Health Visitors are qualified nurses from a variety of nursing backgrounds such as paediatric nursing adult nursing, midwifery, mental health nursing. They are trained to become Specialist Community Public Health Nurses. Health Visitors work in a team which consist of school nurses, community nursery nurses, clinical support workers and administrators

Working together to safeguard children is an essential aspect of health visiting. This entails working together with school nurses, children centres, the child development team, parent perinatal infant mental health service, Children's Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS), schools and other allied professionals.

In Havering we use the Healthy Child Programme to provide four levels of services to support the local community of children and families

• Community
• Universal
• Universal Plus
• Universal Partnership Plus

Community

The 0-19 Universal team (health visitors and school nurses) provide public health events based on the local health needs, national high impact areas related to health visiting and national public health requirements.

Universal Service

This programme is provided to all children and families. This service is provided by health visitors, community nursery nurses, clinical support workers and administrative support workers.  This health review support checking and reviewing the development of children from birth to 2 years old

• Antenatal Contact
• New Baby Visit
• 6-8 week Assessment (contacts for mother and baby)
• 1 year Health Review
• 2 year Health Review

Universal Plus Service

This programme supports children and families that may need additional support with health or socials needs. With this service health visitors work with other professionals such as the speech and language therapists, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, the child development team, early years educational team etc

Universal Partnership Plus Service

Supports children and families to get the best start in life and reduce health inequalities is an integral part of health visiting. This service supports families and children who have additional physical or/and mental health or social needs.