Health Visitor
Health Visitors are nurses or midwives. They support you from pregnancy until your child is 5 years old. They help you adjust to being a parent. They give advice and reassurance so your child can grow and develop well.
They can help with:
- child development,
- feeding your baby,
- immunisations,
- emotional health and wellbeing,
- healthy weight and physical activity,
- parenting and local support groups,
- behaviour and sleep.
Community nursery nurses may also help. They use play to support development and manage behaviour.
School Nurses
School Nurses work with children and young people aged 5 to 19. This includes those in school and those educated at home.
They carry out health checks and give advice and support. They can help children with ongoing or complex health needs, including disabilities.
They also run drop-in clinics in Somerset secondary schools. These cover:
- health information,
- sexual health,
- mental health,
- alcohol and smoking,
- substance misuse,
- healthy lifestyles.
General Practitioners
General Practitioners (GPs) treat common health problems for people of all ages. They can refer you to hospitals or specialists if needed.
Some GPs have a special interest in certain areas, but they still treat all types of health issues. They also understand social care and how it affects health.
A GP registrar is a doctor training to become a GP. They have already trained for 7 to 9 years.
GPs are usually the first place to go if you have a health concern. They work in teams with nurses, healthcare assistants and other staff. They also work closely with other services like health visitors, midwives and mental health teams.
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapists (OTs) help children learn everyday skills. This includes things like feeding themselves, getting dressed and playing.
They use exercises and different ways of working to build skills. They may also suggest equipment or changes to the home or school to make things easier.
Speech and Language Therapists
Speech and Language Therapists (SLT or SALT) help with communication. This includes understanding, speaking and listening. They also help with eating and swallowing.
They assess your child by watching, talking and using tests. Then they create a plan with activities and strategies to support progress.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists help children with movement and physical skills.
They use exercises and hands-on therapy to improve movement. They support children affected by injury, illness or disability.
Paediatricians
Paediatricians are doctors who specialise in children’s health and development. They support babies, children and young people with a range of health needs.
They work in hospitals, clinics and the community. They assess, diagnose and treat illnesses and long-term conditions. They can also check your child’s development and plan their care.
Some paediatricians focus on specific conditions, such as epilepsy or diabetes. Community paediatricians support children with more complex or long-term needs. They work closely with schools, therapists and other services to make sure your child gets the right support.