Health visitors are experienced and qualified registered nurses or midwives who work to promote good health, and prevent illness in the community. They spend most of their day visiting people in their homes, especially new mothers and children under age five.

Health visitors also work with other sections of the community including the elderly, disabled, and long-term sick, offering practical support and advice to help people overcome their disabilities.

Their duties can include:

• advising the elderly on health issues
• advising new mothers on issues such as hygiene, safety, feeding and sleeping
• counselling people on issues such as post-natal depression, bereavement, or being diagnosed HIV positive
• co-ordinating child immunisation programmes
• organising special clinics or drop-in centres.

Health visitors work in collaboration with other agencies such as social services and local housing departments.

Hours and Environment

Health visitors usually work 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday - this can include some evening work at clinics, drop-in centres and support groups. Flexible working hours and part-time work are likely to be available.

Health visitors usually cover the geographical area of a GP practice and spend most of their time visiting clients in their own home. They may hold clinics and support groups in GP surgeries or medical centres.

A driving licence is essential.

Skills and Interests

To be a health visitor, you should:

• be able to get on well with people of all ages and backgrounds
• be interested in health and social issues
• have excellent communication and listening skills
• be tactful, patient and persuasive
• be able to interpret body language and other non-verbal communication
• be responsible and have good time management skills
• be able to work on your own initiative
• have the emotional maturity to deal with distressing issues.

Entry

To be eligible for training as a health visitor you must first qualify as a midwife or registered nurse (in any branch), and have up to two years' post-qualifying experience of professional practice.

To qualify as a registered nurse or midwife it is necessary to complete either a degree or Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing, or midwifery. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) also require you to:

• provide evidence of your literacy and numeracy, good health and good character, and recent successful study experience
• be at least 17.5 years old in England, 17 in Scotland, and 18 in Northern Ireland and Wales when you begin nurse training.

Institutions offering nursing and midwifery programmes are entitled to set their own specific educational entry requirements.

The academic entry requirements for a Nursing Diploma are likely to include at least five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) preferably in English, maths and/or a science-based subject. In England applications for diploma courses are made through NMAS; for all other regions check the contact listed in Further Information.

The academic entry requirements for a Nursing Degree, Midwifery Diploma or Midwifery Degree will usually include the same GCSE/S grades and subjects as the nursing diploma plus two or three A levels/H grades, possibly including a biological science. Applications for degree courses are made through UCAS, see Further Information.

Alternative qualifications, such as an Access to Higher Education, may be accepted for entry onto diploma or degree courses. Please check with colleges or universities for exact entry requirements.

If you are a graduate in a health-related subject, you may be able to undertake a two year postgraduate nursing course. This will ultimately allow you access on to further training as a health visitor. Check with individual institutions for entry details; applications are made through NMAS.

A criminal records check will be carried out, however, a criminal conviction does not automatically exclude you from working within the NHS.

For more information on routes into nursing or midwifery, please check the relevant job profiles.

Training

As a qualified nurse or midwife it is necessary to take a (shortened) degree or postgraduate course in public health nursing/health visiting if you wish to practise as a health visitor.

Courses last one year full-time or two years part-time and are available at colleges and universities throughout the UK. NHS Careers hold a list of relevant courses; see Further Information.

Courses combine the theoretical study of subjects such as community practice and public health, counselling and social policy, with practical placements supervised by an experienced health visitor.

Qualified health visitors are expected to keep their skills up to date through continuous professional development.

Former registered nurses, midwives or health visitors wishing to return to the profession can take a return-to-practice course, available throughout the UK, consisting of a mixture of theory and practice. Contact NHS Careers for more details; see Further Information.

Opportunities

There are opportunities for health visitors all over the UK, in rural and urban communities.

Promotion can include managing a team of health visitors, or taking on a management role within another department of the NHS. There are new nurse consultant posts at the top of the profession.

It is also possible to move into nurse education and training. In Scotland, public health nurses are involved in the wider aspects of community health planning. In addition, a new role of family health nurse is being piloted.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Health visitors can earn between £22,800 and £31,000 a year.
Health visitor specialists and team managers can earn up to £36,400.

Extra allowances can be earned for additional responsibilities and length of service.

Further information

Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 3LZ
Tel: 0870 1122 211 School of Nursing
Shore Road
Newtownabbey
Co Antrim
BT37 0QB
Tel: 08700 400 700 School of Nursing and Midwifery
Medical Biology Centre
97 Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7BL
Tel: 028 9097 2233 23 Portland Place
London
W1B 1PZ
Tel: 020 7637 7181
Registration contacts
Overseas: 020 7333 6600
General: 020 7333 9333 Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 3LZ
Tel: 0870 112 2206 for general enquiries
Tel: 0870 112 2200 for application packs 22 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1JX
Tel: 0131 226 7371 Tel: 08000 150 850
Email: learning@nhscareers.nhs.uk Innovation House
Bridgend Road
Llanharan
CF72 9RP
Tel: 01443 233 333

33-37 Moreland Street London EC1V 8HA
Tel: 020 7503 3000

PO Box 376
Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655