Community Practitioner back issues from March 2009:
Changing ways: the Change4Life campaign appears to 'say all the right things', but its success may depend on the behaviour of its commercial partners.(COMMENT)
Mar 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At first sight, Change4Life seems to be just another anti-obesity campaign. However, the (English) government's response to the Foresight report deserves closer inspection. For a start, there is an eye -watering 75million [pounds sterling] ...
Child health strategy 'thin on detail': while the scope of the new strategy has been welcomed, there are concerns over a lack of detail and no commitment to an earlier pledge on school nurses.(NEWS)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Unite is asking ministers to clarify what the new child health strategy will mean for community practitioner staff numbers. Unite national officer for health Karen Reay stated: 'This strategy for children is long on aspirations and thin on detail, at a time when--according to ...
NAO: AfC is 'not yet' value for money.(NEWS)(National Audit Office)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The National Audit Office (NAO) has found that Agenda for Change (AfC) and the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) have yet to provide their intended value for money. NAO head Tim Burr stated that, although it had been an enormous task to transfer NHS salaries in England to ...
Constitution 'smokescreen'.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Unite has warned that the new NHS Constitution should not be used as a 'smokescreen' for more privatisation in the health service. While welcoming steps to make the NHS more accountable to patients and clients, Unite national officer for health ...
Boys and girls alone.(NEWS)(Unite/Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Unite/CPHVA has expressed concern at the use of children in the reality TV programme Boys and Girls Alone, in which 20 eight- to 11-year-olds live for two weeks without adults. Unite/CPHVA lead professional officer Obi Amadi stated: 'I would urge all practitioners who have seen ...
New editorial board chair.(NEWS)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The journal is sad to report that Carolyn Taylor has had to step down as the chair of its Editorial Advisory Board, but gives a warm welcome to the new chair Gaynor Kershaw. Carolyn stated: 'This was my second term as chair--a position I enjoy--but due to industrial and ...
G20: put people first.
Mar 01, 2009 ... Unite members will march from Victoria Embankment, London at 11am on 28 March, to send the message 'Put people first' to world leaders ...
New research academy.(Academy for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Research)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Academy for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Research has been launched by Unite/CPHVA, the RCN and RCM in partnership with several ...
CPHVA Bookshop.(Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Unite/CPHVA publications that used to be available at www.cphvabookshop.com are now available ...
'Hidden children' survey.
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Children's Society is seeking input from community practitioners for research into 'hidden children'--those from abroad in the care of someone who is not ...
CMO public health award.(chief medical officer)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The chief medical officer (CMO) in England is inviting entries for a new award to recognise individuals, teams and services that have made an impact on public ...
NHS pensions helpline.
Mar 01, 2009 ... Those who have been overpaid NHS pensions can get advice and ...
Transforming community services.(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Department of Health has produced guidance for community service providers to implement the primary and community care element of the ...
Plans for free child care.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... A report from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) includes a proposal to extend free childcare places in England and to require all childcare professionals to be educated to a standard equivalent to A Level. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At the launch ...
Be active, be healthy.(NEWS)(wellness programs)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Department of Health has launched a new physical activity strategy, on which public health minister Dawn Primarolo stated: 'We have to remove the "No, you can't" messages across communities to create a "Yes, you can" culture --with more support, more encouragement and more ...
Memory clinics promised.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... A new National Dementia Strategy has been launched that commits 150million [pounds sterling] over two years to improve early diagnosis and treatment in England. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Health secretary Alan Johnson stated: 'The creation of a new role of dementia ...
HPA: measles increase.(Health Protection Agency)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has said that the increase in reported measles cases in England and Wales from 990 in 2007 to 1348 in ...
Welsh schools 'unsafe to be gay'.(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Safe Space programme, which supports schools in Wales in tackling homophobic bullying, has reported that 79% of 600 Cardiff pupils that they surveyed believed their school ...
CAF for Adults consultation.(Common Assessment Framework)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... A consultation on the use of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) for Adults is on-going, with 'demonstrator sites' being ...
Hepatitis C awareness.(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Department of Health is encouraging healthcare professionals to offer information and testing for patients and clients at risk of ...
Health Profile of England.(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The third Health Profile of England has been published, showing declining mortality rates in cancers, circulatory diseases and suicides, but increasing obesity rates and geographical inequalities. ...
New DV resource.(domestic violence )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Domestic violence (DV) charity Refuge has launched a new resource for women who have experienced financial abuse or who are in financial difficulties because of ...
'No time' for 3As.(NEWS)(smoking cessation)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The chief nursing officer in England is writing to health visitors to promote a new Department of Health brief smoking cessation advice resource. The 3As approach aims to trigger attempts to quit by asking about and recording a client's smoking status, advising them of the health benefits ...
Scottish staff survey results.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Unite has welcomed the results of the latest NHS Scotland Staff Survey. Unite Scottish health sector secretary Michael Fuller stated: 'Staff working for the Scottish NHS are happier at work, prepared to stay with the NHS longer, and more committed to providing good quality care ...
Welsh public health proposals.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Welsh Assembly Government has launched a consultation on proposals for a unified public health system, incorporating a new Public Health Wales NHS Trust to replace a range of organisations and services. Unite/CPHVA professional officer Gill Devereaux encouraged members to ...
NI workforce reductions planned.(NEWS)(Northern Ireland)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Plans by the five health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland (NI) to meet efficiency targets are expected to result in the loss of 720 nursing and support posts over the next three years. When asked about loss of staff, chief nursing officer Martin Bradley stated: 'Every ...
PND training trial.(NEWS)(postnatal depression)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... A trial researching the effectiveness of additional health visitor training in order to better identify and support women with postnatal depression (PND) has backed the case for more practitioners providing a universal service. Unite/CPHVA lead professional officer Cheryll Adams ...
A good childhood.(NEWS)(Children's Society Good Childhood Inquiry)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Children's Society Good Childhood Inquiry has published a report condemning the effect of 'excessive individualism' on children's lives. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The report's author Lord Richard Layard stated: 'Our evidence showed clearly how stressful life has ...
First steps for children's database.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has launched the first stage of ContactPoint, a database for practitioners to access information on every child in England. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Unite/CPHVA professional officer Dave Munday stated: 'We welcome ...
Strengthening parenting in Lincolnshire.(Members' corner)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Two members have delivered their first 13-week 'Strengthening families, strengthening communities' parenting programme in Lincolnshire, with TV and film actor Colin McFarlane presenting graduation certificates to the six mothers and one father who completed it successfully. ...
Christine Bidmead retires.(Members' corner)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Unite/CPHVA Health Visitor Forum chair Christine Bidmead has announced her retirement, after years of dedicated and productive hard work for both the association and the profession. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Unite/CPHVA lead professional officer Obi Amadi stated: 'We ...
New learning disabilities strategy.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Department of Health has published a three-year strategy to improve services for people with learning disabilities (LDs), which includes its response to the independent inquiry that followed Mencap's 2007 report Death by indifference. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...
Women's mental health worsening.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007 has reported an increase in the proportion of women in England suffering depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts. NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan stated: 'The findings from this report will greatly improve our ...
Upcoming NICE public health consultations.(NEWS)(National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has invited Unite/CPHVA to register as a stakeholder in the 20th wave of its public health guidance, and the association is seeking members who would like to get involved. Topics include: * Preventing obesity: ...
Alcohol guidance: views sought.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2009 ... The Department for Children, Schools and Families is inviting the views of professionals working with young people in health, children's services and education settings in England on new alcohol guidance for young people. It includes recommendations that children aged below 15 ...
All change at the NMC? In the wake of a troubled year, the regulator may have much work to do to rebuild confidence among SCPHNs, but Unite/CPHVA appears to be optimistic.(NEWS FEATURE)(Nursing and Midwifery Council)(Specialist Community Public Health Nursing, Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association)
Mar 01, 2009; ... The past 12 months have seen many areas of disagreement between the NMC and Unite/CPHVA over how effectively it regulates public health nursing. Indeed, the NMC's response when the journal approached them with questions for this news feature was initially very defensive. However, ...
Care in the right place: providing specialised care where patients feel most at ease.(FRONT LINE)
Mar 01, 2009; ... Our Community Nurse In-Reach (CNIR) service at Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has been running for three years. It is currently based at the Belfast City and Ulster hospital sites. Between us, the team members have a wealth of community experience working as district nursing sisters ...
Parent-child relationships: developing a brief attachment-screening tool.(PROFESSIONAL)(Report)
Mar 01, 2009; ... Introduction Every professional who works with children and families knows the importance of early relationships. The parent-child relationship is fundamental to infant mental health, and the term 'attachment' is used to describe it. (1) This small qualitative study is the first ...
Sources of feeding advice in the first year of life: who do parents value?(PROFESSIONAL)(Report)
Mar 01, 2009; ... Introduction Early nutrition is a key influence on a child's growth and development, and has lifelong implications for health and wellbeing. At present, there is a focus on infant feeding practices as risk or protective factors, both for short- and long-term morbidity and ...
The health needs of the Slovak Roma community in Sheffield.(PROFESSIONAL)(Report)
Mar 01, 2009; ... Introduction The World Health Organization defines health as a 'state of complete physical, psychological and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity' (p100). (1) Measures of health suggest that it is related to many factors, including income, ...
Leading together: following a service redesign in one trust, a contextual leadership programme for community practitioners is providing a successful model.
Mar 01, 2009; ... A contextual leadership programme has been developed for health visitors and school nurses at Stockport Primary Care Trust in order to support them through changes in services and roles. The health visiting and school nursing service had undergone a rapid redesign that increased ...
Mother Hens: a partnership project in Northamptonshire has developed a well evaluated model of care for mothers with long-term mental health problems.(Report)
Mar 01, 2009; ... Mother Hens is a concept of care and support for mothers with a long-term mental health diagnosis. It offers recovery-focused therapeutic support and relaxation, and promotes positive parenting. The model was developed by a mother with experience of mental distress, with support from a ...
Interpretation of HCA4 'needs to be challenged'.(CLINICAL PAPERS)(health for all children)(Abstract)(Report)
Mar 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wright C, Jeffrey S, Ross M, Wallis L, Wood R. Targeting health visitor care: lessons from Starting Well. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2009; 94(1): 23-7. Most families at risk will not be identified by health visitors (HVs) in the early ...
Risk factors for pre-schoolers becoming overweight.(CLINICAL PAPERS)(Abstract)(Report)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Hawkins SS, Cole TJ, Law C, Millennium Cohort Study Child Health Group. An ecological systems approach to examining risk factors for early childhood overweight: findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2009; 63(2): 147-55. Most ...
Breastfeeding may protect against maternal child abuse.(CLINICAL PAPERS)(Abstract)(Report)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Strathearn L, Mamun AA, Najman JM, O'Callaghan MJ. Does breastfeeding protect against substantiated child abuse and neglect? A 15-year cohort study. Pediatrics, 2009; 123(2): 483-93. Breastfeeding may help to protect against maternal child abuse, particularly child neglect, a ...
School-based physical activity: benefits even without weight loss.(Abstract)(Report)
Mar 01, 2009; ... Dobbins M, De Corby K, Robeson P, Husson H, Tirilis D. School-based physical activity programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents aged six to 18. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2009; (1): CD007651. School-based health and exercise ...
Midlife coffee drinking could decrease risk of late-life dementia.(Abstract)(Report)
Mar 01, 2009; ... Eskelinen M, Ngandu T, Tuomilehto, J, Soininen H, Kivipelto M. Midlife coffee and tea drinking and the risk of late-life dementia: a population-based CAIDE study. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2009; 16(1): 85-91. Midlife coffee drinking could decrease the risk of dementia or ...
Intimate partner violence victims: distinct patterns of facial injury.(Abstract)(Report)
Mar 01, 2009; ... Arosarena O, Fritsch T, Hsueh Y, Aynehchi B, Haug R. Maxillofacial injuries and violence against women. Archives of Facial and Plastic Surgery, 2009; 11(1): 48-52. Women who are victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) tend to have different patterns of facial injury than ...
Universal infant hepatitis B immunisation recommended.(Abstract)(Report)
Mar 01, 2009; ... Mackie C, Buxton J, Tadwalkar S, Patrick D. Population and public health: hepatitis B immunization strategies: timing is everything. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2009; 180(2): 196-202. All countries should offer universal infant immunisation for hepatitis B, according ...
International Women's Day.(YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK)
Mar 01, 2009; ... 8 March is International Women's Day, highlighting the struggle for equality and providing a useful focus on the ways in which members can get involved in promoting gender equality in the workplace In 1975, the United Nations (UN) held International Women's Year and began ...
Count to 10 ... Gavin Fergie reaches for his petrol station-bought mega-bar.(LIGHTEN UP)
Mar 01, 2009 ... One ... two ... three ... It's one of those days--the frustrating kind that many of you endure. The day that results in you wanting to bash your head against something hard (well OK, not that for me, since I've not got enough hair left to buffer the blow). The day that wants you to kick ...
Feeling like crap: young people and the meaning of self-esteem.(Book review)
Mar 01, 2009; ... Feeling like crap Young people and the meaning of self-esteem Nick Luxmoore, Jessica Kingsley (2008) ISBN: 9781843106821, 13.99 [pounds sterling] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Self-esteem--or more often the lack of it--is a topic frequently ...
Fit to bust: a comic treasure chest.(Book review)
Mar 01, 2009; ... Fit to bust: a comic treasure chest Alison Blenkinsop, Pen Publishers (2008) ISBN: 9781906206895, 9.99 [pounds sterling] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This is definitely not simply another breastfeeding manual. Compiled by Alison Blenkinsop--an ...
Diary.(NETWORK)(Brief article)(Calendar)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Solving Children's Sleep: a workshop for health professionals 16 March 2009, London W1 This workshop explores why sleep problems arise, assessment of sleep problems and planning programmes, using Millpond's Assessment Tools and commonly used techniques. It will ...
Noticeboard.(NETWORK)
Mar 01, 2009 ... Feeding difficulties I am a health visitor working in the Institute of Child Care Research, at Queen's University Belfast. I am very interested in feeding difficulties experienced by young children in the absence of medical conditions. I would be ...
Changing ways
Mar 01, 2009; ... The Change4Life campaign appears to 'say all the right things', but its success may depend on the behaviour of its commercial partners At first sight, Change4Life seems to be just another anti-obesity campaign. However, the (English) government's response to the Foresight report deserves ...
Child health strategy 'thin on detail'
Mar 01, 2009; ... While the scope of the new strategy has been welcomed, there are concerns over a lack of detail and no commitment to an earlier pledge on school nurses Unite is asking ministers to clarify what the new child health strategy will mean for community practitioner staff ...
NAO: AfC is 'not yet' value for money
Mar 01, 2009; ... The National Audit Office (NAO) has found that Agenda for Change (AfC) and the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) have yet to provide their intended value for money. NAO head Tim Burr stated that, although it had been an enormous task to transfer NHS salaries in England to AfC, 'the ...
Constitution 'smokescreen'
Mar 01, 2009; ... Unite has warned that the new NHS Constitution should not be used as a 'smokescreen' for more privatisation in the health service. While welcoming steps to make the NHS more accountable to patients and clients, Unite national officer for health David Fleming stated: "The NHS Constitution ...
Boys and Girls Alone
Mar 01, 2009; ... Unite/CPHVA has expressed concern at the use of children in the reality TV programme Boys and Girls Alone, in which 20 eight- to 11-year-olds live for two weeks without adults. Unite/CPHVA lead professional officer Obi Amadi stated: 'I would urge all practitioners who have seen it and ...
New editorial board chair
Mar 01, 2009; ... The journal is sad to report that Carolyn Taylor has had to step down as the chair of its Editorial Advisory Board, but gives a warm welcome to the new chair Gaynor Kershaw. Carolyn stated: 'This was my second term as chair - a position I enjoy - but due to industrial and professional ...
NEWS: IN BRIEF...
Mar 01, 2009; ... G20: put people first Unite members will march from Victoria Embankment, London at 11am on 28 March, to send the message 'Put people first' to world leaders ahead of the 2 April summit on the global financial crisis. For information and transport details, please see: ...
Plans for free child care
Mar 01, 2009; ... A report from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) includes a proposal to extend free childcare places in England and to require all childcare professionals to be educated to a standard equivalent to A Level. At the launch of the new report, children's minister ...
Be active, be healthy
Mar 01, 2009; ... The Department of Health has launched a new physical activity strategy, on which public health minister Dawn Primarolo stated: 'We have to remove the "No, you can't" messages across communities to create a "Yes, you can" culture - with more support, more encouragement and more opportunities to ...
Memory clinics promised
Mar 01, 2009; ... A new National Dementia Strategy has been launched that commits £150million over two years to improve early diagnosis and treatment in England. Health secretary Alan Johnson stated: 'The creation of a new role of dementia advisor will be crucial in making sure people and families get the ...