Who are Health Visitors?
Health Visitors are registered nurses or midwives with a specialist qualification in public health. They work with families who have children between the ages of 0 and five.
Lewisham Health Visiting services are provided by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. Our Health Visitors work in five teams across the Lewisham borough.
What your Health Visitor will offer you
There are five key stages in your child’s development when you will be contacted by your health visitor. These appointments will be in a mixture of locations, some contacts at home, clinic, or a virtual appointment using Attend Anywhere.
- Before your baby is born (when you are around 30 weeks’ pregnant)
- New birth visit – between days eight and 14
- Six to eight week visit
- Seven to 12 month developmental review
- Two to two and a half years developmental review
Each health visiting team runs a child health clinic, which you can attend with your under five’s for advice, support and weighing. You do need to make an appointment to attend the child health clinics to ensure covid safety. Please call your HV team to book in. These are held in a variety of venues including GP practices and children’s centres.
Throughout your journey with your health visiting team you will have contact with:
- Health Visitor
- Health Visitor Assistant Practitioners
- Support Workers
Some of our health visitors have undergone further training to become specialist practice teachers. This means they help to educate student health visitors. You will be informed if a student health visitor is joining the visit.
Safeguarding children is an integral part of a health visitor’s role and we work closely with our colleagues from children’s social care, GP practices and voluntary services in order to support families.
If English is not your first language, or if your hearing or vision is compromised, your health visitor has access to a pre-arranged interpreting service.
The Institute of Health Visiting have created a infographic detailing who Health Visitors are and what they do:
Health messages
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Lewisham Health Visiting Teams are Open for Business
Lewisham Health visiting teams have many different opportunities to see you and your child face to face.
We can offer face to face visits at home when you have just had a baby, weighing clinics across the borough, developmental reviews and breast feeding support.
If you would like to be seen at one of our clinics or at home please contact your HV team contact us
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Mindful Mums November 2021
Mindful Mums, run by Bromley, Lewisham & Greenwich Mind, offers free supportive five-week courses for pregnant women and new mums with babies up to 12 months old; who live in the London boroughs of Bromley, Lewisham or Greenwich.
Mindful Mums offers an opportunity to connect with other pregnant women and new mums with similar experiences and learn tips and techniques for looking after your wellbeing. The Mindful Mums five week course is offered as an in-person group or online.
The next groups will be running:- In Person at Ladywell Children’s Centres from Tuesday 9th November – Tuesday 7th December – This course is currently full and there is a waiting list in operation.
- Online on Zoom from Friday 5th November – Friday 3rd December.
Register here or email mindfulmums@blgmind.org.uk for more information.
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Mindful Mums Drop In Sessions
Join the Mindful Mums drop-in sessions on Zoom for online support from other expectant and new mums. Build confidence and develop social connections with other mums.
No need to register and no obligation to attend every week.
The sessions are for expectant and new mums with children up to 1 year old.
For more information, email mindfulmums@blgmind.org.uk or visit https://blgmind.org.uk/lewisham-mental-health/lewisham-mindful-mums/.
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Being Dad Drop In Sessions
Being Dad groups are for expectant/new dads or men with parenting responsibility for babies and young children up to two years old. The group runs every Tuesday at 8pm on Zoom. The sessions help men to learn more about looking after themselves, managing the changes and challenges of parenthood, all while meeting other dads!
For more information email beingdad@blgmind.org.uk or visit https://blgmind.org.uk/bromley-mental-health/being-dad/
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Virtual Postnatal Group
Is your baby between 6 weeks and 4 months old? Are you looking for some postnatal support and advice?
Our Health Visiting Teams are running a Virtual Postnatal Group on Zoom throughout the year. The groups run for 5 weeks with each week covering a different topic. Topics covered include:
- Rhythms and Patterns
- Baby Wellbeing
- Play and Development
- Introducing Solids
- Parental Wellbeing
There will also be some guest speakers on certain weeks to provide further, useful information. During each session, parents will be able to ask questions to the team and speak with other parents.
The next set of groups begin on:
Wednesday 3rd November 10am – 11am
Thursday 4th November 10am-11am
If you are interested in attending, please contact your Health Visiting Team.
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Flu vaccination for 2 & 3 year olds
All 2 & 3 year olds are entitled to a free flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is given as a nasal spray and protects your child against 4 main strains of influenza (flu) predicted to be in circulation this winter.
Why vaccinate? 30-50% of children are infected with flu and can spread the infection for up to 7 days; vaccinating your child reduces the risk of flu for family members, childcare providers and other children.
Contact your GP practice for your child’s free Flu vaccine!
For more information, see our vaccination page.
