I am a Health Visitor
86 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingWelcome!
We are Health Visitors in the UK and this podcast is for other Health Visitors, parents or anyone who works with families from antenatal to 5yrs. In each episode we chat about professional issues, common practice questions and cutting edge research to keep your knowledge current. We've done the reading and we'll discuss it together over a cup of tea, giving you the concise headlines you need to know to feel confident and prepared.
PLEASE SEND REQUESTS / TOPIC SUGGESTIONS TO: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/I-am-a-Health-Visitor-1732845000342774/
Twitter: @iamaHV
Thanks for listening!
Jenny & Amy
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Episodes
Teething - removal of teething gels and powders from UK supermarkets - Episode 34
January 29, 2019 07:32 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBAmy and Jen discuss the recent change my the medicines regulatory authority to remove teething gels and powders from UK supermarkets and to sell them only in pharmacies. While we're on the topic we also refresh on the basics of normal teething patterns, some top tips to offer to parents and talk about the care of infant teeth including the importance and purpose of the dental check by 1yr. As ever we would love to hear from you! Email us on [email protected] Resources & Reading...
Happy New Year 2019! - Episode 33
January 15, 2019 07:38 - 38 minutes - 52.8 MBWelcome to 2019! We hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and New Year! Thank-you for being so lovely and patient during our brief break from podcasting over christmas. We’re now back with force and looking back over 2018 and our podcast highlights. We’re also doing a brief re-introduction to the podcast for any new listeners out there. Excited that we have reached nearly 16500 downloads in total now - do keep sharing and giving us lots of feedback if you think the podcast is useful. ...
Supporting Adoptive Families - Episode 32
December 05, 2018 07:54 - 58 minutes - 81 MBIn this special episode Amy chats to Sabrina Purse about her personal experiences as an adoptive parent, the process of adoption and what health visitors need to be doing differently. Don't worry though - Jen will be back for the next episode I promise! I think this is one of the most powerful and eye-opening episodes we have done - definitely one to listen to. Thank-you so much to Brie for her incredible bravery and kindness allowing us all to learn from her experiences. As ever we would...
Birthmarks - Episode 31
November 20, 2018 07:14 - 45 minutes - 82.5 MBDo you know the difference between vascular and pigmented birthmarks? The red flags to look out for? This week Amy and Jen have pulled together information about birthmarks we might see in practice, how and why they might be treated and what we should document about them. Here are the resources we used and mentioned during the podcast, apologies for sound/interruptions from kids (it was a Saturday morning!). Please remember to rate and review us if you’re listening on iTunes, and if you’d...
CPHVA Round Up - Episode 30
November 06, 2018 06:44 - 39 minutes - 72.1 MBThis week’s episode was recorded during last month’s CPHVA Conference. We hope to bring a taste of what conference is like, and spoke to delegates, presenters and exhibitioners and hope it inspires ideas for next year Useful links: How to apply for a McQueen bursary: https://www.cphvaconference.co.uk/macqueen-bursary/ Becoming a CPHVA rep: https://www.communitypractitioner.co.uk/opinion/2018/03/are-you-rep-were-waiting Sabrina’s Community Practitioner article: https://www.communitypracti...
Paternal Mental Health: Mark Williams and Dr Andy Mayers - Episode 29
October 22, 2018 20:14 - 17 minutes - 24 MBJen and Amy podcast from the CPHVA conference an interview with two of the key speakers Mark Williams and Dr Andy Mayers, both of whom have loads of insight and knowledge to share in the area of paternal mental health. Should we be considering universal mental health screening for fathers as well as mothers? What risk factors could we be looking out for? How and when should screening or follow up enquiry take place? Why is this not covered in the perinatal mental health NICE and WHO guidance...
CPHVA conference coming soon!
October 15, 2018 21:19 - 2 minutes - 3.1 MBA mini bonus teaser - looking forward to seeing you at conference on Wednesday! Come and say hi if you're there!
"Health Visitors: A Re-Endangered Species" with David Munday - Episode 28
October 08, 2018 20:05 - 1 hour - 89.1 MBThis week Amy and Jen have a special guest on the show - David Munday. In his day job he is lead professional officer for mental health for the CPHVA. He also has a passion for health visiting and has recently completed a fantastic piece of work in his spare time gathering data on the state of health visiting nationally (instead of watching Netflix!) So what is the average caseload size? How does your organisation measure up? How and why exactly are these things important and what impact do...
Sticky Eyes - Episode 27
September 24, 2018 20:45 - 23 minutes - 32 MBThe humble 'sticky eye' - something we all come across on a weekly basis. Amy and Jen go through the finer points of distinguishing between allergic conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis and blocked tear ducts. What causes each one and what are the treatments. As for breastmilk - we all love a bit of breastmilk and its a free, easy and tempting intervention to suggest to parents, but is it effective? For treating what exactly? Why does it work? Hopefully there is some new information i...
New evidence against bath emollients in treatment of eczema - Episode 26
September 10, 2018 21:18 - 25 minutes - 46 MBIn case you haven't seen it yet, Jen and Amy discuss the recently published BATHE study (May 2018) which looked at the use of bath emollients in the treatment of childhood eczema. This new research represents strong evidence for a significant change in health visitor practice - share it far and wide! We really recommend reading the paper and looking at the infogram abstract and the accompanying video explaining the results - it's a very well presented and accessible piece of research (an...
The Who's Who of Breastfeeding
August 29, 2018 20:37 - 40 minutes - 73.7 MBEver wondered what the difference is between a breastfeeding counsellor and a peer supporter? Turns out these titles all have specific meanings, different levels of specialism, knowledge and experience. Also turns out that Jen knows all about the differences. So Amy sits back and lets Jen explain all you need to know! This is an episode for really valuing those specialist breastfeeding colleagues we work with; for knowing our limitations and for recruiting extra support when families need i...
Does early weaning REALLY help babies sleep better? - Episode 24
August 13, 2018 21:31 - 38 minutes - 69.9 MBWe all saw the headlines... but was it really as good as it sounds? Amy and Jen take a dive down into the research paper that was causing such a stir in the press and suggesting that early weaning could be a lifesaver for tired parents. We will talk about the methodology, the results as well as the wider context of early weaning and the other factors to consider from an individual as well as a public health perspective. Thanks so much for listening and we love your feedback - do send us a...
Those Aptamil Formulation Changes
July 31, 2018 06:53 - 31 minutes - 58.3 MBSo... Danone (the company that own Aptamil and Cow & Gate) have changed the formulation of the Aptamil first infant milk... and it has caused all kinds of drama. Health visitors up and down the country have been fielding enquiries from parents about the new formula, with very little publicly available information from the company themselves. Jen and Amy get down into the detail using the latest updates from First Steps Nutrition Trust to talk about what has changed in the formula and why th...
What to do with a Student Nurse! - Episode 22
July 16, 2018 22:03 - 24 minutes - 45.7 MBSo... you have a student nurse coming to visit your team! What do you do to help them learn, make sure they have plenty to do, guide them to transferable elements of the health visiting role... and what about when you have to do your documentation? Don't just send them home early (although do that sometimes too!) Jen and Amy talk about some of the resources they use when working with student nurses. We are sure you, our listeners, have loads of extra stuff you use all the time, so please ...
National HV Service Delivery Data - how has this changed since 2013? - Episode 21
July 04, 2018 21:57 - 38 minutes - 71.1 MBFrom a recent CHIMAT email Amy was curious about the latest Health Visitor service delivery metrics and how these compare to figures from 5yrs ago - 2013 - midway through the Call to Action - are these metrics an accurate measure of how Health Visitors are doing? Jenny and Amy hypothesise on why the figures seem to have improved and are the correct things being measured? What are we loosing to maintain these figures and how could this impact on our retention and development - should we keep...
New Guidance on Accident Prevention - Episode 20
June 13, 2018 06:52 - 21 minutes - 38.6 MBOK so we might have just missed accident prevention week... however, as we point out - children have accidents all year round! Amy and Jen dig into the Public Health England guidance released in March 2018 on unintentional injuries in the home in the under fives. What are the 5 most common injuries and what is the health visitor's role in trying to prevent them. Thank-you very much for listening to our podcast, as ever we would love to hear from you. Drop us an email to iamahealthvisitor@...
Stammer - Episode 19
May 29, 2018 21:11 - 23 minutes - 32.8 MBAmy and Jenny discuss stammer and disfluency in preschool children as Amy reflects on a recent case she has come across in practice and didn't know how to handle (don't worry...she's looked it up since then!). What causes a stammer? What is the best, evidence based advice on helping a preschool aged child who has developed a stammer? What can health visitors say to parents who are worried? When should we refer to SALT? How can we talk about it with the child? If you have an experience to s...
Revalidation - Episode 18
May 14, 2018 20:03 - 29 minutes - 40.7 MBJen and Amy discuss the process of revalidating your nursing or midwifery registration, giving examples of what you can use for reflections, continuing professional development and feedback. We also chat about the confirmation interview and Jen gives her top tips for making it easier! Don't forget you can use our podcast as an example of CPD - just listen to an episode and read an article then send us an email telling us what you have done and we are happy to supply you with a CPD certifica...
So...What Is A Health Visitor? Episode 17
April 30, 2018 21:42 - 55 minutes - 76.7 MBIn this week’s (quite long) episode Jen and Amy record a basic overview of what a health visitor is, targeted at parents or other healthcare professionals. Share, share, share! Let’s raise our profile! As health visitors we know we are often misunderstood and unfairly dreaded! Usually when we do arrive on your doorstep we (hopefully) debunk some of these myths and put lots of fears to rest… but wouldn’t it be nice if we could do this in advance, so you are less terrified of us from the star...
That 'Artifical Feeding' controversy...breastfeeding guilt & how to support new mothers - Episode 16
April 16, 2018 20:24 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MBJenny and Amy discuss the recent article in the news about a UK hospital trust which produced a letter for parents about feeding their new born baby in hospital. In the letter they describe formula feeding as 'artificial feeding' and cause much controversy as a result. We discuss the letter, as well as the guilt and heartache that many mothers go through when they stop breastfeeding before they wanted to. How can we as professionals best support women experiencing this? To add to the debate...
Weight, Length and Head Circumference - what, when and why? Episode 15
April 02, 2018 21:02 - 50 minutes - 69.7 MBWe do a deep dive into the murky waters of measuring babies! It's a slightly longer than usual episode, but its all relevant and we do reach a clear conclusion eventually - stick with us! Despite some VERY different practice across trusts nationally, there is excellent and very clear guidance from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on exactly when we should be measuring what; how and why we should be doing it. Spoiler alert - i...
Stress in the HV Workplace - Episode 14
March 19, 2018 23:04 - 34 minutes - 46.8 MBBy special request! Jenny and Amy discuss the various ways in which Health Visitors experience workplace related stress. We talk about who is responsible as well as some ways to cope. Happy listening (hope it's not too stressful!) Keep your requests and suggestions coming to [email protected] References and Further Reading: Institute of Health Visiting Good Practice Points on Compassionate Resilience: https://ihv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/GPP_-Compassionate-Resilience_...
Safe Sleep and SIDs: Advising parents on Safe Co-Sleeping - Episode 13
March 05, 2018 22:23 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MBIn time for safe sleep week - 12-18th March 2018 - Amy and Jen chat about how to have confident, informed conversations with parents around co-sleeping. We know many parents do it and gone are the days when HVs were forced to advocate a blanket ban on co-sleeping in all its forms. By giving advice on safer ways to co-sleep and reducing the risks, HVs can support parents in their choice. We also talk about a recent research article which looks into how well the safe sleep messages have been ...
New Green Paper on Children's Mental Health... why and how YOU should respond - Episode 12
February 20, 2018 08:05 - 25 minutes - 35.2 MBAmy recently attended the 1001 critical days APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) where the government's new green paper 'Transforming Children and Young People's Mental Health Provision' was discussed. This green paper sets out the government's proposals for mental health provision nationally, so it is exceptionally important and relevant for all health visitors. Find out on this episode why the paper has been so controversial and why we are asking for you to please write your own response ...
Tongue Tie - Episode 11
February 13, 2018 22:30 - 27 minutes - 37.6 MBBy popular request! Amy and Jen chat to Carmen Pagor (HV and IBCLC) about Tongue Tie. We talk about assessment and spotting a tongue tie - it's a much more complex business than it might at first sight appear - as well as the differences for breast and bottle fed babies. We discuss the role of a HV in identifying possible tongue ties, supporting parents through decisions around whether 'to snip, or not to snip' as well as the vital follow-up care which is needed and why it is so important. ...
Fine (Not Fine) Postnatal Depression with Bridget Hargreave - Episode 10
January 30, 2018 00:00 - 27 minutes - 37.4 MBFollowing on from last weeks episode on Birth Trauma, Jen and Amy chat with Bridget Hargreave, the author of 'Fine (Not Fine): Perspectives and Experiences of Postnatal Depression'. Bridget discusses her experiences with health visitors and how we can help women share how they are truly feeling. We talk about what we should (and shouldn't!) say and do when someone tells us they're having a really bad time, how to use scales like the Edinburgh Scale, the PHQ-9 and the Wholly Questions, how f...
Birth Trauma - Episode 9
January 16, 2018 19:29 - 37 minutes - 52 MBIn our first recording session of 2018 Amy chats to Jenny about the 3rd Annual Birth Trauma Conference which she attended recently. She gives you the details of things that stood out from a health visiting perspective, some handy tips and things to watch out for in your antenatal and new birth contacts. This conference comes highly recommended - it was insightful and inspiring, don't miss it next year! Thank-you for listening, please send any comments or suggestions to iamahealthvisitor@gma...
Laryngomalacia and Other Throaty Things - Episode 8
January 01, 2018 22:13 - 24 minutes - 33 MBWelcome back! Hope 2018 is looking exciting for all of you! This week Jen and Amy discuss Laryngomalacia and other conditions of the airway from a health visiting perspective. Find out what to look (and listen) out for in practice, what action to take and have the confidence to seek a further opinion when you need it! As ever, we welcome comments or suggestions to [email protected] Thanks for listening! Further Information and Resources First YouTube Clip: https://www.youtu...
Bronchiolitis - Episode 7
December 18, 2017 23:33 - 36 minutes - 49.9 MBHo ho ho! Merry Christmas everyone! The festive season is here and with it comes everyone's favourite christmas present... bronchiolitis! Jenny and Amy discuss how to assess the babies on your caseload who have caught the dreaded RSV, when to signpost them to the GP and how to know when it's urgent enough to be sending them to A&E. We also discuss the progression of the illness and some encouraging words you can share with parents on your caseload who are exhausted with bronchiolitis at...
Umbilical Granuloma: Treatment with Common Table Salt - Episode 6
December 11, 2017 22:45 - 15 minutes - 21 MBThis month the Institute of Health Visiting have updated their 'Good Practice Points' and 'Top Tips for Parents' on Umbilical Granulomas, continuing to recommend treatment with common table salt for umbilical granuloma. Health Visitors are well placed to identify these granulomas and advice parents on how to treat these, preventing unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment with silver nitrate. Jenny and Amy discuss what Health Visitors need to know to advise parents confidently on thi...
Domestic Abuse and Child Contact: New Guidance for Judges - Episode 5
November 27, 2017 22:05 - 15 minutes - 21.3 MBIn September 21017 new legal guidance was released for judges making decisions in child contact cases where is domestic abuse is a known factor. The change has come following the 'Child First' campaign by Women's Aid and attempts to address concerns raised by their report "Nineteen Child Homicides". This report tells the story of 19 children intentionally killed by their parent during unsafe child contact arrangements, some of which were court ordered, often against the advice of professional...
CPHVA Conference - BONUS EPISODE
November 20, 2017 21:00 - 37 minutes - 51.6 MBLast month Jen went to the CPHVA conference in Cardiff and left with so much information to share we decided it was worth recording a bonus episode. It was also our first recording session since launching the podcast and as you may have seen on our twitter/FB pages, we’re now at over 1000 downloads! Thank you all, and please continue to listen, rate, review and share with your colleagues. The conference hashtag on twitter was #CPHVA17 Jen was tweeting lots from https://twitter.com/loftyje...
Reflux - Episode 4
November 13, 2017 22:07 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MBGastro-Oesophageal Reflux - It's something we all come across very regularly! What do health visitors need to know? How does assessment and advice differ for breastfed and bottle-fed babies? What are the red flags to rule out? What does the NICE guidance recommend as treatment? For more information check out the NICE Guidelines: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng1/resources/gastrooesophageal-reflux-disease-in-children-and-young-people-diagnosis-and-management-pdf-51035086789 iHV Good Prac...
Interpreters - The Highs And Lows - Episode 3
October 30, 2017 22:35 - 17 minutes - 24.4 MBJenny and Amy discuss a recent article in the Community Practitioner 'lost in translation' focusing on the use of professional interpreters as well as the use of children or other family members in practice. We compare notes on our own experiences using translators
Changes To The Immunisation Schedule (August 2017) - Episode 2
October 16, 2017 19:18 - 29 minutes - 40.1 MBFrom August 2017 the UK Routine Immunisation schedule has been updated to include the Hepatitis B vaccine. When is it given? What does this mean for Health Visitors? How does it change the targeted vaccination programme for high risk infants? We will try to answer your questions. Plus... Amy learns how to say 'Hexavalent'... (probably should have tried that out loud beforehand!) PLEASE SEND REQUESTS / SUGGESTIONS TO: [email protected] REFERENCES / FURTHER INFO: Public Health E...
Introduction to the Podcast - I Am A Health Visitor - Episode 1
October 15, 2017 21:43 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBSO, who are we and what on earth is this podcast all about? In this episode we introduce each other, our backgrounds and interests and explain why we thought this podcast was needed. We would love for this podcast to be interactive, so please do get in touch! PLEASE SEND REQUESTS / SUGGESTIONS TO: [email protected]