Health Visiting

The Health Visiting service uses the Healthy Child Programme to provide a universal, preventative service, ensuring all families have the resources/support needed to keep children healthy and safe. 

In Tameside, the Health Visiting service offers:  

• an antenatal visit 

• a new birth visit when your baby is about 10-14 days old 

• a support visit at 6-8 weeks after the birth  

• development review for your child between 9 -12 months 

• developmental review at 2 – 2 ½ years old.  

The team work closely with midwives, GP surgeries, local children’s centres, paediatricians, Family Hubs and voluntary organisations to make sure you, your baby and family stay healthy.  

Your Health visiting Team can provide advice on many topics surrounding parenting, including offering support for parents who may be struggling with their emotional health and well-being. 

Health Visiting Teams have knowledge and expertise in: 

• Breastfeeding/infant feeding 

• Parental emotional health and wellbeing 

• Bonding and Attachment 

• Baby’s growth and development 

• Promoting safe sleep 

• Parenting support 

• Informing of local groups for families 

• Immunisations guidance 

• Minor Childhood illnesses 

• Sexual health and relationships 

• Coping as single parent 

• Helping to maintain a healthy lifestyle after pregnancy and birth 

How many times will I have contact with the Health Visiting Service? 

Families will be offered:

• Antenatal Visit
• New Birth Visit
• 6-8 week Health & Development Review
• 12 month Health & Development Review
• 2 year Health & Development Review 

I think I might have low mood following the birth of my baby. 

Your health visitor can help support you during this time and will ensure that you continue to receive Health Visitor support along with support from your GP and Mental Health Services.

I am worried about my bond with my baby.

Your Health Visitor will support you to access appropriate services including the Early Attachment Team.

Breast feeding isn`t going as well as I thought. 

Your health Visitor will complete a feeding assessment at each contact and signpost or refer to appropriate services to ensure that your feeding plan is uninterrupted and supported.

I have a concern regarding my child`s development. 

Your health visitor will listen to your concerns and complete an up to date developmental assessment which may be in addition to the 9 month and 2 year offer. The Health Visitor will then plan the next steps and who will continue that support.

How do I get my partner more involved with parenting ? 

Partners sometimes need a bit more time to learn how to read their baby’s cues and work out what’s needed. Try dividing jobs up, so you look after feeding, while your partner is  in charge of bath-time allowing them to build their own way of doing  things to help build confidence, instead of telling him how it ‘should’ be done, and hopefully you’ll find they will  take the lead more regularly. The Health Visitor can advise on parenting issues both in the first year and beyond. 

Sleep-deprived parent I’m exhausted! I know all new parents are sleep-deprived, but it feels overwhelming and do not know what to do.

It might be you’re feeling a bit down and going through the motions for the baby, but feeling foggy or disjointed. ‘And you might be frightened that if you tell your health visitor, they will be on the phone to social services. But they won’t be.
Be honest with your health visitor because they can offer support or put you in touch with your GP or Post -natal Depression Group or if the child is older give advice on improving sleep difficulties. 

Is the Health Visitor only there to help with your baby?

The health visitor is there for both parents as much as the baby or toddler.

Which means you can ask questions about how you’re feeling or how your partner is getting on in their new role 
It might be you’ve got concerns about your partner who is struggling to adapt to being a parent.  Or you’re worried your other children aren’t happy about the arrival of a new baby

Your health visitor can help with advice, or point you in the right direction for help and support they can help with any relationship questions or concerns you might have. If it’s outside their scope of expertise, they can direct you on to someone else – for example a sexual health clinic, community groups  or your GP or Relate.

Don’t forget your health visitor is there until your child is five until the school nurses take over 

Our Health Visiting teams are based in community clinics across Tameside: