Health Visitor

Job responsibilities

2. Job Purpose

To develop a Family-centred Public Health role aimed at improving health and tackling inequalities.

To assess and identify the health needs of individuals and families within a defined population, working in partnership with the community, health care professionals and other statutory and voluntary organisations as per Your Healthcare policy.

To plan, implement and evaluate care programmes, in conjunction with clients, carers and families.

To assess and identify health and social inequalities within the framework of the Local Authority, Children and Young Peoples Plan

3. Dimensions

The department contributes to the overall success of the Organisation in 6 key areas:

1. Health Visiting Service
2. School Health Service
3. Sexual Health and Contraceptive Service
4. Safeguarding
5. Looked After Children
6. Speech and Language Therapy.

4. Key Result Areas

Provide and maintain a continuing and comprehensive health visiting service to all clients for a defined population.

Assess the health care needs and to develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care relating to individuals and families within the defined caseload.

Maintain the safety and protection of children by following the Local Safeguarding Board Procedures and develop services which promote the safety and well being of children, participating in meetings, discussions and case conferences as appropriate.

Undertake the role of Extended Nurse Prescriber within the scope of the Nurse Prescribing Formulary (V200), National Prescribing Centre Guidelines, local protocols and Trust guidelines having successfully completed the Extended Nurse Prescribing (V200) course and additional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Promote good health care by consulting, and advising individuals and families, referring and liaising with other professionals and agencies appropriately.

Develop parenting skills by facilitating parenting and support groups.

To undertake home visits to support, advise and inform parents and especially to target vulnerable children and their families.

Participate in Clinical Governance and Audit activities to ensure the highest quality of practice is maintained

Develops a family centred public health role in line with the local and national Public Health Agenda.

Identifies by profiling, community health needs in partnership with other agencies in order to develop and deliver appropriate services and evaluating effective outcomes of intervention.

Implement and promote the immunisation programme.

Participates in the child health surveillance and immunisation programme and actively promote the Public Health Agenda.

Participate in health promotional and health educational activities in a range of community settings.

Maintain an up-to-date knowledge base and skill development which reflects local needs and evidence based approach to practice.

Create, maintain and enhance effective working relationships within the team and with other staff and agencies in order to promote interdisciplinary team working across Your Healthcare, Local Health Economy, Social Services and other agencies, including Childrens Centres and Extended Schools.

To actively participate as a member of the Children and Family Services Department and attend and actively participate in meetings as required by Your Healthcare.

Submit written reports as determined by Your Healthcare and the Local Authority.

Maximise the use of human and material resources and notify management of unmet need.

Ensure a structured and appropriate delegation of tasks and activities is implemented for skill mix.

Provide mentoring and assessment for pre-registration students and team members.

Promote, develop and foster an environment that is conducive to learning for students and clinicians.

Undertake the role of Clinical Supervisor participating in and supporting others in Clinical Supervision.

To undertake preceptorship and teaching roles as required by the service.

To develop a culture of reflective practice and self awareness within the Children and Family Services Team.

To identify the need to change policies and influence the change process.

To make use of automated information systems in order to improve quality and co-ordination of services and to enable faster and more certain communication within Your Healthcare. Necessary training can be provided.

Qualifications

Essential

• Clinical qualification RGN/ RN
• Health visiting qualification
• (Documentary evidence of qualifications must be provided prior to appointment and/or confirmation or professional registration.)
• IT skills: use of email, word processing, presentation and data capture.

Knowledge

Essential

• Able to demonstrate an understanding of current issues affecting community health services including: Childrens Centres and Extended Schools, clinical effectiveness, evidence based care and clinical governance.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Knowledge of principals of Safeguarding Children management.
• Knowledge of principles and practice of supervision.
• Ability to understand key elements of change management.
• Demonstrates an awareness of the complex issues involved when working across organisations and disciplines.
• Demonstrates knowledge and experience of reflective practiceII.
• Understanding of NMC Code of Conduct scope of professional Practice

Desirable

• Research knowledge

Other factors

Essential

• Valid UK driving licence/car driver.
• Access to a car for work purposes.

Skills and abilities

Essential

• Good communication and interpersonal skills, including an ability to build rapport, establish good one to one relationships

Desirable

• Teaching, presentation and facilitation

Experience

Essential

• Experience of implementing evidence based practice
• Experience of developing strategies, clinical guidelines and policies
• Experience of working within a community setting.

Personal qualities

Essential

• Ability to facilitate the development of effective teams.
• i
• Ability to develop practice and give feedback to clinicians and managers.
• Ability to manage workload and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and to demonstrate an ability to make decisions
• Ability and capacity to think widely and openly and to analyse complex problems and develop solutions
• Ability to critically appraise research findings and draw out significance for clinical practice and implement the research findings.
• Ability to effectively use different styles of influencing in a variety of settings.
• Ability to present and write information in a clear and precise manner.
• Ability to pay attention to detail
• Applies equality of opportunity to all staff

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).