Health visitor jobs

Health visitor

Health visitors are registered nurses or midwives who have also completed specialized training in public health. Their job is to collaborate with families who have children under the age of five in order to improve the children's health and prevent disease.

What responsibilities does a health visitor have? Common employers | Education and experience requirements | Essential skill sets

The health of young children may be better maintained when their families get assistance from health visitors. Home visits are a common need for this. They could also work with disadvantaged populations, like the homeless, for example. The following are important responsibilities:

offering medical guidance and participation in health education programs

carrying out developmental evaluations on infants, toddlers, and adolescents

assisting individuals in coming to grips with a variety of challenges, including postnatal depression

identifying and meeting the most important health requirements

recommendation to and coordination with other organizations that are pertinent

evaluating parental abilities and the living conditions of the children, as well as providing the parents with any further help that may be required

collaboration with other experts in their fields, such as social workers, general practitioners, and school nurses

Common places of employment for health visitors

The National Health Service (NHS) or local government are the usual employers of health visitors. They could work out of community clinics or general practitioner (GP) offices. However, you might look for employment in other settings, such as non-profits or organizations that rely on volunteers.

Employment opportunities are publicized on the websites of the National Health Service (NHS), NHS Scotland, and the Institute of Health Visiting, respectively.

Qualifications and experience are expected of applicants.

After completing the necessary training and being licensed as a nurse or midwife, the next step in the career path is to become a health visitor. After that, you can submit an application to participate in an approved degree program in specialist community public health nursing – health visiting (SCPHN – HV), which should be approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This degree can be earned at either the undergraduate or postgraduate level (NMC). Before beginning training to become a health visitor, it is not necessary for you to have worked in the medical field as a nurse or midwife for a certain amount of time.

Earning credentials as a nurse or midwife requires completion of a nursing degree program that typically takes between three and four years to complete. Those individuals who already possess an undergraduate degree in a field such as the life, health, biological, or social sciences may be eligible for an abbreviated nursing program that lasts for just two years. 

Competencies that are essential for health visitors

The capacity to comprehend other individuals and win the confidence of those individuals

Having the ability to prioritize tasks and organize one's schedule

a warm, patient, and accessible demeanor along with interpersonal abilities

Maturity of mind and heart