Health visitors' experiences of child health promotion policy reform in England

Condon, Louise

Abstract

Abstract
Child health promotion services for children in England have been revolutionised in the last decade, with a shift from a low-threshold universal service to a more highly targeted programme. This has impacted upon health visitors’ preventive healthcare work with families. The present paper draws on findings from the qualitative arm of a mixed methods study which aimed to explore how child health promotion reform has been implemented. The particular focus of this paper is on health visitors’ experiences of the process of policy reform. In-depth semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 25 health visitors working in urban areas in England, and data analysed thematically. Health visitors described policy change as being enforced, but views on the new programme were coloured by the extent to which practitioners retained the autonomy to offer a service according to their professional judgment. Where practitioners retained professional autonomy, services were adequately staffed and there was a functional working environment, then interviewees were positive about child health promotion reform. Where health visitors felt they could not offer an appropriate level of health promotion services, they had grave concerns about the impact on child public health.

Citation

Condon, L. (2011). Health visitors' experiences of child health promotion policy reform in England. Community Practitioner, 84(6), 25-28

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: May 20, 2011
• Journal: Community Practitioner
• Print ISSN: 1462-2815
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 84
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 25-28
• Keywords: child health promotion, health visiting, health policy, policy implementation
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/962462
• Publisher URL: http://openurl.ingenta.com/content?genre=article&issn=1462-2815&volume=84&issue=6&spage=25&epage=28