Health visitor

Health visitors are UK registered nurses or midwives who have undertaken further training to work as part of the primary health care team. As their name suggests, their role is to promote mental, physical and social well-being in the community by giving advice and support to families in all age groups. Limited resources and staff within the NHS have traditionally meant that their work has been focused on childhood development, but the scope to expand their roles is slowly improving.

They work with mothers once postpartum care is handed over from the midwives, advising on feeding, care and support to both infants and parents, providing routine child development checks and have responsibility for child protection issues. However they are also able to help people of any age who suffer from chronic illness or live with a disability. They may run health promotion schemes and anti-smoking clinics.

Qualified health visitors are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

UK training
Post-qualification a 1 year full-time (or equivalent part-time) degree level course.