working together guidance

[Guest guest]

Margaret, thanks for this reminder. The 'every child matters' website

at DfES has been very slow and problematic to use recently; I had

forgotten that the guidance had been issued as I had difficulty

downloading it in April. Today, I succeeded in getting it from

http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/socialcare/safeguarding/workingtogether/

I have to say, a quick scan revealed neither sections specifically about

health visiting nor school nursing; both appear regularly in lists of

'professionals such as' and both are included in a section about

'universal services' (do they still exist anywhere?), with health

visitors being identified as part of the primary care team (their most

common position, but by no means the only place they are found) and

school nurses 'standing alone' in that sense. Maternity services have

another section.

The guidance is very comprehensive and, at first glance, appears quite

complex too. I guess this is because so much of the new guidance is

statutory; the document even includes a guide about which chapters to

read, according to which staff group you are in, although I found it

hard to decide which group I would put health visitors in! I wonder if

there is going to be a 'short guide,' or if Community Practitioner is

planning an update or overview? Perhaps Jane (Appleton) will put us

straight here?

One thing I was a bit shocked about, is that there does not appear to be

any sign or mention of this important document on the DH website. We

were talking the other day about how the DH (public health) and DfES

(children and families) agenda are becoming increasingly far apart, and

apparently one hand does not know what the other is doing. This really

does have an enormous impact on health visiting, because of the

diversity in responsibilities and expectations; DfEs expect there to be

universal contact and comprehensive services for all families and

children, but NHS is busy dismantling those services because that is not

part of the DH agenda.

best wishes

.. The Margaret Buttigieg wrote:

>This is so interesting - I have not time to put much on at present

>but am told on good authority that the new Working Together has written

>health visiting out although it still includes school nurisg.

>

>Has anyone any info on this

>

>Margaret

>

> Re: {Spam?} two media events

>

>I am extremely concerned about the issues facing health visiting at the

>present time. I am in the unpleasant situation this year of having 20

>students due to complete the course in July, most of which will be without

>jobs. This is unprecedented, and I would like to know if the CPHVA intends

>to raise this with the government as I am sure that there are many other

>soon to be qualified HVs in the same position. I am meeting with my students

>to consider a way forward, but I feel that we need to raise public awareness

>about the issue. I am glad that these media events are taking place, but

>feel very let down by a government who has acknowledged the value of health

>visiting in a range of documents. We are considering writing to local MPs

>and organising some event at No. 10, but also feel that the CPHVA should be

>taking a stronger lead on the issue. Well done , and hope it goes well.

>

>Regards,

>

>

> {Spam?} two media events

>

>

>The CPHVA have just announced two media events:

>

>Amicus/CPHVA Director, Reay and one of the UK's experts on health

>visiting, Professor Cowley will be interviewed on BBC Four's You

>and Yours programme between 12 noon -1.00pm tomorrow, (Wednesday, 17

>May) on the crisis facing the health visiting profession.

>

>Channel Four News tomorrow (Wednesday, 17 May) will be screening a

>report on the potential takeover of a Derbyshire GP practice by an

>American multi-national, which could have drastic implications for

>Amicus Health members and the public at large.

>

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