Training health visiting support staff to detect likelihood of possible postnatal depression

Community nursery nurses (CNNs) and health visiting assistants (HVAs) are increasingly working and supporting health visitors (HVs) within clinical settings. The acute shortage of HVs and increased workloads has resulted in routine services normally provided by HVs, such as detection/screening for postnatal depression, no longer being offered. A training programme for CNNs and HVAs in the use of detector questions in assisting the possible detection of women at risk of PND was completed by eight CNNs and eight HVAs. Twelve trainees consolidated the taught sessions involving specific learning outcomes and satisfactory completion of a designated competency framework within the clinical setting at the six-to-eight-week child health review in 15 GP practices. HVs provided mentorship and assessment within this clinical environment. The evaluation suggests that trainees valued the training, and with supervision CNNs and HVAs become comfortable in providing this additional service within health visiting teams.