Our rich programme of publications reflect the full scope of our work, providing evidence-informed support for practitioners, policymakers, commissioners, educators and the families they serve.
State of Health Visiting, UK Survey Report – From disparity to opportunity: The case for rebuilding health visiting
Published on 27 January 2025, the 11th iHV State of Health Visiting Survey report draws on responses from 1,392 UK practitioners (Sept–Nov 2024), highlighting rising complexity of family needs, workforce shortages and significant variation in service provision.
The iHV annual survey captures valuable health visiting ‘frontline intelligence’ from across the UK. Our 10th annual survey was completed by 1,186 practitioners from across the UK between 2 October and 6 November 2023 with most respondents (90%) from England.
Our 9th annual survey was completed by 1,323 practitioners from across the UK between 26 September and 2 November 2022. Our survey findings paint a bleak picture with health visitors seeing first-hand the realities that families with babies and young children in the UK are facing. Health visitors are reporting epidemic levels of poverty, with more parents struggling under the weight of the cost-of-living crisis that is forcing them to turn to food banks to feed their children. Alongside this, more parents are living with mental health problems, domestic abuse and adversity, that pose risks to the health and wellbeing of babies and young children.
Our 8th annual survey was completed by 1,291 practitioners from across the UK during October 2021. The findings present health visitors’ unique view into the lives of babies, young children and their families who are often hidden behind front doors and invisible to other services. The pandemic is not over – its impact on families has been significant and is ongoing. Health visitors reported soaring rates of domestic abuse, mental health problems, child behaviour problems, poverty, and child safeguarding.
The resounding headline message to policy makers is captured in this report’s sub-title which is a direct quote repeated hundreds of times throughout the survey responses, “We need more health visitors”.
Our 7th annual survey was completed by 1,012 health visitors from across the UK during October and November 2020. This report presents the findings from 862 health visitors in practice in England and highlights the range of issues facing the profession, with significant unwarranted variation in the quality of services available to parents depending on where they live. The findings lay bare the damage that the pandemic has had on families, with the youngest and most vulnerable in our society suffering the most.
This latest publication from the Institute of Health Visiting presents the findings from an annual health visiting survey completed in November 2019. This latest survey was responded to by 1,209 health visitors in the UK, of whom 1,040 were working in practice roles. The annual nature of this survey, and the fact that many questions have been repeated in an identical format, year on year, enables a “temperature check” to see how we are doing and the identification of trends by comparisons over time.
For the last six years the Institute of Health Visiting has surveyed its members on the ‘State of Health Visiting’. Here we report some of the findings from our 2018 survey of over 1,200 health visitors and compare them to what health visitors told us in 2015 when their commissioning arrangements were moved from the NHS to Local Authority.
For the last five years, the Institute of Health Visiting has surveyed its members on the ‘State of Health Visiting’. Here, we report some of the findings of our most recent UK-wide survey, which had a response rate of over 1,400 health visitors.
In November 2016, the iHV surveyed its Associates, yielding over 1,220 responses from front-line health visitors.
This is the fourth annual survey covering the high-water mark in 2015 of the last government’s Health Visitor Implementation Plan: A Call to Action (Department of Health, 2011) and what has happened since. That Plan aimed to grow the workforce in England by 4,200 to modernise the workforce; and to transform the service in readiness for local authority commissioning and integration with other local children’s services
2025 Annual Report
This year’s Annual Report is a snapshot of all the amazing work that has been achieved by the iHV over the past year. These achievements are only possible thanks to the dedication and expertise of health visitors and their teams, as well as the unwavering support of our partners, stakeholders, trustees and the highly-skilled iHV team. Together, we are building a stronger foundation for public health and health visiting in the earliest years – focused on our collective vision to improve health and end inequalities for babies, children and families.
This year’s annual report showcases the breadth of work that has been led by the highly skilled iHV team, supported by our members and the wide range of partners that we have been privileged to work with this year. Together, we are making a difference.
This year’s annual report details the progress and many highlights of the iHV over the last year. Thanks to the support of our members, and the generosity of our grant funders, partners and parents who are experts by experience, we have been able to increase our policy influence and deliver more education, training, resources, networking opportunities, and research than ever before! We have also supported quality improvements in practice through our projects and programmes, including leadership development and sector-led improvement work.
It seems incredible that we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Institute of Health Visiting. Since our launch as a centre of excellence for health visiting on 28 November 2012, there is so much to celebrate at this important landmark in our journey.
The phenomenal achievements that are summarised in this year’s annual report are testament to the hard work, clear vision and dedication of so many who have played their part in building the Institute into the successful organisation that it is today. In particular, none of this would have been possible without our members – thank you to each and every one of you.
The ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside longstanding challenges facing the health visiting profession formed the backdrop of 2021, the effects of which have touched all our lives. The achievements highlighted in this year’s annual report testify to the hard work of the iHV team, our ever-growing network of partner organisations and supporters, volunteers, members and parents who have shared our journey.
2020 has been a year like none before for health visiting, as it faced the challenges of adapting to a world forced into “lockdown”. The challenges of COVID-19 have been felt both by the Institute and in practice, bringing with them much learning. Our first concern is always the families we support, whom we know this year did not receive either adequate or, in some cases, any support during a crucial time.
It is time to look forward and lay the foundations for a new future for health visiting. We have worked hard with many partners to deliver our evidence-based Vision for the profession and are thrilled by how well it has been received across the system. We are now working across government to seek support for its implementation. The evidence is stark, health visiting does deliver clear public health outcomes in at least fifteen priority areas for children. Stay close – together we can create a better future for babies, children and their families.
Institute has been working hard behind the scenes to raise the concerns of English health visitors, and those of the Institute, regarding the measurable effects of reduced public health budgets on outcomes for all young children and their families. As a result, our voice has been heard by health visiting’s many friends in Parliament, partner organisations, by journalists and by the public.
As the Institute celebrates its 5th year, our team continues to develop and grow, and as a result increase their contributions and impact on the Institute’s core business of improving outcomes for children and families.
We remain endlessly impressed and proud by the work of our amazing members and all that they do everyday. Despite sometimes challenging circumstances, they still give their all to make a difference to children, families and communities.
As we celebrate our fourth birthday, we wonder where four years have gone! Thank you to each and every one of you who have helped make the Institute the organisation it is today. Without you we could never have got so far, so fast.
After a standing start just three years ago, we can now say with confidence that the Institute is here to stay!
The recurring highlight of this year has been seeing so many of our members becoming local leaders in their communities.
What a year it’s been! Thrilled to see our innovations liberating the talents of so many in the health visiting profession. This supports our core purpose: to deliver positive health outcomes for children and families nationwide.
Our focus in our first year has been on steady and sustainable development: one of the things the profession needs most.
