SSAFA The Americas

Health Visitors – delivering the Healthy Child Programme

The role of a Health Visitor
How can we help
CONI (Care Of Next Infant)
How you can access the service
Useful UK resources

The role of a Health Visitor

Health Visitors are registered Nurses or Midwives who have undertaken additional training to become Specialist Community Public Health Nurses. They work with families to give babies and pre-school children the best start in life, as we know that the first years of life are a foundation for future health and wellbeing.

We work closely with other members of the Community Health Team, education partners, the Primary Health Care Team and Host Nation Providers to make sure that all parents and children can access the most appropriate services for their health and wellbeing.

How can we help?

Transition to parenthood
Babies and children's growth and development including speech, language and communication and readiness for school
Supporting babies and children with additional needs
Managing minor illnesses
Advice on conditions, allergies and infections
Immunisation advice and guidance
Infant feeding and maintaining a healthy weight
Postnatal depression and mum's and dad's mental and physical health
Attachment and bonding with your child or baby.
Adverse Childhood experiences -trauma informed practice.
Safeguarding and early interventions (Early help)
Parenting courses group and face to face
Behaviour issues - e.g. sleeping, eating, potty training, tantrums
Family planning
Family health and relationships
Teething and good dental health
Bladder and bowel issues.
Health promotion/education to keep you and your family well and living longer
Community health
Children’s emotional wellbeing

CONI (Care Of Next Infant)

The CONI programme is designed for parents who are expecting or have given birth to a baby following the sudden unexpected death of a previous baby. It is normal for parents who have experienced a sudden and unexpected death of a baby to feel anxious when they have another baby.

The CONI programme is usually offered for 6 months after a baby has born but may be longer depending on the individual circumstances. Within the programme there are a range of tools which offer an individual and flexible programme of support to families during, what maybe a very stressful time.

Within each Military Overseas Command, where SSAFA provide Community Health Services, there will be a local CONI champion/coordinator, normally a midwife or a health visitor, but any member of the Community Health Team would be able to help you to access this service.

If you think you need the CONI programme, you can find out more information here - or speak to your Health Visitor.

How you can access the service

SSAFA will be offering key elements of the Healthy Child Programme to all families with children under 5 years who are registered with (practice/area). All contacts will be remote via MS Teams.

Families who register with (practice/area) with children between the ages of 0 and up to 5 years old can expect:

A ‘transfer in’ contact - this is an opportunity to get to know both you and your child(ren), to discuss their current development, access to host nation care, and any concerns or needs that you might have.

For those families who become pregnant or give birth whilst registered with (practice/area):