it for new mothers to decline the offer of health visits and a health visitor's services, in your experience? Does doing so "black list" the mother in anyway?

@Eeeeek2 most families don't seem to mind and if there are child protection issues they don't really have much choice but to seek medical assistance for injuries etc

@Thesearmsofmine my favourite part of the job is when parents are truly grateful for the support they've received because that means I've done a good job and made a difference.

@QueenAravisOfArchenland no, I don't know that book, I'll look it up

Waving back to @Oldagepensioner

@SporkInTheToaster we have a similar scheme though not fnp. They tend to hand the children back when they get to 2 unless the family needs further support but will take them back if they have more children. I think it's a good idea in principle but there aren't enough of them. It's not for me personally, I'd like to specialise in SEND.

@pandamodium of course I'd wash my hands if I was requested to though I do always gel my hands in front of the parents on arrival.

Is there much scope for specialisation to that degree, given the deep cuts to general HV services?

What's the biggest baby you've ever seen?

@ZispinAndWine it's surprisingly rare given the consensus on here that HVs are disliked so much! And no, there's no black mark but we obviously then are concerned that there may be something hidden. All we can do though is document that the service has been declined and we have to inform the GP and children's services of this too in case other concerns arise.

@SporkInTheToaster there is no funding. My plan is to self fund/seek external stipends for the PhD and keep my fingers crossed that one of the very rare specialist posts comes up!

@Arlothe7footdinosaur the biggest baby I've seen personally had a birthweight of 10lb 10oz.

Just to answer another question. The youngest mother I had on my caseload was 12. She wouldn’t disclose who the father was. At 13 she was pregnant again. I remember one of my students reading the notes and being very upset about this.