Health Visitor

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

Work as a Specialist within the Public Health Nursing team, having continuous responsibility for a named caseload to deliver specialised support and services to children and families and the community within defined standards. Work with children, young people and their parents/ carers to complete a range of health, neurodevelopmental and social assessments, utilising specialist knowledge, and accountable for the onward referral to secondary and tertiary specialists as required. Assess, plan and provide interventions/care based on specialist knowledge and needs to support families with young children though planned ante-natal contacts, primary contacts and negotiated home visits and clinic contacts. Lead practitioner and responsible for planning and organising mandated activities and interventions related to the Healthy Child Programme. Lead practitioner and responsible for planning and organising additional, targeted support for children and families as appropriate. Lead practitioner and responsible for planning and organising and adjusting the delivery of specialist individual needs led care packages in partnership with other relevant agencies. Employ advanced communication skills in interventions in sensitive and emotive areas, including use of motivational interviewing and cognitive behaviour therapy techniques. Counsel and advise individuals/families/groups on specific health topics. To monitor growth and development and provide developmental assessments to vulnerable children based on identified needs. To promote positive Maternal Mental Health through working within the Peri-natal Pathway, assessing maternal mental health. Design and develop programmes of care to address behaviour management issues, in partnership with families/individuals/carers. To plan and organise home visits as appropriate as a lone worker or in conjunction with other professionals across internal and external multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams. Provide practice development opportunities for own team and partner organisation. Responsible for recognising, assessing and holding professional risk-based complex decisions. Provide statutory support to children and families, including the provision of information, advice, assessment, support planning and safeguarding in line within statutory guidance and Council policy and procedures. Work in partnership with voluntary sector organisations, partners and others to provide integrated and coordinated support to residents and families in the community. Participate and represent Public Health Nursing services in safeguarding meetings including strategy, child in need or child protection meetings, contributing through written and verbal reports or attendance as appropriate. Ensuring you advocate for the childs needs at all times. Make recommendations on procedural, process and service improvements and carry out projects to enhance overall team and service performance. Recognise monitor and hold risk appropriately, using expert knowledge to minimise risk within the scope of this role and then escalating issues to more senior colleagues when necessary to ensure that situations are addressed at the earliest possible time. Operate effectively within and contribute to the development of organisations and services, including multi-agency and inter-professional settings. Any other duties and/or accountabilities commensurate with the roles seniority to meet the needs of residents, through the application of relevant knowledge, skills and experience within the specialism of the role.