iHV publishes updated GPP – Sleep support for children with additional needs

The Institute of Health Visiting is delighted to publish its recently updated Good Practice Point (GPP), Sleep Support for Children with Additional Needs. Developed in collaboration with Vicki Beevers, CEO of The Sleep Charity, it provides evidence-informed guidance for health visitors and skill mix teams in supporting families where children with additional needs experience sleep difficulties.

Vicki Beevers, CEO The Sleep Charity, said:

“Health visitors play a vital role in supporting families experiencing sleep difficulties. I’m delighted to have contributed to this updated guidance, which combines the latest evidence with practical, compassionate advice to help professionals support children with additional needs and improve the wellbeing of the whole family.”

This refreshed GPP highlights the importance of empathetic listening, recognising the strain that sleep issues place on family wellbeing. It supports practitioners to explore routines, environments, and possible medical causes, using open, non‑judgemental questions and practical tools. Working in partnership with families, practitioners can identify sleep concerns early and provide timely, practical support to meet child and family need in a holistic way.

Amanda Holland, iHV Professional Education, Learning and Development Lead, and co-facilitator of the iHV Changing Conversations: Autism & Supporting Behaviour Ambassadors Training Programme, commented:

“I’m absolutely thrilled to see this updated Good Practice Point published. Sleep disruptions can lead to parental and carer exhaustion, increased family stress and anxiety, and can negatively affect a child’s health, development, and overall wellbeing. For children with additional needs, sleep disruptions are even more significant, with bedtime resistance and night‑time awakenings occurring in around 80% of cases. This refreshed guidance offers practitioners clear, sensitive, and practical support to help families navigate these challenges with confidence. As part of our wider commitment to strengthening practice, this GPP is an important addition to the well‑established iHV Changing Conversations: Autism & Supporting Behaviour Ambassadors Training Programme, further supporting practitioners to deliver informed, compassionate, and consistent care for all babies, children and families.”

This GPP forms part of a toolkit of resources aligned to the iHV Changing Conversations: Autism & Supporting Behaviour Ambassadors Training Programme. It’s also available to iHV members. Its inclusion ensures that practitioners have access to consistent, evidence‑based guidance that supports confident, informed practice when working with families of children with additional needs.

The iHV Changing Conversations: Autism & Supporting Behaviour Ambassadors Training Programme equips health visitors and skill mix teams to act as advocates for parents with children who may be autistic. The programme builds practitioner knowledge, confidence, and practical skills. After the training, Ambassadors will have access to a toolkit of evidence-informed resources to support sensitive, strengths‑based conversations. Grounded in research and enriched by lived‑experience perspectives, the training develops practitioners’ abilities in early identification, effective communication, and collaborative care planning, enhancing everyday practice and promoting connected, holistic support for families.

Mellissa Mackel – Expert by Experience and Co-Facilitator of the iiHV Changing Conversations: Autism & Supporting Behaviour Ambassadors Training Programme, added:

“Sleep is a powerful foundation for family life – when children sleep better, everyone feels the difference. The advice and guidance in the Good Practice Points is fantastic for all parents, full of practical ideas that can make everyday routines feel more manageable. As a parent with lived experience, I believe the Changing Conversations training is invaluable, offering real insight, encouragement, and confidence. Learning from professionals and other parent carers helps you feel better equipped to support your child’s needs and celebrate the small wins along the way.”

See here for more information about the iHV Changing Conversations: Autism & Supporting Behaviour Ambassadors Training Programme and to reserve your place.

Go to GPP - Sleep support for children with additional needs

Please note that GPPs are available to iHV members only.

The iHV is a self-funding charity – we can only be successful in our mission to strengthen health visiting practice if the health visiting profession and its supporters join us on our journey. We rely on our membership to develop new resources for our members. 

If you’re not a member, please join us to get access to all of our resources.

Back to school: supporting confident transitions for children with SEND

As families prepare for the start of a new school year, the transition into school is a significant milestone for every child. For children with complex health needs, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and those who may be autistic, this step can require extra planning, timely communication and joined-up support.

The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) is delighted to publish its newly updated Good Practice Point, Transition to School for Children with Complex Health Needs / Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), to support health visitors in their role of helping children and families prepare for school. This resource highlights that successful transitions are built on partnership working during preparation, transition and follow-up.

Bethany Smith, Acting Deputy Head Teacher and Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (ALNCo). Glan Llyn Primary School, Newport, South Wales, said:

“Health visitors play a vital role in supporting children and families from birth, making strong communication with schools essential when a child starts school. They bring valuable knowledge of a child’s development, family circumstances, and any additional learning needs (ALN).

“Effective collaboration between health visitors and schools ensures consistency and continuity of support, helping families feel understood and reducing the need to repeat information to multiple agencies. By working together, all professionals can keep the child’s needs at the centre of decision making and provide a smoother, more successful transition into school.”

Bethany Smith, Acting Deputy Head Teacher and Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (ALNCo). Glan Llyn Primary School, Newport, South Wales

The health visitor’s role varies on a case-by-case basis and across health visiting service models, so it is essential that health visitors understand their responsibilities for each child to ensure support is appropriate, tailored to individual need and aligned with the wider multi‑agency context.

The need for a timely coordinated approach is clear. More than 1.7 million pupils in England have Special Educational Needs (SEN), and the number of pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) continues to rise. Autistic spectrum disorder is the most common primary need among pupils with an EHCPs, while speech, language and communication needs are the most common for pupils receiving SEN support.

For many families, the year before school entry brings key questions into focus. Although September 2027 may seem a long way off, services will already be preparing and planning for children due to start school then. This Good Practice Point encourages health visitors to begin with positive, strengths‑based conversations that recognise each child’s attributes, build on what helps them thrive, and involve parents fully in decision‑making every step of the way.

Amanda Holland, iHV Professional Education, Learning and Development Lead, and lead facilitator of the iHV Changing Conversations: Autism and Supporting Behaviour Ambassadors Training Programme, commented:

“Health visitors play a vital role in preparing children to be ready for school and supporting the family and child through transition. We are delighted to share this updated GPP, especially as many children will soon begin their school journey. Effective transition for children with complex health needs and SEND begins in the autumn term (September–December) ahead of school entry the following September. This updated GPP aims to support health visitors to work in partnership with families and collaborate across agencies throughout preparation, transition and follow‑up. Health visiting models, roles and responsibilities vary across the UK, however, we all share a commitment to ensuring every child has a successful, well‑supported start to school.”

This back‑to‑school period offers an opportunity to strengthen confidence across the health visiting workforce in supporting children with SEND and their families. Our updated GPP forms part of a suite of resources for iHV members – it is also aligned to iHV’s Changing Conversations: Autism and Supporting Behaviour Ambassadors training – equipping health visitors to support families and children who may have SEND and ensure they feel heard and included during this important period of transition.

Transition to school is a shared, multi-agency responsibility that works best when families are active partners and every professional understands their role. For health visitors, this means using their universal reach, family-centred approach and knowledge of early child development to identify needs early, coordinate support and promote continuity of care.

We encourage health visiting teams to use this newly updated Good Practice Point alongside local pathways and iHV’s Changing Conversations: Autism and Supporting Behaviour Ambassadors training and resources to support thoughtful, timely and inclusive transitions. With the right preparation and partnership, children with SEND and complex health needs can be supported to start school feeling better understood, better planned for, and better able to flourish.

For all iHV members:

Access the new Good Practice Point Transition to School for Children with Complex Health Needs / Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) here

Please note that GPPs are available to iHV members only.

If you’re not a member, please join us to get access to all of our resources.

For anyone wanting to further enhance your knowledge and skills:

Find out more information about the iHV’s Changing Conversations: Autism and Supporting Behaviour Ambassadors Training Programme here

For information about iHV’s Motor Development Training Programme see here

Updated GPP: Supporting the Emotional Wellbeing of Parents/Carers of Preterm Babies

The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) is pleased to announce the publication of its updated Good Practice Point (GPP): Supporting the Emotional Wellbeing of Parents/Carers of Preterm Babies Who Have Experienced the Neonatal Unit. This update equips health visitors and the wider health visiting workforce to provide timely, compassionate, and evidence-based support to families navigating the emotional challenges associated with preterm birth and neonatal care.

iHV GPPs provide busy practitioners with easily accessible and up-to-date information on key public health topics. This revised GPP brings together current evidence and best practice to support health visitors in delivering sensitive, family-centred care, including an overview of:

The effects of preterm birth and the neonatal unit (NNU) experience on parental mental health
Feelings and conditions that parents may experience, including anxiety, trauma responses and guilt
How health visitors and their teams can support parents’ mental health – particularly through relational approaches
Top tips to support families transitioning to home, helping ensure continuity and partnership working.

The iHV would like to extend special thanks to Dr Caitriona Collins, Clinical Psychologist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, for updating this GPP. Her expertise and contribution have been invaluable in ensuring the guidance reflects current evidence and best practice.

We also thank the members of the iHV Health Visiting Advisory Forum (HVAF) for their insights and support through the review process.

If you would like to know more about this topic and how to support families who have had babies on the NNU, then please contact [email protected] to enquire about booking onto our Neonatal Families Ambassadors training.

Go to GPP - Supporting the Emotional Wellbeing of Parents/Carers of Preterm Babies

Please note that GPPs are available to iHV members only.

If you’re not a member, please join us to get access to all of our resources.

Updated iHV GPP: Improving Vaccination Uptake

The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) is delighted to announce the publication of its updated Good Practice Points (GPP): Improving Vaccination Uptake During Pregnancy and Early Childhood. This new resource supports health visitors and the wider health visiting workforce to strengthen their role in improving vaccination confidence and uptake during pregnancy and the early years – a crucial public health priority.

Recent national updates, including the UK’s loss of its measles elimination status, highlight the impact of declining vaccination rates and the urgency of supporting families with clear, evidence-based information. Through their universal reach, health visitors can engage early with parents, build trust, and help overcome both hesitancy and barriers to accessing vaccination-based information.

The updated GPP was created with the support of Dr Helen Bedford, Professor of Children’s Health, Population, Policy and Practice Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, iHV Trustee, and iHV Expert Adviser: Immunisations.

iHV GPPs provide busy practitioners with easily accessible and up-to-date information on key public health priority topics. This updated GPP contains the latest data and evidence on improving vaccination uptake, with an overview of:

UK childhood vaccination coverage and the impact of declining rates

Inequalities, declining uptake, and approaches to tackling these disparities

A whole system approach to improving vaccination rates

Vaccine access, vaccine hesitancy, and strategies to support families

Key messages and top tips for health visitors and health visiting skill mix teams.

The iHV would like to thank the iHV Health Visiting Advisory Forum (HVAF) members for their valuable contribution to the review process, helping ensure this refreshed guidance reflects current evidence and the realities of frontline practice across diverse communities.

Read GPP - Improving Vaccination Uptake During Pregnancy and Early Childhood

Note: iHV GPPs are free-to-access for all iHV members.

If you’re not a member, please join us to get access to all of our resources.

Celebrating continued collaboration between iHV and APF

The Active Pregnancy Foundation (APF) and the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) have been working together for more than five years to deliver the This Mum Moves (TMM) educational programme. The Institute is the APF’s official training partner, supporting the development of place-based leaders – known as This Mum Moves Ambassadors – who promote physical activity within their local communities and settings.

On 8 October, the APF and iHV hosted the This Mum Moves Annual Networking Event, themed ‘Maternal Health Equity in Motion‘. The event brought together TMM Ambassadors from across the UK to share research, resources, and practical strategies to advance health equity in the perinatal period.

Speakers and topics included:

Professor Hora Soltani, Sheffield Hallam University – Maternal Health Equity and Movement: Priorities, Barriers and Bridges in the Perinatal Period
Dr Danielle Schoenaker, University of Southampton – The Preconception Care Toolkit: Guidance to Support Pregnancy Planning and Preparation
Dr Lamia Zafrani, OBGYN – Active Pregnancy: My Journey and the Call for Maternal Equity
Beth Marriott, Sport in Mind – Sport in Mind’s Pregnancy and Postnatal Programme
Scott Radcliffe, Sport England – We Like the Way You Move

As part of its work to address inequalities, the APF has been awarded over £250,000 of National Lottery funding through Sport England to tackle key systemic challenges in maternal physical activity. Current guidelines tend to focus on women with uncomplicated pregnancies and good baseline health. However, a significant gap remains in meeting the needs of women with disabilities, mental health challenges, or those at risk of long-term health conditions. These challenges are often compounded by socio-economic status, ethnicity, and geography, leaving many women underserved and facing barriers to staying active during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

This investment aligns with Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign, which recently launched “We Like the Way You Move”. The campaign takes an intersectional approach to promoting activity among diverse groups, including pregnant women, new mothers, Black communities, and South Asian Muslim women. Read more here.

Updated Good Practice Point – Promoting physical activity during pregnancy and the period following childbirth

The APF and iHV are committed to highlighting the vital role of health visitors in supporting physical activity as part of maternal and family health. To complement this work, the Good Practice Point resource (available to iHV members and TMM Ambassadors) – Promoting physical activity during pregnancy and the period following childbirth – has been updated to reflect the latest evidence, guidance, and examples of best practice.

Physical activity during and after pregnancy is not only safe for most women but also offers significant benefits: improved mental wellbeing, enhanced cardiovascular fitness, and reduced risk of complications such as gestational diabetes and excessive weight gain. As trusted professionals, health visitors are uniquely placed to support and encourage women to remain active during this important stage of life.

Go to GPP - Promoting physical activity during pregnancy and the period following childbirth

iHV members can access this updated GPP via the above link when logged into the iHV website.
TMM Ambassadors who are not iHV members will need to log in to access via the TMM training resources on iHV LEARN.

This Mum Moves Ambassadors Training

Through this collaboration, iHV delivers the This Mum Moves training in partnership with subject matter experts at the APF to health visitors, allied health professionals, fitness and other professionals. Those completing the training become This Mum Moves Ambassadors, equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to:

Understand the evidence base for physical activity during and beyond pregnancy, including national guidelines;
Promote physical activity effectively using the Chief Medical Officers’ (CMO) guidance;
Offer appropriate and timely advice, guidance, and signposting to trusted resources;
Access and use tools to support conversations and engagement around physical activity; and
Act as advocates for active, healthy lifestyles within their local areas.

For more information about This Mum Moves Ambassador training, please click here or contact [email protected] to register your interest.

New GPP on The Importance of Supporting Fathers

We are delighted to publish a new Good Practice Point (GPP) for health visitors on the importance of supporting fathers.

All parents have a unique and significant role in promoting their family health and wellbeing, and any person can experience difficulties during their transition to parenthood, whether they are a mother or birthing person, father, co-mother or non-birthing parent. This GPP focuses specifically on the importance of the support that health visitors offer to fathers* during the perinatal period.

*The iHV has adopted a gender-additive approach to the language we use in policies, resources, projects, and events. A gender-additive approach means using both gendered language alongside gender-neutral language, to ensure that everyone is represented and included.
For the purpose of this publication, the term father includes those who are: biological or non-biological parents; residing with or separately from their partner and baby; in a relationship with or separated from their child’s other parent; heterosexual, gay, bisexual or transgender; an adoptive or step-parent.

Go to GPP - The Importance of Supporting Fathers

Please note that GPPs are available to iHV members.

If you’re not a member, please join us to get access to all of our resources.

So do join us now!

Retinoblastoma awareness

In World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week (#RbWeek), iHV supports the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) to raise awareness of retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma is a rare eye cancer that affects babies and young children, mainly under the age of six. Around 40-50 cases are diagnosed a year in the UK – or one child a week. It represents 3% of all childhood cancers and 10% of cancers in babies under the age of one in the UK. 98% of children in the UK with retinoblastoma survive, but early diagnosis is crucial to save a child’s eyes, sight and life.

Photo credit: Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT)

Over one in ten (13%) parents of a child diagnosed with the rare eye cancer retinoblastoma (Rb) in 2022 consulted their health visitor in the first instance. Health visitors were the second most consulted professionals after GPs for parents with concerns about their baby’s eyes.

However, according to the annual survey from the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT), less than 30% of these health visitors recognised that the child’s symptoms were a sign of this rare condition.

The main symptoms reported by parents of children diagnosed with retinoblastoma are:

White glow seen in photos or in the eye itself – 77%
New squint – 33%
Change in colour of iris (coloured part of eye) – 9%
Loss of vision – 8%
Roaming eyes / child not focusing – 8%
Redness or swelling without infection – 7%
Absence of red eye in a photo – 1%

It’s important to note however that the symptoms are usually confined to the eye, and the child seems otherwise well in themselves, which can be misleading.

Richard Ashton, Chief Executive of the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust, said:

“Despite the extremely challenging environment many practitioners are working in currently, health visitors continue to play a hugely important role for parents of children this age. It’s important therefore that they are aware of the main signs of childhood eye cancer, and the appropriate action to take. This is why we have worked with the iHV to develop the Good Practice Points for retinoblastoma, and have a specific information on our website for health visitors at www.chect.org.uk/hv.”

Alison Morton, CEO of the Institute of Health Visiting, said:

“We are delighted to be working with the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust to raise awareness of the signs of retinoblastoma amongst health visitors and practitioners working in health visiting teams. Spotting the signs of this rare condition and ensuring that these children access the right treatment as soon as possible makes a big difference to their outcomes. It is therefore vitally important that all practitioners are able to spot these early signs and can ensure that families are supported with accurate information and advice.

“I encourage all practitioners to read our Good Practice Points resource which was developed in partnership with the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust and contains a wealth of information in an easy to access and quick read format.”

Go to GPP - Retinoblastoma (eye cancer in babies and children)

World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week takes place from 14-20 May 2023. Help CHECT to raise awareness with their downloadable resources.

For more information for health visitors on retinoblastoma, go to www.chect.org.uk/hv.

Updated GPP Postpartum Psychosis

During Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, #MMHAW23, and following today’s theme of Health Care Professionals hub to support healing, we are delighted to share our updated Good Practice Points (GPP) on Postpartum Psychosis.

GPP – Postpartum Psychosis

Postpartum psychosis (PP), also known as puerperal psychosis and postnatal psychosis, is a severe illness that involves hallucinations, delusions, mania, severe confusion, or unusual behaviour occurring, often with acute onset, in the postnatal period.

These Good Practice Points set out what health visitors need to know about Postpartum Psychosis.

Authored by Dr Judy Shakespeare, retired GP, Royal College of General Practitioners Clinical Champion in perinatal mental health, and in association with Action on Postpartum Psychosis, this GPP provides up-to-date evidence and references.

Go to GPP - Postpartum Psychosis

Updated Vitamins resources now available

We are delighted to share updated Parent Tips and Good Practice Points resources on the importance of vitamins for babies and children.

Parent Tip – Vitamins A, C and D

In the UK, it is known that some babies and children have low levels of vitamins A, C and D. Vitamins and minerals help us to stay healthy, including babies and children. They also help us when we are ill.

This parent tip will look at each of vitamins A, C and D, explaining why they are important for babies and children.

Go to Parent Tip - Vitamins A, C and D

Good Practice Points – Advocating the use of Vitamin D

Health visitors have a central role to play in increasing Vitamin D uptake. These Good Practice Points, authored by Sara Patience, Registered Health Visitor, Registered Nutritionist, set out what health visitors need to know on advocating the use of Vitamin D.

They outline some evidence and guidance on the use and importance of Vitamin D, along with up-to-date evidence and references.

Please note that this GPP is available to iHV members only.

Go to GPP - Advocating the use of Vitamin D

If you’re not a member, please join us to get access to all of our resources.

So do join us now!

iHV GPPs for Down’s syndrome updated and ‘open access’

Thanks to generous funding from the Leieune Clinic for Children with Down Syndrome, the Institute of Health Visiting has updated, and made ‘open access’, its Good Practice Points (GPP) for health visitors supporting children with Down’s syndrome and their families.

People with Down’s syndrome have a genetic variation. Whilst they share some common features, it must be emphasised they are all individuals with their own abilities, needs, interests and aspirations. Down’s syndrome is not a disease and people who have Down’s syndrome are not ill.

The evidence base of what families with babies and children with Down’s syndrome value from health and related services has increased in recent years and should be acted upon in the design of services including health visiting. In November 2022, the iHV submitted evidence for the Department of Health and Social Care’s Down Syndrome Act 2022 guidance: call for evidence.

Colette Lloyd, Trustee of the Lejeune Clinic for Children with Down Syndrome, says:

“It is so important that all children, including children with Down Syndrome, are given the support they need to live happy and healthy lives from an early age. Therefore, we wanted to ensure that health visitors had access to the latest information on the additional support that children with Down Syndrome benefit from. We are delighted to partner with the Institute of Health Visiting to make these Good Practice Points available to all.”

There are two GPPs in this series:

The iHV developed these resources using co-production methods, with Down’s syndrome charities and parents with lived experience. As part of our scoping, families reported a postcode lottery of support – the quality of the service that they receive, and the skills of the staff that deliver it, really does depend on where they live. These GPPs are designed to address this gap by providing a summary of evidence-based information to support quality improvement in health visiting practice.

Like all children, children with Down’s syndrome are all different and will benefit from early intervention that is personalised to their identified needs. Personalised support should be in place as soon as the early signs are detected – for Down’s syndrome, this is likely to be at the antenatal screening when a ‘high chance’ of Down’s syndrome is detected. All parents are different and will respond to the diagnosis in an individual way. It is therefore extremely important that professionals take their lead from the parents. The Good Practice Points provide guidance in the specific areas of: growth, infant feeding, child development, managing minor illnesses, tailored support, and language/ terminology, as well as signposting to other resources for babies and young children with Down’s syndrome.

Go to GPP – Supporting children with Down’s syndrome and their families

Go to GPP – Supporting children with Down’s syndrome: growth, feeding and development