Health visitor

Health visitors work with families with a child aged 0 to 5 to identify health needs, promote healthy lifestyles and prevent illness.


Typical Salary

£37,000 – £53,000

per year

Working Hours

38–42

hours per week

Career Area

Community nurses

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Day-to-day tasks

As a health visitor, you could:

  • advise new parents on baby feeding, hygiene, safety and sleep
  •  support parents with their children's development needs
  •  coordinate child immunisation programmes
  •  organise clinics or drop in centres
  •  work with social services and other organisations to safeguard and protect children

Skills needed

  • sensitivity and understanding
  • active listening skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • knowledge of psychology
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • administration skills
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

How to get into this role

You can get into this job through an apprenticeship or by working toward this role.

Career progression

With experience you could:

  • specialise in an area like working with teenage parents or people that need mental health support
  •  progress to team manager, community matron or a healthcare management role
  •  move into education, training or academic research