The Principles of Health Visiting: opening the door to public health practice in the 21st century
Abstract
Introduction to book
The professional practice of health visiting consists of planned activities aimed at improving the physical, mental, emotional and social health and wellbeing of the population, preventing disease and reducing inequalities in health. Its overall purpose is to improve health and social wellbeing through identifying health needs, raising awareness of health and social wellbeing, influencing the broader context that affects health and social wellbeing, and enabling and empowering people to improve their own health. The health visiting contribution to public health takes account of the different dynamics and needs of individuals, families and groups, and the community as a whole.
The health visiting process is achieved through a focus on four clear principles, which are:
● The search for health needs
● The stimulation of an awareness of health needs
● The influence on policies affecting health
● The facilitation of an awareness of health needs
Health visitors provide a proactive service, concerned with identifying and fulfilling self-declared and recognised as well as unrecognised health needs of individuals, families and social groups. Health visiting is distinguished by the emphasis that it places on the proactive search for health needs, rather than only responding to the demand for care; on primary prevention and promotion, not just treatment; its focus on people as members of groups, families and communities; and its concern with the health of populations as well as individuals.
Health visiting practice takes place in a variety of settings, particularly in people’s homes, but also in communities, for example, neighbourhoods, housing estates and villages, and in institutions, such as schools, prisons and healthcare organisations and, in collaboration with others, extends to settings such as healthy cities, towns or areas. Health visitors work particularly with infants and children and their families, but also with young people and those of working age, with the retired population and older people, and vulnerable groups of any age.