In this section we aim to provide you up-to-date information on working in partnership with your Local Authority commissioners.
We have produced a series of briefings to help you understand local government working and how to work closer together, such as:
- The Economics of health visiting.
- Local authority child public health briefings.
- The “Why a HV?” series of briefings on the 5 mandated visits can be used by Service Leads who are redesigning their service specification with their local commissioners.
Certain documents within this section are for members only. For non-health visitors who work in public health-related areas, they may join the iHV as Friends to access all our documents. As a charity the iHV relies on its member income to produce such documents.
For Health Visitors/ School Nurses/ Leads
Influencing skills for health visitors
Economics of health visiting
The Economics of health visiting
This important document explains the economics of health visiting: a universal preventative child and family health promotion programme.
This is a member only document. Non health visitors who work in public health related areas may join the iHV as Friends to access all our documents. As a charity the iHV relies on its member income to produce such documents.
Health and Wellbeing Boards
Health Visiting in England: A Vision for the Future
Safeguarding Boards
Guidance
DHSC Policy paper: The best start for life: a vision for the 1,001 critical days
Now is the time for Principle 3 – ‘Influencing policies affecting health’
Why a HV?: 5 mandated visits
These excellent briefings series written by Dr Robert Nettleton, can be used by Service Leads who are redesigning their service specification with their local commissioners.
Why a HV?: Antenatal Visit
Why a HV?: New Birth Visit
Why a HV?: 6-8 week assessment
Why a HV?: one year review
Why a HV?: 2.5 year assessment
For Commissioners
Economics of health visiting
This important document explains the economics of health visiting: a universal preventative child and family health promotion programme.
Economics of health visiting (November 2016)
LGA - Improving outcomes for children and families in the early years: a key role for health visiting services
In 2015 health visiting was brought into the local government fold for the first time since 1974.
As with so much of public health, the move into local government offers fresh opportunities. By integrating health visiting with other services, such as children’s centres, early help, safeguarding and public health teams, we can provide better support to children and their families.
These case studies demonstrate examples of innovation. But there have also been challenges. Concerns have been raised that in some areas health visitor posts are being cut as a consequence of the reductions to local government funding.
The cuts to local authority public health budgets make it more important than ever for health visitors and commissioners to work together to monitor and evaluate the impact of the service.
MECSH programme
Commissioning Infant Feeding Services: A toolkit for Local Authorities
Information to support commissioning of local infant feeding services.
LSE report: Best practice for perinatal mental health care: the economic case
PHE Guidance - Supporting public health: children, young people and families
OHID
DfE
Historical commissioning resources
These resources were published under the coalition government Health Visiting Implementation Plan 2011-2015 and are available as a historical record.
For current practice, please refer to the latest national policy and guidance.
Local Authority Child Public Health Briefing (1): The Health Visiting contribution to Preventative Work
Local Authority Child Public Health Briefing (2): The Health Visiting contribution to early help and prevention of child abuse and neglect
Local Authority Child Public Health Briefing (3):The Health Visiting contribution to children's mental health
Local Authority Child Public Health Briefing (4): The Health Visiting contribution to children's readiness for school
Local Authority Child Public health Briefing (5): The Health Visiting contribution to family stability
Local Authority Child Public Health Briefing (6): The Health Visiting contribution to maternal (perinatal) mental health
Local Authority Child Public Health Briefing (7): The Health Visiting contribution to working with fathers
Local Authority Child Public Health Briefing (8): The Health Visiting skill mix teams
Local Authority Child Public Health Briefing (9): The role of the health visitor in reducing childhood accidents
Commissioning Tools
PHE Guidance - Best start in life: cost-effective commissioning
A tool to help local commissioners provide cost-effective interventions for children aged up to 5 and pregnant women.
PHE Guidance: Healthy child programme 0 to 19: health visitor and school nurse commissioning
This service specification is for local authorities commissioning health visitors and school nurses, for public health services for children aged 0 to 19.
PHE Guidance: The Prioritisation Framework: making the most of your budget
A flexible tool to support local authorities make transparent, evidence-based spending decisions across public health programmes.
PHE Guidance: National child measurement programme operational guidance
Guidance for local commissioners, providers and schools on running the national child measurement programme (NCMP).
Skill mix in health visiting teams
The iHV is currently leading a programme of work to inform safe and effective skill mix within health visiting. The iHV infographic on skill mix in health visiting has been prepared for practitioners, service managers and commissioners involved in skill mix decision making.
This co-produced resource is the result of work with a UK-wide reference group providing perspectives as parents, practitioners, educationalists, service leads and professionals working with families and communities. Given the limited evidence for how skill mix in health visiting works, we have identified transferable messages from the broader skill mix literature and drawn on bodies of research evidence for what families want from services and what contributes to successful health visiting practice.
The collective messages from these bodies of evidence, have been distilled as the ABC of skill mix in health visiting to identify issues concerning: Accountability of health visitors; Balance in the service system; and Care based on people’s needs.
The resource provides a helpful benchmark for service innovation – services are encouraged to review whether change and innovation is moving health visiting practice nearer, or further away, from these core evidence-driven principles? This work will continue into 2023.
Skill Mix in Health Visiting Infographic
Archive of historical videos and presentations
These archive of videos and presentations are available for interest and historical record.
Health Visiting Service: Key points Local Authorities
Watch a video of Dame Sarah Cowley on the value of a Health Visiting Service: Key points Local Authorities need to know.
Overview of the 6 High Impact Areas
Watch a video of Professor Viv Bennett providing an overview of the 6 high impact areas and how health visitors can use them to explain the importance of their role to local authority commissioners.
Influencing for public health improvement
How to use the PREview Tool to influence Health Visiting Practice
This free webinar was created for health visitors to explain how the PHE PREview Tool can be used to influence their practice.
Influencing your JSNA
How health visitors can influence their JSNA
This new free webinar, created for health visitors, explains the purpose and function of a local Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and how it relates to the local Health and Wellbeing Board and Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
It offers suggestions as to what information health visitors can provide to inform their local JSNA.
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