Returning to health visiting

This page is for you if you're thinking of coming back to health visiting.

The NHS continues to increase the number of health visitors and a clearer definition of the role now makes it easier for other health professionals to understand and value what they do and can bring to the community. This may make it currently more attractive to return to the job you were trained to do.

The enhanced role of health visitor includes:

  • leading the delivery of the government initiative, the Healthy Child Programme (HCP)
  • being responsible for designing services locally for families
  • having the authority to decide, with families, on the level of help and support they need
  • playing a key role in the community to improve public health for all

Gloria Robinson

Health visitor

I have seen some real improvements in health visiting since returning, especially around addressing domestic abuse.

Read Gloria's story of returning to health visiting
health visitor with parent

Your skills and experience as a health visitor are highly valued and returning to work has been made as straightforward as possible. Return to Practice (RTP) training courses are available across the country and are individually tailored, according to how long you have been away from health visiting and whether you also need to be readmitted to part 1 or 2 of the NMC register (as a registered nurse or midwife).

The courses are flexible, usually taking between six months to a year to complete. RTP courses vary across the country and each local NHS organisation runs the programme differently. However, some may offer:

  • financial support towards travel, childcare and books (if eligible)
  • distance learning
  • access to a personal practice assessor/supervisor
  • supernumerary status (additional to normal staffing levels) on your clinical placements
  • both theory and clinical based training

The NHS will fund the course fee and provide you with a stipend. Find out more about health visiting return to practice courses on the Nursing and Midwifery Council website.

Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 matches

  • Return to practice (RTP) Health visiting

    University of Plymouth

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    Study mode
    Distance learning/online
    Duration of the course
    4 - 8 months
    Leading to a career in
    Health visiting (return to practice)
    Contact details
    [email protected]
    Region
    All England, All UK, East Midlands, East of England, London, North East, North West, South East, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire and The Humber

  • Return to practice (RTP) Health Visiting

    Bristol, University of the West of England

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    Study mode
    Part-time
    Duration of the course
    4 - 8 months
    Leading to a career in
    Health visiting (return to practice)
    Contact details
    [email protected]
    Region
    South West

  • Return to practice (RTP) Health visiting

    University of Brighton

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    Study mode
    Distance learning/online
    Duration of the course
    8 week online course plus 150-300 placement hourse
    Leading to a career in
    Health visiting (return to practice)
    Contact details
    [email protected] 01273 644644
    Region
    All UK
    Admissions address
    Westlain House
    Village Way
    Falmer
    Brighton
    BN1 9PH