Health Visiting Service - Hackney and City

Description

Covid-19 and related government lockdown service update. 

Current Service 

Postponement of Home Visits.Routine contacts conducted by phone including; New Birth visits, 6-8 week and developmental reviews, transfer in visits. Safeguarding contacts will continue via phone.

Health visiting support for our children with additional needs during restrictions of Covid 19

Our service is continuing to provide telephone support and face to face contacts as required, this can be on the day of request (following  a telephone  assessment) and we can be accessed via our central hub.

Phone: 0207 683 4151/4219

e-mail: huh-tr.hvrapidresponse@nhs.net 

Website: www.hackneyandcityhealthvisiting.nhs.uk (has the most comprehensive information on current service delivery and is updated regularly to reflect any changes during the current pandemic) 

Our weekly referral  meetings at Hackney Ark continue with access to our key working colleagues, therapists and paediatricians, with our service linked to this.

Please contact us if we can provide advice or support at this time and we hope to resume our usual child health clinics and home visits as soon as possible.

Who are we?

Health visitors are nurses or midwives with specialist training in family and public health. We help parents and their families to improve health and wellbeing during pregnancy, after the birth and all the way through until your child is five.

Who do we work with?

We work as part of a wider health team which includes nursery nurses, GPs, midwives, paediatricians, psychologists, speech therapists and other health professionals. We also work closely with Children’s Centre staff, family support workers, and Children’s Social Care.

Where will you see us?

You will meet us in your home or in local Well Baby Clinics, your GP’s surgery, Children’s Centre or in an Early Years setting. We offer you and your child five health and developmental appointments as part of the Department of Health “Healthy Child Programme”. We are here to help, listen, understand your needs and work in partnership with you to give your family the best start.

When will we see you?

• Pregnancy – after 28 weeks you will be contacted by our team

• 10 – 14 days after the birth of your baby

• 6 to 8 weeks

• 8 to 12 months

• 27 months.

What we offer...

Drop-in Well Baby Clinics (you can attend without an appointment)

Scheduled appointments

We can talk about the following for you and your family:

• breastfeeding
• milk and food for babies, toddlers
• and older children
• sleep
• understanding crying
• managing childhood illnesses
• your child’s development
• your wellbeing as parents
• understanding your child’s behaviour
• play and stimulation
• talking to your baby and child

Extra support when you need it...

Our service is for the whole family. We know that being a parent or carer can be very hard; particularly if you are feeling low, anxious, or that you cannot cope.

Your health visitor can give you support and provide advice on:

• your and your family’s emotional health and wellbeing

• any additional health and developmental needs your baby or child might have

• developing a relationship with your baby

• domestic abuse

• drug and alcohol problems

• changes in your family life.

If you are worried about your child's or family’s safety you can ask us for help.

We work together with local services and parents to provide support, including safeguarding our local families and children.