Health Visitor

Somerset Council; Yeovil; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

LGPS pension

Flexible & hybrid working

Health & wellbeing support

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Somerset Council is seeking an experienced Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor) to lead the Healthy Child Programme for antenatal to age five across Somerset.

You will deliver evidence-based care, undertake mandated reviews, coordinate safeguarding, and provide clinical leadership within a supportive, multi-disciplinary team with flexible, hybrid working options and a focus on reducing health inequalities.

Qualifications

• Current NMC registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife and as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor).
• An approved SCPHN qualification at degree or postgraduate level, or equivalent recognised for NMC SCPHN registration.
• Substantial post-registration health visiting experience with a defined population.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate delivery of the Healthy Child Programme from antenatal to five years.
• Undertake holistic assessments and agree outcomes with families.
• Provide clinical leadership, supervision and accountable delegation to colleagues and learners.

Skills

Leadership

Public health nursing

Safeguarding

Clinical leadership

Communication

Professional judgement

Education

SCPHN qualification

NMC registration

Tools

Electronic records

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to the health, wellbeing and development of children and families across Somerset. Working as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor) within our Public Health Nursing Service, you will lead and coordinate the safe, evidence-based delivery of the Healthy Child Programme from the antenatal period to five years, with a particular focus on pregnancy and the first 1,001 days. Working autonomously within a supportive, skill-mixed team, you will hold professional responsibility for a defined population, assess strengths and needs, identify vulnerability and risk, coordinate proportionate support and provide clinical leadership, supervision and accountable delegation.

• Lead and coordinate delivery of the Healthy Child Programme for children and families from the antenatal period to five years, ensuring universal reach with personalised, targeted and specialist responses.
• Hold professional responsibility for a defined population, using individual, family and population-level information to assess need, prioritise activity and reduce health inequalities.
• Personally undertake the five mandated health and development reviews at the nationally specified stages, maintaining continuity wherever possible.
• Undertake holistic, strengths-based assessments; identify developmental concerns, emerging need, vulnerability and risk; agree outcomes with families; and plan, deliver, coordinate and evaluate evidence-based care.
• Maintain professional curiosity, recognise cumulative harm and safeguarding risk, act promptly on concerns and ensure the child's voice and lived experience inform assessment and decision-making.
• Participate in safeguarding supervision, strategy discussions, Child in Need and Child Protection processes, conferences and court work, preparing timely and analytical reports.
• Provide evidence-based clinical advice and early intervention across infant feeding, healthy weight and nutrition, child development, speech and language, maternal and infant mental health, parent-infant relationships, immunisation, oral health, safer sleep, home safety and accident prevention.
• Promote immunisation, vaccination uptake and relevant screening programmes, apply infection prevention and control requirements, and respond appropriately to communicable disease concerns.
• Build respectful therapeutic relationships and deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive and accessible care, supporting informed choice and family self-efficacy.
• Work collaboratively with maternity, primary care, early years, Best Start Family Hubs, children's social care, education, allied health professionals and voluntary, community and faith organisations.
• Provide clinical leadership, supervision, preceptorship and accountable delegation to colleagues and learners, retaining oversight of care and outcomes.
• Maintain accurate, timely and defensible electronic records; share information lawfully and proportionately; and contribute to audit, research, evaluation, incident learning and quality improvement.
• The role requires regular independent travel throughout Somerset and lone working in family homes, clinics, community venues and other settings. Reasonable adjustments will be considered where appropriate. Somerset Council's Dynamic Working Strategy will apply, with flexible working across community, family home, clinical, office and digital settings in response to service need.
• Current NMC registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife and as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor).
• An approved Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) qualification at degree or postgraduate level, or an equivalent legacy qualification recognised for NMC SCPHN registration.
• Substantial post-registration health visiting experience with a defined population, including needs assessment, early identification of vulnerability, complex safeguarding, coordinated intervention and multi-agency working.
• Comprehensive knowledge of public health nursing, prevention and early intervention, the Healthy Child Programme, Family Hubs and Best Start for Life, child development, progressive universalism, population health and evidence-based approaches to reducing health inequalities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of statutory safeguarding responsibilities, child protection procedures, risk assessment, professional escalation and multi-agency safeguarding practice.
• Knowledge of child growth and development, developmental assessment, speech, language and communication, maternal and infant mental health, parent-infant relationships, family functioning and relevant referral pathways.
• Experience of providing clinical and professional leadership to a skill-mixed team, including supervision, accountable delegation, workload allocation and support for safe practice.
• The ability to practise autonomously, apply specialist public health expertise and professional judgement, manage complex situations and initiate timely intervention or escalation.
• Excellent written, verbal and digital skills, including clear care planning, analytical safeguarding reports, partnership communication and accurate electronic clinical records.
• The ability to use evidence, audit, research, service data and outcome measures to evaluate care, identify inequalities and support service improvement.
• A compassionate, resilient and values-led approach, with the ability to work effectively through distress, conflict, uncertainty and emotionally demanding situations while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to health visiting leadership, public health, safeguarding and clinical practice.
• Working knowledge of medicines management and medication safety relevant to health visiting practice. A V100 prescribing qualification is desirable.
• The ability to speak fluent English as required by Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes, or the ability to meet the travel requirements of the role through alternative means in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
• At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.
• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most enhanced and secure pension schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.

Find out more about working at Somerset Council.