"Health Visiting Team never failed"

My 3 year old son has recently been going through a lot of changes (primarily due to a new born sister). This had impacted massively on my son, and materialsed in his 'unruly' behavior.

Because I felt so lethargic through my pregnancy I unintentionally sidelined my son. I provided him with what I felt was the bare minimum (clothed, bathed, fed etc) but I didnt play with my son, the way I would normally do, and children learn through play. I did take him to surestart centres and socialised with friends who had children of similar age every now and then, but because I felt so unwell it was a challenge.

When my Health visitor - Rebecca Holley came to visit me at home, she listened to my concerns, gave me advice and put in place everything to support myself and my son. She was my guiding star!

She encouraged me to seek help from my GP in relation to my heartburn/anemia/feeling repulsed by food/genital problems, feeling low because of these health issues and reassured me that I need not suffer in silence.

We spoke of my concerns for my sons inappropriate behavior (pinching, throwing, tantrums), his very poor communication and even poor speech and language skills.

She and Sarah (Nursery Nurse) first and foremost initiated an audiology and a speech and language referral. Upon satisfactory results from audiology and concerns highlighted by speech and language therapist, Rebecca suggested the best way to support my son would be through a peer support scheme (U and 2), with a view to aid his communication, speech and language and toileting.

Rebecca was brilliant and talked me through the whole process, implemented the CAF (Comon Assessment Framework) guided me when I felt lost and signposted me into the right direction.

Now with the peer support, speech and language support, nursery support and the beneficial advice and unstinting support by Rebecca we have managed to encourage my son to communicate and channel his 'wants/needs' through the right means. This has significantly reduced his frustrations and the subsequent stress and friction that would have normally followed.

My son is still not speaking/communicating to the level I would like him to - this will take time, but the main thing is we are "communicating with each other" and the atmosphere at home is calm and serene.

I think without Rebecca and the health visiting team I would have spiraled further into the abyss of depression.

So a big thank you to Rebecca, Sarah and the Health Visiting Team at Dewsbury who have never failed to listen to my concerns and given me the much needed Information, advice and guidance - Thank you.