Severe caseloads - with 40 per cent of health visitors handling more than 500 children, and 20 per cent more than 1,000 - is a major part of the problem. A dearth of children's social workers is forcing many to focus their work away from preventative health services and on child protection.
And yet surveys suggest health visitors are among the occupational groups in the children's workforce most trusted by families. Moreover, they are effective. Evaluations of Sure Start show that those programmes led by health visitors tend to perform better. The planned expansion of family nurse partnerships to target vulnerable families will increase demand.
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