A lecturer-practitioner's contribution to the Health Visitor Implementation Plan in East London

Before 2011 the UK saw a decline in the number of nurses coming forward to undertake a postgraduate programme in specialist community practice. In addition to financial constraints and an aging nursing demographic, existing health visiting teams have struggled to meet the complex health and social needs of parents with pre-school children. The Health Visitor Implementation Plan published by the Department of Health in England in 2011 aimed to expand and strengthen health visiting services nationwide. This plan is in conjunction with developing new ways of working incorporating the Healthy Child Programme. This model of working was piloted in 26 areas around the UK, commencing in 2011 as an Early Implementer site. The Community Trust in Hackney in East London was one of three trusts within London chosen by the DH in recognition that the health visiting service demonstrated good practice and had the infrastructure to build further sustainable community links. My entry into the role of lecturer-practitioner, on a two-year contract, coincided with this exciting and challenging time for health visiting in Hackney. The article describes the development of a Learning in Practice (LiP) series of workshops, under the umbrella of the Health Visitors Implementation Plan. The aim of the LiP was to support specialist community public health nursing students' transition into practice, whilst at the same time offering support to practice teachers who were managing complex caseloads with the demands of an increase in students.