From ‘public health’ to ‘safeguarding children’: British health visiting in policy, practice and research

Abstract

From 'public health' to 'safeguarding children': British health visiting in policy, practice and research. AbstractEstablished in the nineteenth century as part of public health work British health visiting has maintained it's unique role in providing universal services to families with young children.Recent policy developments in both safeguarding children and public health have created new opportunities and challenges including an expansion of the safeguarding children gaze and requirements to target services within a framework of universality and with reduced resources. The location and visibility of health visiting in the academy and practice worlds contribute to shaping how the profession is understood providing additional challenges and strengths within an evolving policy context.

Why health visiting? Examining the potential public health benefits from health visiting practice within a universal service: A narrative review of the literature

“…Debates about the relative effectiveness of universal or targeted approaches have been reflected in changing priorities for the heath visiting service over time (Elkan et al 2001;Greenaway et al 2008;Peckover 2013), leading to a different shape of provision in each of the four United Kingdom (UK) countries following devolution (Hoskins 2009). Such variation is common, reflecting different national and withincountry policies and environments.…”

Predictors of family focused practice among health visitors: A mixed methods study

“…Public health nursing is a globally recognized profession, which aims to promote and strengthen the health of individuals, families and communities (Cowley et al, ). Health visitors in the UK are Registered Nurses or midwives with specialist community public health training and experience in child health and health promotion and education (Peckover, ). They receive training in perinatal and infant mental health and can refer directly to general practitioners.…”

A hermeneutic phenomenological study exploring the experience health practitioners have when working with families to safeguard children and the invisibility of the emotions work involved

“…Academically, it can be attributed to the lack of research on the specific child protecting role of the HV (Harlow & Smith , NNRU ). Sociologically, it is proposed as an outcome of the historical design of health visiting, with the role previously promoted as a ‘mothers friend’ (Davies , p. 49) to covertly disguise their societal monitoring role (Peckover ). Or finally, the suggestion that there is a lack of value given to communicative, emotion work, which leads to a lack of work recognition (Davies , Gray & Smith , Smith ).…”

“…, Smith & Horne ). However, the role, although recently gaining prominence in public health and child protection arenas (Laming ), is not always visible in other quarters (Appleton , Robinson , Peckover ).…”