hv involvement

[golemmings]

Is it usual for a child with special needs (or potential sn) to have more involvement from a health visitor?

The hv system has changed round us recently and there is much more hv engagement - from one home visit and drop in clinics they have gone to at least 3 home visits, one at birth, a maternal mh assessment at 6-8 weeks plus a weaning visit at 4-6 months and then developmental reviews at clinic at 12 and 24 months.

Not only that but we have an allocated hv and ours is proactive, engaged, has asked my permission to read over my hospital notes from DS's delivery to find out more about his potential issues, has asked to read DS's neonatal discharge letter and offered to explain anything we don't understand and is incredibly supportive..

Do we just have a complete gem of a hv or is she lining herself to for more engagement over the coming years? Not sure whether we've just got lucky or have fallen into a new bit of the system. Either way I'm planning on hanging on to her!

DDs left when she was 8 weeks old and we never got another one but I think more typically they fall away if there is cdc/ccn involvement. We're quite rural so the service is patchy anyway. Yours sounds excellent, it's nice to have someone on side :)

I think there are some good ones out there. It was my hv that first picked up signs of 'problems' with DS1 and that was nearly 7 years ago (he's now nearly 9 - it was at the 2 year check) . She arranged referrals with paed (via dr) and was always at the end of the phone when i had a few problems getting hold of people. She then routinely did more checks for the others - ds2 and 3.
1 of the very few that if she said 'leave it with me' - it was always done without chasing . Just a shame that not all hvs at the same surgery were as good.

Sounds like we might just be lucky then.

Bob, what's cdc/ccn?

Can you tell I'm new to all this?

Sorry Child Development Centre and Community Care Nurse. Definitely hold onto her, it's always handy to have someone who can help with what is available and where.

My HV was rubbish. She didn't pick up anything about DS2 at his 2 year check except his late speech, despite my worries but as DS1 had delayed speech it just got a referral to SALT. Six months later and the SALT instantly thought ASD (though didn't say at that point, obviously) and persuaded me to get the HV to do a developmental check. I was due to pop with DS3 at the time, so the HV delayed the assessment until DS2 had 'got used to the new baby.' This delayed things another 4 months, by which time anyone could see there was something strange about DS2's development. Finally got to see the paed just after DS2 was 3 yo and he was DX 5 months later.

To cut a long story short, anyone who is 'on your side' is worth their weight in gold! Lets hope it's a sign of things to come.