Health Visiting

Health Visiting in Sandwell

Health Visitors are registered nurses/midwives who have additional training in community public health nursing. In Sandwell, Health Visitors work from bases in each area of Sandwell alongside Nursery Nurses who support the work. Each team are led by a Team Leader and there is administrative assistance from the Health Visiting Contact Centre. Sandwell Health Visiting Service is rated CQC Outstanding. 

Health Visitors work with other professionals as part of the Primary Healthcare Team. These include GP’s, Midwives, Early Years Workers and Children’s Centres.

Services we offer

Health Visitors work with parents and carers who have new babies, offering support from the ante-natal period until your child starts school at five years. Health Visitors may see you at home or in clinics and invite you to join groups and networks run by either us or our colleagues such as Nursery Nurses or Children’s Centre staff. Every GP practice in Sandwell has a named Health Visitor.

We offer advice and information on a wide variety of health issues in order to promote and encourage healthy lifestyles for you and your family. We offer developmental reviews of your child for early detection of any problems. To address any concerns you may have and provide appropriate advice and support.

Each family can expect as a minimum five contacts.

These are:

• Antenatal contact
• Postnatal visit between 10-14 days of birth
• Six to eight weeks after delivery
• Nine to 12 months
• Two to two and a half year old

Health Visiting teams provide Four Levels of service:

1. Community- services provided in the local community. For more information click here.
2. Universal- Contact at key stages offered to all families.
3. Universal Plus- Support when you need it.
4. Universal Partnership Plus- On-going support for families/children

Health Visitors can provide help with a wide range of issues related to the health and well-being of your children. In addition to this, we can provide support and advice for a range of public health issues such as:

• Stopping smoking
• Post-natal depression
• Domestic abuse
• Safeguarding advice
• Contraception and sexual health

Sandwell Baby Clinics

Baby clinics are held throughout Sandwell.

However, due to the current situation regarding the pandemic, baby clinics are now by appointment only. If you are concerned about your baby or your baby’s weight, please call the Health Visitor Contact Centre on 0121 612 5021. You will then be referred to your local Health Visiting team who can arrange a suitable appointment.

Mums visit our health visiting clinic, at Wednesbury North Children’s Centre.

Our clinics: 

Well Baby Clinic Details

Black Country Women’s Aid

Black Country Women’s Aid (formerly known as Sandwell Women’s Aid) is an independent charity which supports victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, exploitation, modern slavery and women in the criminal justice system. If you need help, please call the 24 hours helpline on 0121 552 6448.
For more information click here.

Breast Feeding Support Network (BfN)

This is where you can find information about breastfeeding support in Sandwell, what services they provide and contact details. They offer the following free support to Sandwell families:

• Antenatal classes
• Phone or text support
• Home visits
• Breastfeeding Support groups

If you need breastfeeding support, you can call or text the BfN Sandwell Team on 07505 77 5357. You can also call the national BfN Supporterline on 0300 100 0210 or visit their website at https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/sandwell/

Children Therapies

The Children’s Therapy and Nurse Service is an integrated service consisting of Community Children’s Nurses, Occupational Therapists, physiotherapists, and Speech and Language Therapists. Click here to learn more about the service.

Dental Services

Finding a Dentist in your local area: http://www.nhs.uk/service-search/dentists/LocationSearch/3 

GP Services

Find a GP in your local area by clicking on the following link:  www.nhs.uk/service-search/gp/locationsearch/4

Healthy Sandwell

Healthy Sandwell offers support for all ages, families and individuals to get more active, eat better, and maintain a healthy weight for good. There is also support if you want to give up smoking or alcohol and they offer advice on a range of other health issues too. For further information please visit www.healthysandwell.co.uk or call 0121 569 5100 or 0800 011 4656.

Infant Feeding Team

Team of Midwives and Support Workers who have all been trained in Infant Feeding.

Click here to learn more about the team.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

By contacting PALS, you can talk to someone who is not involved in your care. You can ask questions, get advice or give your opinions.

Providing on-the-spot help and support with the power to negotiate solutions or speedy resolutions of problems, PALS also acts as a gateway to independent advice. Click here to visit the team’s page: www.swbh.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/while-you-are-here/patient-support/

Parenting Programme

http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200295/schools_and_learning/3440/parenting_courses

Sandwell Wellbeing Hub

A range of group and individual talking therapies to help improve emotional health and wellbeing, including self-help material, group work and individual talking and listening services which will improve your confidence, wellbeing and emotional health. Please visit their website at: http://www.sandwellbeing.co.uk/ for more information.

Sandwell Council Website: 

This website offers a variety of information and links to services within Sandwell, including:

Families in Sandwell: www.sandwell.gov.uk/families

Early Years and Child Care: www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200298/early_years_and_childcare

Health and Social Care: www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200215/health_and_social_care

Leisure, Park and Events: www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200237/leisure_parks_and_events

Libraries : www.sandwell.gov.uk/libraries

Parenting Programme: www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200295/schools_and_learning/3440/parenting_courses

Available leaflets:
Babywalkers – Is Child Safe?
BBSA Leaflet on Blind Cords and Chains
Female Pelvic Floor Exercises
Folic Acid Leaflet
Healthy Habits for Baby and You
Preparing your child for nursery (ML6691)
Safety Checklist For Parents
Sandwell Family Information Service
Tiny Teeth
Tummy Time Poster

Web Links

Bookstart
Breastfeeding Network – Sandwell
Children’s Accident Prevention Trust
Sandwell Children’s Centres
https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/feeding-your-baby/bottle-feeding/
https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/feeding-your-baby/breastfeeding/

Weaning

Current guidance recommends introducing solids to your baby from around six months of age, giving breast milk or first stage infant formula for the first six months. These will provide all the nutrients and energy your baby needs for the best start to life.  When starting weaning at six months introduce a variety of vegetables, fruit, and protein rich food such as meat, fish, beans and cooked eggs. Starchy foods such as potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and pasteurised dairy products like full fat plain yoghurt and cheese. Please see meal plan ideas in the web links section, or visit   http://www.nhs.uk/start4life/first-foods or the building blocks brochure.

More information can be found from First Steps Nutrition who have produced a good guide to what young babies and children should be eating and drinking. It also discusses portion sizes.

If you like see a structured weaning plan, the Dairy Council have devised the following meal plans that you can follow:

Baby meal planner – first stage
Baby meal planner – second stage
Baby meal planner – third stage
Baby meal planner – variety

Older babies and their diet

As your baby gets older you can introduce more things to their diet. You can also gradually make the food less runny. The website discusses feeding children of other age ranges too.

Vitamins

If your baby is formula feeding at the age of 1 year, you can now give them full fat cow’s milk to drink instead of formula. You would also need to give them vitamin D daily; your pharmacist can advise you which product is best for your child. If you are breast feeding continue to give vitamin D daily.

Looking after your child’s Teeth

As soon as your child’s teeth start to come through, you can start brushing them. Use a baby toothbrush twice a day with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste. Try to protect their teeth by avoiding fruit juice and sugary and fizzy drinks. Water or milk are the best drinks for your child. Find out more here.

Health Visiting

Health Visiting Contact Centre: 0121 612 5021.
This has a message taking service for parents to get in touch with their Health Visitor.

Free antenatal class online

A free antenatal course for all Sandwell parents is available.

For more information go to: healthysandwell.co.uk/free-antenatal-classes/

Safe sleep information 

The health visitors use The Lullaby Trust and Basis for all information regarding safe sleep for your baby.

For more information go to: lullabytrust.org.uk

Infant feeding and relationship with baby 

There is a lot of information located on the Trust’s Infant Feeding webpage. This covers both formula and breastfeeding, making sure you have a happy baby and build a good relationship with your little one.

For more information go to: swbh.nhs.uk/services/infant-feeding-team/

Once on the infant feeding team page, additional information can be found by clicking on the information for patients tab for useful feeding videos, pdfs and links to the UNICEF information.

You can find more information here: unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/relationship-building-resources/building-a-happy-baby/

Local Breastfeeding Support 

Breastfeeding Network Sandwell, is on Facebook or can be found via the organisation’s website

facebook.com/breastfeedingsandwell

breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/sandwell/

Contact the Sandwell Breastfeeding Network on 07505 775357.

You can also access peer support in Sandwell at any time (before or after birth) via this number.

Smoking Cessation support

Give your baby the best start in life and access support to help you stop smoking. You can find more information here: healthysandwell.co.uk/our-services/stop-smoking/smoking-in-pregnancy/

Emotional health support

Sandwell Healthy Minds offers brief psychological therapy for people experiencing common mental health problems such as low mood anxiety and stress. For more information go to: www.sandwellhealthyminds.nhs.uk

Sandwell Family Information Service

For childcare, financial, housing, financial and family support go to: fis.sandwell.gov.uk

Healthy Start vitamins

You’ll qualify for the Healthy Start scheme if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or you have at least one child that’s under four and you are in receipt of benefits. You will also qualify if you’re pregnant and under 18.

You can get free vouchers or payments every four weeks to spend on:

• cow’s milk
• fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables
• infant formula milk
• fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

You can also get free Healthy Start vitamins. Click here for more information.

Black Country Women’s Aid

The organisation supports survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. See below for contact details.

0121 553 0090 (9am-5pm) for advice or access to support services.

0121 552 6448 24 hour helpline for advice or seeking a refuge placement out of hours.

999 for anyone in immediate danger.

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

FGM is when a female’s genitals are deliberately altered or removed for non-medical reasons. It’s also known as ‘female circumcision’ or ‘cutting’, but has many other names. Click the link below for information:

nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/female-genital-mutilation-fgm/

Other useful information

Baby Check App:  this features 19 simple checks that parents can do if their baby is showing signs of illness. For more information go to: lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/baby-check-app/

Contact Centre

The Health Visiting contact centre is your first port of call if you need to speak to a member of the Health Visiting team i.e. a Health Visitor or a Nursery Nurse.  Your call will be answered by a member of the administration team, who will take your details and a message. This will then be forwarded to your Health Visiting team, and a member of the team will return your call to help with your query.

Call the team at: 0121 612 5021.