Southampton Students Help Out NHS
Two final year students from Solent University have produced a video for the NHS to help raise awareness of the health visiting profession and show that it’s not just about weighing babies.
The humorous ‘Grumpy baby’ video, is part of a campaign to raise the profile of health visiting; both as an exciting career option and as an invaluable free NHS service for all parents.
Clare Messenger, Associate Director of Children and Young People at South Central Strategic Health Authority, said: “We asked the students to produce a short video for us to help raise awareness of health visiting, both as an important NHS service for new parents and as a rewarding career option for healthcare professionals.”
“I think the video is quite humorous and a bit quirky. Their innovative approach and fresh perspective has helped produce a video which I hope will really get people talking about health visiting.”
The local NHS is recruiting over 150 ‘Trainee Specialist Community Public Health Nurses’ - commonly known as ‘Health Visitors’. A selection of nurses, midwives or student nurses will begin specialist training this September to support families in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes.
Clare added: “Health visiting is a really attractive career option, you’re not stuck in an office and you get to make a real difference to local families. It’s not just about weighing babies; health visitor’s work with women throughout pregnancy, new-born babies and children up to the age of five.
“We are currently seeking qualified healthcare professionals and students, passionate about the health and wellbeing of children, who are looking for a new career opportunity. This is an exciting time to join the health visiting profession. The service is being expanded and modernised to ensure there are enough health visitors to give all children a healthy start in life and parents the support they need.”
Clare explained: “Health visitors can offer much more to families than I think people realise. Health visitors offer free advice and support at a time when parents may not know where to turn for help or really need some reassurance.
“They provide support to all parents, regardless of the family situation, on anything around their child’s health and development; from immunisations and breastfeeding, to diet and sleeping patterns. They monitor wellbeing, behaviour, communication skills and learning. Health visitors can also put parents in touch with other NHS or community services, such as breast feeding support groups, child speech therapists or treatment for post-natal depression.”
For details on how to become a health visitor visit www..southcentral.nhs.uk/healthvisitor
Check out the video here: