Health visitor

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through an apprenticeship or by working toward this role.

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

If you are a qualified registered nurse or midwife, you may be able to do a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship.

This typically takes a year and 6 months to complete as a mix of learning on the job and study.

Entry requirements:

• to be a registered nurse

Work

You can apply for health visitor training if you're a registered midwife or nurse in any branch of nursing.

You'll need to complete the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing - Health Visiting course which is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council .

Your training can be full time or part time and will last between 1 to 2 years.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• sensitivity and understanding
• active listening skills
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• knowledge of psychology
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be flexible and open to change
• administration skills
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• to enjoy working with other people
• customer service skills
• business management skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to read English
• excellent written communication skills
• a desire to help people
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to work well with your hands
• concentration skills

What you'll do:

Health visitors work with families with a child aged 0 to 5 to identify health needs, promote healthy lifestyles and prevent illness.

As a health visitor, you could:

• advise new parents on baby feeding, hygiene, safety and sleep
• support parents with their children's development needs
• coordinate child immunisation programmes
• organise clinics or drop in centres
• work with social services and other organisations to safeguard and protect children

Location : You could work at a client's home, at a health centre or at a GP practice.
Environment : Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and you'll travel often.

Salary:

Starter : £35,000
Experienced : £60,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

38 - 40 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings on a rota

Career Path:

With experience you could:

• specialise in an area like working with teenage parents or people that need mental health support
• progress to team manager, community matron or a healthcare management role
• move into education, training or academic research