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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Home visit before baby is assessed - is this normal?

11 replies

mm22bys · 31/07/2007 13:27

Hi,

I am not sure where to post this, but hopeing someone may be able to reassure me...

DS is 8 months old and he has been referred to the Child Development Team to assess his development. He has two appointments, on two consecutive Thursdays.

I got the appointment later today and they are going to arrange a home visit before the appointment, they say to discuss what will happen at the actual appointment.

I am really scared about this. Are they actually checking up on me and my parenting, state of house, etc? If it is actually "just" to discuss the appt, why can't this be done over the phone, or at the clinic the week before?

OP posts:

lulumama · 31/07/2007 14:21

is this extra to the usual 8 month check? your HV might just want to come and have an informal chat and put your mind at rest over a cup of tea?

Original poster

mm22bys · 31/07/2007 14:29

Yes, this is extra to the usual checks.

HV has been involved with DS for the last six months and she has finally referred him to the Child Development Team.

This home visit is going to be by one member of the CDT.

If only it was "just" the hv!

(Thx for your response - it is appreciated!)

OP posts:

Dinosaur · 31/07/2007 14:31

Home visits very normal, ime. We have had several, from all sorts of people.

The worst thing about is having to answer all the same questions and give all the same information to multiple different people!

Original poster

mm22bys · 31/07/2007 14:34

Thx Dinosaur. I have had the hv here several times, and she is lovely, but this is first time anybody else has come (other than the police who turned up when DS1 rang emergency services....)

Why do they bother with home visits? It seems like a pretty inefficient use of resources if they are "just" going to let me ask questions and tell me what's going to happen at the appointment!

(I am really scared about this...)

OP posts:

Dinosaur · 31/07/2007 14:38

Is there anything in particular that you are worried about?

FWIW I have never felt particularly under scrutiny - our house is not immaculate by any means.

sallysparrow · 31/07/2007 19:55

Its not to scrutinise you at all - dont worry! Its to let you ask some questions in advance, also to get an idea of how your DS is in his own surroundings, rather than the unfamiliar environment of the CDC.

Not all CDCs do it, but yours may well be a good one if they are! it also means when you go there you will already know one member of the team, which should help you to relax a bit more.

(Youre not in Tower hamlets are you? i used to work there and thats how they did it!)

Original poster

mm22bys · 31/07/2007 21:17

Hi sallysparrow

Thanks for yor reassurance. I do feel like it is to put me under scrutiny (Dinosaur I feel like they are going to check how I play with him, whether he has a stimulating enough environment, and what I am feeding him!) and yes I am in Tower Hamlets!

I am going to ring them on Thursday to find out what to expect when they do come.

Thx again

OP posts:

kikidee · 31/07/2007 21:31

Hi mm22bys, my DD is deaf and has been referred to our local Child Development Centre as a matter of course. One of the specialist Health visitors came to see me at home a few weeks ago in advance of the appointment at the Centre (which I don't actually have yet). She was lovely and she just took some general background information from me and we had a chat about how I was coping. It's a good opportunity for you to ask questions in an informal environment and, as Sallysparrow says, you then know at least one of the people you will see at the appointment at the Centre.

elasticsortinghandstand · 31/07/2007 21:42

they do it in other places too. that way the first appt can put in writing perhaps a summary of the sitaution which can be looked at prior to your appointment, and so speed up process and help in the long run. And first visit could organise anything that needs organising, if long wait for actual appt.

sallysparrow · 31/07/2007 22:09

Please dont worry about it - the whole thing is to support you and DS as much as possible, not to criticise you. Hell I dont know what theyd think if they walked into my house right now!

When i was there it was always the sopecialist HV who did the home visits, or sometimes the social worker. But later we changed it so someone appropriate to the child's referral went, eg SALT if there was language delay, physio if motor delay. It spread the workload but also made the assessment more efficient.

It was a long time ago i was there, but things cant have changed that much if they still assess on a thursday!

They do a very thorough assessment, and you should get the services you need pretty quickly afterwards. If your DS has a specific diagnosis they will also tell you as soon as they know, unlike some other places i could mention, who keep parents hanging on.

I know its easy to say dont worry, but they are there to help you. And theres support on here!

Good luck

Original poster

mm22bys · 01/08/2007 08:31

Thanks Sally, I do feel so reassured now!

I think our biggest concern is his motor development, so maybe it will be physio who comes, but I will still phone them on Thursday (the woman I need to speak to is only there Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays - does that sound familiar?), and hopefully get the low-down.

I talked to DH too about it last night, and he actually thought the home visit was a great idea!

Thx for your reassurance,

OP posts:

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