Health Visitor Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Working under the supervision of the delegating Health Visitor/practitioner to implement and follow-up planned programmes of care for children and families.

To work positively with parents and their children to ensure that effective, working relationships are developed and maintained.

To manage and maintain own workload within a defined area, maintaining and planning to ensure prioritisation of needs under the supervision of the delegating practitioner.

Establish effective communication and relationships with colleagues and other statutory, voluntary and community organisations.

Contribute to family health needs assessments and support the Health Visitor to develop comprehensive health care plans, in partnership with families and other professionals to meet the identified needs of children and families.

In conjunction with the delegating practitioner and families, implement episodes/packages of care. This will include general support and encouragement, breastfeeding support, healthy eating/feeding advice, introduction to solid foods for babies, safety and the establishment of clear parenting routines, behaviour and play.

Encourage uptake of child health services and support attendance to local health services and other agencies signposting families when necessary to other community-based services.

In conjunction with the Health Visitor, actively contribute to behaviour management plans for children with challenging behaviours, working with parents/carers and children to implement and evaluate the plan.

To work within the context of the Healthy Child Programme, as led by the Health Visitor.

To work in partnership with childrens centres, including delivering health provision within the centres.

Clinical Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Health Visitor, deliver services in the home environment, this includes postnatal visits offering proactive anticipatory guidance to parents and carers and support visits for women suffering with postnatal depression.

To demonstrate practical skills to parents e.g. breastfeeding attachment, sterilisation of feeding equipment and food preparation.

To promote positive parenting through play and creative therapy, advising parents/carers with regard to appropriate toys and safety for developmental age.

To deliver an evidenced based parenting programme, under the supervision of the Health Visitor.

To deliver Child Health Clinics under the supervision of the Health Visitor.

Plan and deliver health promotion and health education topics through group sessions where required.

To support the delivery of programmes of care within the wider public health arena delivering local and national targets this includes planning, preparing and displaying of health promotion topics within a variety of locations.

To work in partnership with volunteers developing effective relationships that support service delivery.

To deliver and undertake the Healthy Child Programme completing any screening procedures i.e. Ages and Stages/PHQ9/Whooley assessment as delegated by the Health Visitor.

To deliver the Healthy Child Programme development assessment utilising the Ages and Stages Questionnaire alongside sound knowledge of child development and support parents/carers to optimise development whilst highlighting and exploring pre-emptive individualised developmental milestones.

To advise, refer, and monitor any areas of development support identified or required.

To write and maintain accurate and contemporaneous child and family health records adhering the organisations policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NNEB, NVQ level 3 in childcare with significant post qualification experience

Experience

Essential

• Motivated and enthusiastic about working with children and families.
• Knowledge and/or experience of current Public Health issues.
• Good IT skills.
• Understands and adheres to the need for confidentiality.
• Knowledge of appropriate development milestones and tools used such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire.
• Able to seek support as required within the boundaries of the role.
• Knowledge of healthy diet and nutrition for babies, toddlers and young children.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and signs of abuse and neglect.
• Demonstrate experience of working with children and families.
• Effective communication skills, oral and written.
• Ability to work independently and with a team.
• Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise.
• Good assessment skills
• Experience and knowledge of current recommendations of diet and nutrition for babies, toddlers, and children.
• Imaginative and creative skills in planning and providing activities.
• Experience in delivering evidenced based advice and guidance in behavioural support for families.
• Motivated and enthusiastic about working with children and families.
• Skills or potential to facilitate groups
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary environment.
• Experience with working within the community and/or homes.
• Knowledge of agencies interlinked within the service, ie Speech and Language, Play and Parenting Team, The Lighthouse Centre, Audiology, Orthoptist
• Knowledge of Postnatal Depression Management and tools utilised such as the Whooley/PHQ9
• Experience of working with or within childrens centres.

Desirable

• Awareness of working in a multi-cultural and diverse community.
• Ability to support families and children in their decision making skills.
• Teaching and presenting skills.
• Use and experience of Systm1

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Southend On Sea Borough Council

Address

Southend-on-sea Borough Council

Victoria Avenue

Southend-on-sea

SS1 9SB

Employer's website

https://www.southend.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)