Heartbeat: Health visiting service welcomes eight new student health visitors

May 6, 2021

Recently the SWB health visiting service has recruited eight new student health visitors to the service. The new students are qualified nurses and midwives and will train to achieve their Specialist Community Public Health nursing qualification.

The course will help the team develop a broad knowledge of the complex issues of specialist practice. It will focus on public health practice, developing evidence-based public health knowledge and skills within a public health context. The course is 50 per cent theory and 50 per cent practice, so the blended approach will allow the recruits to develop their skills whilst learning on the job.

The new students bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and skills into the organisation. They will complete their studies at the University of Wolverhampton and have four practice assessors and eight practice supervisors on hand to help them succeed.

Sofia, one of the new recruits, told Heartbeat: “This is such an exciting opportunity, and I am looking forward to working with families in Sandwell.”

Paulette Duzan, Interim Clinical Lead for Health Visiting, told us: “By working within communities, public health nurses can educate families about health issues, improve community health and safety and increase access to care. It is a pivotal role, so to have eight new students joining our team is a real boost. They will make such a positive difference to the work we do and the children and families we look after.

“The students will be supported by experienced practice teachers and mentors. Having people around them that they can lean on and learn from, will help to develop them and for them to grow into their new roles.”

Paulette added: “These current times have been and continue to be difficult for a lot of people. Families, in particular, have been impacted negatively, and with reduced support/services, there will be more vulnerability in our communities.

“Our health visiting service has continued to work on the frontline in our communities throughout the pandemic. We are proud to have been able to continue providing essential support to families. Plus, our past students were able to obtain the relevant learning experience, which has led to them becoming proficient new health visitors, something we are pleased to have been able to support as a service.”