A qualitative study exploring the self-perceived training, education and support needs of health visitors in relation to the field of child development using a focus group design

This research proposal will examine the political landscape pertaining to health visiting practice both in the UK and Scotland and explore the implications for practice in relation to core health visiting practice such as assessment skills in child development. The paper discusses the changing policy drivers that have impacted on the profession and explores the argument regarding a concerning trend of skill depletion within the workforce. A literature search was undertaken to discover themes in relation to current health visiting practice and educational priorities within the research community. Key themes are identified and discussed such as the health visiting role lacking in professional identify and an eradication of core skills such as child developmental assessment and health promotion. A full proposal for a research study to investigate the self-perceived continuing professional development needs of health visitors (Specialist Public Health Nurses) in relation to their knowledge and understanding of child development is given. Justification for a qualitative paradigm using hermeneutic phenomenology with a focus group design is discussed. The implications for practice are explored which could support academics and educators in their planning of continued learning delivery or form the basis of a larger scale study.msc_nurunpub1853_ethesesunpu