MIDWIFE AND HEALTH VISITOR COMMUNICATION PROCEDURE

Transcription

1 Appendix 2a of the Health Visiting Overarching Policy MIDWIFE AND HEALTH VISITOR COMMUNICATION PROCEDURE 1. Introduction 1.1. This procedure sets out standards of best practice regarding communication during the antenatal, inpatient and postnatal period and the handover of information between the Midwife and Health Visitor to ensure safe practice and continuity of care Information sharing is key to the Government s goal of delivering effective and efficient public services that are coordinated around the needs of children, young people and families (Working Together to Safeguard Children, 1999, HM Government Information Sharing Guidance for Practitioners, 2006). It is essential to enable early intervention and preventative work, for safeguarding and promoting welfare and for wider public protection. Information sharing is a vital element to improving outcomes for all It is important that families remain confident that their personal information is kept safe and secure and also practitioners maintain the privacy of the individual, whilst sharing information to deliver better services. It is therefore important that practitioners can share information appropriately as part of their day-to-day practice and do so confidently. 2. Objectives of Procedure 2.1. To ensure practitioners feel confident about making information sharing decisions, ensuring that appropriate communication channels exist between Midwifery and Health Visiting professionals To ensure practitioners understand and apply good practice in sharing information at an early stage as part of preventative and early intervention work To promote partnership working and improve services for pregnant women and families by setting out communication procedures. 3. Scope 3.1. This procedure applies to community and hospital Midwifery and Health Visiting including the Family Nurse Partnership Programme in all locations, including temporary employees, locums, agency staff, contractors and visiting clinicians within Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust This procedure should be used in conjunction with existing safeguarding policies and procedures which inform professionals of the course of action when caring for vulnerable adults and children. Version 1.0 June 2014

2 4. Procedures to follow for communication between Midwives and Health Visitors during the antenatal period 4.1. At the booking contact for routine antenatal care (NICE 2008) the Midwifery Service will inform the Health Visiting Service of all known pregnant women. The booking Midwife will complete the Community Midwife Communication and Referral Form (Appendix 1), and send it to the agreed location for distribution to the Health Visiting teams The form should highlight any concerns such as actual or potential vulnerability of the family, previous or sudden infant deaths, history of physical and mental problems, safeguarding issues, domestic abuses and any child protection concerns Midwives as the lead professionals for implementation of the Health Child Programme (DOH 2009) in the antenatal period will be vigilant throughout the pregnancy for early identification of health and social risks. Health Visitors should be informed as soon as any of these risks are identified; this will enable Health Visitors, in partnership with Midwives, to support vulnerable families As the lead professional, the Midwife will ensure that they continues to communicate with other key stakeholders aligned to the family, sharing information as required in a timely manner either verbally or by updating and re-circulating the Community Midwifery Communication and Referral Form to the relevant Health Visitor If the woman miscarries or has a still birth, the Midwife will inform the Child Health Department if gestation is after 24 weeks. Child Health will inform the named Health Visitor on the next working day and forward a copy of the notification form to the Health Visitor For routine antenatal mothers the Health Visitor will first communicate with the community Midwife or GP two months prior to Expected date of delivery to confirm that the pregnancy has continued and to discuss any issues or concerns prior to arranging a visit 4.7. Regular communication meetings will take place between the community midwife and the health visitor to allow for communication sharing. 5. Procedures to follow for communication between Midwives and Health Visitors during the postnatal period 5.1. Prior to transferring the mother and baby home, the discharging Midwife will ensure that the discharge address and telephone number are correct and up to date. This will ensure that both the Community Midwife and Health Visitor will be able to contact the family. When the mother and baby are ready for transfer home, the Midwife on the postnatal ward or neonatal unit will ensure that all documentation is completed, and a copy of the Maternity discharge letter will be sent to Child Health for distribution to health visitors. The hospital Midwife will complete the Baby Discharge summary page of the Personal Child Health Record and ensure that the mother is aware of its contents and importance. Version 1.0 June

3 5.2. Where a mother and baby are separated, both the Community Midwife and Health Visiting Services must be informed of the address where the mother and baby are to be visited and offer on-going postnatal care When the Midwife has completed all postnatal care and is satisfied that Midwifery Services are no longer needed, She will document within the Child Health Record 5.4. Concerns regarding babies with severe health or developmental problems should be clearly documented on the hospital discharge form In cases where there are specific concerns about the mother or baby that have not already been communicated, a verbal communication, face to face or telephone call must be between the Midwife and Health Visitor. 6. Communicating the procedure 6.1. The Corporate Governance Team will distribute this procedure to the relevant leads in the commissioner and provider organisations. The Corporate Governance Team will retain a master copy and update the intranet This procedure is to be communicated to all Hospital and Community Midwifery and Health Visiting staff in all locations, including temporary employees, locums, agency staff, contractors and visiting clinicians and it will be incorporated into the policy and audit programme. 7. Monitoring and review 7.1. All Midwifery and Health Visiting Line Managers are responsible for dissemination of this procedure to all staff within staff meetings and to monitor compliance of staff within their teams This procedure will be reviewed within twelve months. 8. References University Hospital of North Staffordshire (2011) Achieving Sustainable Quality in Maternity Services Guideline ASQUAM Guideline Foetal Loss/Intrauterine Death (IUD) Department of Health (2009) The Health Child Programme pregnancy and the first five years of life Department of Health, Home Office, Department for Education and Employment (2010) Working Together to Safeguard Children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. HM Government (2006) Information Sharing Guidance for Practitioners National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2008) Antenatal Care: routine care for the healthy pregnant woman Version 1.0 June

4 Appendix 1 COMMUNITY MIDWIFERY COMMUNICATION/REFERRAL PATHWAY This form will be completed at the initial visit with the Community Midwife. Community Midwives, Health Visitors and other agencies must ensure any amendments to this information are appropriately shared at the earliest opportunity. Name Address Postcode Date of Birth: Unit number: Telephone: Ethnicity: EDD: Unborn Father s Full Name: Change of details From: Mobile: Interpreter required Calculated by scan: Lead Professional: GP/Surgery: Phone Number: Named Midwife: Team : Contact Number: Growth Chart generated Height: Weight BMI: Previous Children: Full Name: Full Name: Full Name: DOB: DOB: DOB Birth weight: Birth weight: Birth weight: Gestational Age: Gestational Age: Gestational Age: Comment: Comment: Comment: Full Name: Full Name: Full Name: DOB: DOB: DOB: Birth weight: Birth weight: Birth weight: Gestational Age: Gestational Age: Gestational Age: Comment: Comment: Comment: Version 1.0 June

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6 Dudley Stop Smoking Service Pregnancy Non Smoker Smoker Smoked in last 12 months Carbon Monoxide Reading Carbon Monoxide Declined Referral to Healthy Pregnancy Support Service (HPSS) Referral to Children s Centres Breastfeeding buddy service discussed Eligible for Healthy Start vitamins Health Start form given (NB If ticked PH support workers will give form after scan) Family member smoker Discussed: Discussed (as appropriate) Discussed (as appropriate) Consent for contact: I am happy for this information to be shared with the identified agencies and following referral to be contacted by these agencies as indicated. Woman s Signature: Midwife /Public Health Support Worker Signature:... Stamp/Print:...Date / / The Community Midwifery Service will share this form with the Healthy Pregnancy Support Service (HPSS) and Specialist Midwives for Vulnerable Women if required. The form is also forwarded to the Office of Public Health at Falcon House for further distribution by that Department. Tick when checked/sent: Date... Initials... Signature... N/A Version 1.0 June