What does your day look like from sunrise to sunset?

My days are exciting, busy and hugely varied. I can be found at home visits, in children centres, at the baby clinic, and in meetings with social workers, paediatricians and other health professionals. When needed, I also visit nurseries for observation visits or the hospital to see families before their discharge. Some parts of the day will be in the office or working in local cafes between home visits, or even working under the shade of a tree on a hot summer’s day.

How does your service support the residents of south east London?

We support people through one of the biggest transitions they will ever experience – into parenthood. We guide parents, listen, and share the latest parenting research, with awareness that a single intervention can positively affect the whole family. We also support babies taken into care and their caregivers.

What’s the best way of explaining your role in the team?

As an autonomous practitioner, within the Healthy Child Programme, I monitor the health and development of 0-5 year olds and advocate for their needs, helping parents develop their parenting skills and finding solutions that work for the whole family. I also teach and supervise nursing and Health Visitor students in practice.

Tell us about a time when you felt you made a difference to someone

I supported a family who lost a child soon after birth. In our visits, I gave the parents the opportunity to acknowledge their loss. We discussed how they wanted to share their child’s memory, and their wellbeing at each visit. I was touched to receive a message from them after their child’s funeral thanking us for easing their grief and coordinating bereavement support.

What do you love about your role?

Without expensive equipment or drugs, we change lives with words. Our advice is given at a time when babies and children are so little that it can reduce or even completely redirect unhealthy habits within the family, thus improving the lives of children forever. I also love that I get to learn from families, almost as much as I am able to teach them, thanks to the diverse landscape of the local community.

What advice would you give to someone starting in this role or keen to work in a similar service?

You will be amazed at how varied your days will be and how fulfilling and enriching it is to support local families. It is not the drama of A&E or theatre, it is more subtle, it is everyday life, but it is just as profound!