Health Visitors

Health Visitor Report - Gwersyllt

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding rates at birth and at 28 days.

By enhancing the health visiting service the traditional health visitors are able to make more regular ante natal visits which allows parents to be more informed about the benefits of breastfeeding.

By visiting the secondary school in Gwersyllt to facilitate a poster competition on the benefits of breastfeeding.

By the development of Breastfeeding Friendly Premises Scheme (4 have been registered in Gwersyllt).

Levels of Dental Care in 5 year olds

Home visits to discuss weaning are offered to every parent in the area when their child is around 12 weeks old. This is performed by the Sure Start Support Worker (NNEB). Hand held blenders have been available for those in need. Advice and information is focused on the use of fresh produce to feed their child, which is either low in sugar or sugar free. This also has encouraged parents to review their own dietary habits.

We have developed in partnership with parents and the community dietician a project called Cook and Eat, this project is to encourage parents to develop cookery skills, encouraging them to move away from high fat/sugar, processed, expensive, low nutritional value foods, for themselves and their families. Kitchen hygiene and food handling is included in the project.

Fathers are important too

It can be difficult to involve fathers in the care of their children. Staff at Sure Start Gwersyllt has been reviewing attitudes to fathers. We have plans to develop projects to include fathers into the Partnership Building at Gwersyllt.

Children's Admissions to A & E

Development of the Children's Traffic Club. There are now 70 members in the Gwersyllt Ward. This demanded close liaison and partnership working with the Road Safety Department of Wrexham CBC. From the development of the Traffic Club health visitor practice has been influenced across the whole of the county borough.

A Streetwise Action Day which took place on 1st September 2001 was developed and facilitated from the formulation of this new partnership, which included the Children's Unit and Casualty Department of the Maelor Hospital.

Stay Safe Scheme - Referrals are made by the health visiting service working in partnership with Wrexham County Borough Council for those children at risk of accidents. Stair gates and fireguards are supplied and fitted for those in need. We have had some teething problems with the scheme, but things are improving now.

Housing problems are often related very closely to health, we are still developing this working relationship with the housing department.

Levels of Low Birth Weight

Health visitors are now able to do more ante natal visiting to vulnerable parents, and offer service regarding nutrition in pregnancy.

They are also referring parents to the Smoking Cessation Specialist or to the Sure Start Health Visitor, both are based in the Partnership Building.

Levels of Post Natal Depression

Where there is evidence of at risk indicators, families are offered more frequent supportive and "listening" home visits in the ante natal and post natal period.

Homestart, Relate, Welfare Rights and Citizens Advice Bureau are very useful agencies to refer to.

Infant massage, which is delivered by Rachel Galliard, Sure Start Health Visitor has proved popular in the postnatal period in Gwersyllt and has been shown to reduce postnatal depression.

How are we addressing the long term indicators?

Innovations have developed following consultations with parents and our working partners.

Strong links have been made with a variety of agencies e.g. Youth, Education, Wrexham County Borough Council and Voluntary Agencies.

Continuous efforts are made to increase parental and child self esteem, through various means including community development. When possible activities, which have been implemented, have held fun elements within. Some have been implemented "through the back door".

Reduction in referrals to the Behaviour Support Team at MCC

Referrals are received from other health visitors when families are having difficulties with their child's behaviour. The Sure Start health visitor performs home visits as required.

Families assist with the development of a base line assessment from which a behaviour modification programme is constructed in partnership with parents.

Parents have participated in numerous Parenting Programmes within the Gwersyllt ward.

Immunisation and Vaccination

Close liaison with the traditional health visitors is vital to ensure the immunisation targets are being met and the status of some individual children.

Interpretation of immunisation information to parents as needed. Dispelling myths - giving facts.

Accompanied visits to the GP's surgery enabling easy access for families who have difficulty with transport.

Level of Teenage Births

We have developed a "Getting Ready for Babysitting Course" which is currently being considered for accreditation with the North Wales Open College Network. We have worked closely with the Youth Service on this project. This year our student's efforts were recognised in the Youth Award ceremony.

The reasoning behind the project is that if young people have insight into the complexities of parenthood they will realise that it is something they have to think very carefully about.

More proactive work is required with at risk groups.

The Added Extras!!

Encouraging parents to seek further education through Drome and Yale in the Community - computer skills and brushing up on writing skills.

Facilitating Basic Hygiene Course.