Health Visitors
Health Visitors provide a high quality professional and confidential service offering advice on many aspects of your family’s health. There are trained nurses and midwives who have additional qualifications and specialise in child and family health, offering services which include:
- Growth and development surveillance
- Advice on minor ailments and childhood diseases
- Behaviour problems, sleep management and toilet training
- Breastfeeding, feeding and weaning and healthy eating
- Healthy lifestyle, exercise, hygiene, travel and safety advice
- Postnatal depression, bereavement and violence in the family
- Immunisation advice
- Antenatal and postnatal care
- Support for young parents
- Referral and appropriate agency signposting
Health Visitors Are Also Involved In:
- Working in partnership with families to tailor health plans to meets their needs
- Coordinating childhood immunisation programmes
- Organising and running ‘Child Health Clinics’
- Health promotion groups, breastfeeding support groups, smoke stop and parenting courses.
- Nurse prescribing
The Personal Child Health Record
At your initial visit, be it during an antenatal, prior to the birth of your child or during the post natal period, you will be given your child’s ‘Personal Child Health Record.’ This is more commonly known as ‘The Red Book.’ This becomes the main record regarding your child’s growth, health and development (please note; this book remains property of the NHS).
Pattern of Contact
You can expect to have contact with a member of the Health Visiting team, GP or Practice Nurse at the following times. However, contact patterns will vary in accordance to need:
- End of Pregnancy: Antenatal Visit
- 11 – 14 days: New Birth Visit and Newborn hearing screen
- 2 – 6 weeks: Baby and family wellbeing
- 8 weeks: GP medical, 1st imms
- 3 months: 2nd imms
- 4 months: 3rd imms as well as baby and family wellbeing
- 8 months: HV developmental review as well as baby and family wellbeing
- 12 months: Imms
- 13 – 15 months: Imms
- 24 months: Developmental review
- 3.5 years: Pre School review for children with additional needs
- 3.5 – 4years: Pre school imms / boosters.
Immunisations
Immunisations are the best way to protect your child from serious diseases. The routine childhood immunisation programme has been extremely effective in achieving this. Your Health Visiting Team will provide you with up to date information to support you in making an informed choice.
Your Health Visiting Team
Your Health Visitor leads a team that includes Paediatric Nurses, Team Nurses, Community Nursery Nurses and Health Visiting Assistants. Additionally, Health Visitors work closely with other health professionals such as Breastfeeding Counsellors, Behaviour Specialists, Adult and Children’s Mental Health Teams, Orthoptists, Speech and Language Therapists, School Nurses, Practice Nurses, GPs, District Nurses, Social Services, Housing, Education, Voluntary Agencies and the Safeguarding Children’s Team.
Children With Special Needs
Sheena Read is a Paediatric Nurse in the East Locality. Parents of children with special needs can contact her for information or sign–posting to other services where appropriate. Her contact number is:
Support Groups and Contact Numbers
Under One’s Group and Health Clinics
These are an opportunity for you to have contact with a member of your Health Visiting Team, for advice and support. Facilities are also available for baby weighs and measurements.
Venue: Rossmore Children’s Centre
Day/ Time: Wednesdays 1 – 2.30pm
Contact phone number: 01202 261962
Venue: Ted Webster Family Centre
Day / Time: Thursdays 9.15 – 11am (PEEP – 11.15 – 11.45, under one’s 11 – 12)
Contact number: 01202 261963
PEEP
This group offers ideas and activities to support children’s learning in everyday situations. Please speak to your Health Visiting Team for more information.
Venue: St Luke’s Church, Wellington Road
Day/Time: Tuesdays 10am – 11.45am (Term time only)
Contact – Lilliput Practice – 01202 732928 or Wessex Road Surgery 01202 734974
Young Parents Groups
Venue: Rossmore Children’s Centre
Day/Time: Monday 12.30pm – 1.30pm includes lunch (Health Vistor or Nursery Nurse available)Contact: 01202 261962
Breastfeeding Support Group
These groups provide support for breastfeeding parents, opportunities to hire equipment such as breast pumps, slings and breastfeeding pillows.
Bosom Buddies
Venue: Rossmore Children’s Centre
Day / Time: Tuesday 10.20 – 12 noon
Contact number: 01202 261962
If you are breastfeeding and would like any other support
Children’s Centres
Activities, services and support for all young children and families.
Rossmore Children’s Centre
Rossmore Community Campus, Herbert Avenue, Parkstone, Poole, BH12 4HR
Telephone: 261962
Email: rossmorechildrenscentre@poole.gov.uk
Ted Webster Family Centre
519a Ashley Road, Parkstone, Poole, BH14 OBD
Telephone: 261963
Email: tedwebsterchildrenscentre@poole.gov.uk
Other Services That May Be Available:
- Introduction to Baby Massage
- Weaning Information Group
- Post Natal Group
Please contact the Health Visiting Team for more information on these services.
Useful Numbers
- Poole Hospital: 01202 665511
- Family Information Services: 01202 261999
- Healthpoint: (Poole Library) 01202 675377
- Citizens Advice Bureau(CAB): Poole – 01202 6808387, Ferndown – 01202 893838
Useful Web Links
