Bloody HV

[NinjaPanda34]

I could write a book about my health visitor. Today she said "oh x's eye looks really sore", er you silly moo, it's a birth mark and it's the same fcuking birthmark that you comment on every time you come. It's red. It's a birthmark. There is nothing wrong with his eye.
Sigh.

"If they are constantly caught up in complex safeguarding, CIN cases they do not have the capacity to provide the core service."

This was the issue when I was working in a London borough.

I honestly don't think HV's can win.

After 2.5 years of working with HV's I do know what they their role is.

People think their role is weighing babies and giving advice on naps but that's a ridiculous ideology.

Health Visitors are qualified nurses and midwives with extensive education, experience and training behind them that means they are far more capable than simply giving advice on naps and milk.

You're right, they aren't Social Workers but they work very, very closely with them.

It's called Multi Disciplinary Team Working which occurs in every single aspect of care.

Each division of health care doesn't exist in it's own little bubble, we all work together as a big team to do what is best for the child.

I can't even be bothered any longer to explain what 'we' do.
There is shockingly large majority on MN who universally dislike HV's, brand us pointless, useless, damaging, interfering etc and no matter how hard you try to defend your profession a lot have already made their mind up about what you are. Luckily for me in order to pass the revalidation process required in order to maintain my registration I have to submit feedback from families which happens to be quite the contrary to what many on MN think.
But meh at least you are leaving teachers and their 'stupidly long' holidays alone!

And mrs dv I think it's rather short sighted to generalise what hvs do based on what you see in your geographical area.
I have about 14 enhanced families on my caseload of 300 and make about 3 out of 30 child protection visits a week. Haven't had to attend a CIN or conference for about 6 months

My HV ignored and then mocked my concerns, which led to irreparable damage to my DDs eyesight.
She denied all knowledge when later she was challenged on it.
She was intimidating, always arrived without an appointment (I'd thought that was standard) and once I returned from the shops to find her hammering on my door, shouting 'I know you're in there.'

I'm not slating them all, only this one.

Wow mrs dv- arrogant much?

I've only had good experiences of HVs. (and I'm sure one of mine told me they had to be qualified nurses, with midwifery training, before they can become HVs).

I moved 200 miles away after DD1 and that HV introduced me to other mums in my neighbourhood, gave me contacts for the NCT group and an exercise class with a creche, and told some of the mums at both to look out for me. Made it all so much easier.

Following marriage breakdown with two kids under 3, at a very low point I decided my children would be better off without me and they should go into care. I called my HV, who came round that day. She spent ages talking to me, told me how well the kids were doing, how well I was doing. Convinced me to talk to my GP and referred me for hypnotherapy. She was wonderful.

It makes me really sad to read some of the awful experiences here.

Both my dds have small (think 5p) strawberry marks on their foreheads and back of the heads - it was commented on so much by hv/midwife/doctor that it started to drive me insane!

I do have to attend, just not the over exaggerated amount you have stated as fact. So far this week I have done three 9 month reviews three 4 month reviews and am off shortly to do a two year review and a six to eight week check. All core stuff

I think writer was just giving an opinion just like everyone else tbf. From how she knows things.

I'm not being nasty mrs dv just trying to point out you were also being guilty of generalising

It amazes me that HVs have to be nurses. It's also worrying they're nurses looking at some of the things they say.

The HV who visited after I had DD told me that shaken baby syndrome is something that can happen when fathers pick up babies and jiggle them up and down, going coochie-coochie-coo. I am not making this up - that was exactly how she described it! I considered making a complaint but I had enough on my mind at the time as an anxious first time mother especially as I was constantly paranoid about DH injuring DD by accident after that

Our HV doesn't work in conjunction with any of the other health professionals that our son has seen on average every 12 weeks (every 4 weeks for 8 months) since he was born.
A trip to A&E to address an issue with a post op problem (because his clinical team are 2hours away and it was a weekend) triggered contact from the HV. Did she phone to check we were ok? Did she actually read his notes either for this attendance or generally? No....she just assumed we needed a safeguarding visit, made an appointment without checking it was convenient and then got an arse on when she lied to me about something and didn't like being told that actually I knew she was lying.

I have had 2 absolutely stellar HV's.....but this one is rude, aggressive and lies. She does a disservice to the rest of the HV team, and recently talking to other mums and some of the treatment they've had under her - I am appalled.

Mrs DV you stated we may as well admit hvs work for SS. This simply isn't true and I do get fed up of hearing these myths about what we are and what we do. We work hard to provide families with a good core service which is exactly why hv numbers have been increased over the past five years

My Mum was an HV in Luton many years ago and she was a good friend to many mothers and strove to get the GPs in the practice doing their bit too. But as in all walks of life some people are brighter than others and this sounds like a failure to check the notes from before (or even a failure to MAKE the note at the time!). No doubt it is to do with workload too. But I can see your point of view - I can only suggest that you greet her warmly and mention that your baby is the one with the XXX as she probably remembers. Good luck!

open weigh in at local clinic, my tiny DS stripped off and ready to go on scales, a loud obnoxious woman HV who had been patronising and snide to me before, and who knew my history,came flying over and loudly announces to the packed clinic ' my god! it looks as if he has been scalded with a kettle!' very dramatic hands in the air high pitched screech. also a horrible look of half smirk / triumph on her mug. all heads snapped round to stare at the young inexperienced mum, tuts were heard and the silence was deafening. I was gutted, it was an angry red birthmark I was anxious about as it was.
I was 16 and a single parent fresh out of care with no family or support. luckily I was also a bolshy rough nut who gave no fucks, I hissed in her face to get t fuck out my way before I knocked her out. took my turn at the scales and asked the nurse to check my sons BIRTHMARK so the room could hear.
still bothers me 20 years later, I wonder how differently things could have been if I was suffering PND or having a hard time adjusting to becoming a mother. stupid bitch.
Incidentally, I gave her the shock of her smug life a few years later. i recognised her elsewhere.I am sure she has never forgotten that either. shrug.

MRs D, I wouldnt take offence re the epicanthic folds and wide nasal bridge, my guess is she was noting it in case of a pseudo squint.
All innoent.