Welfare reforms threaten to turn health visiting into crisis service, union chief warns

The government’s welfare reforms could turn health visiting into a crisis service for families with poverty and mental health problems, the president of the Unite/Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association (CPHVA) has warned.

Speaking at the union’s annual conference, Lord Victor Adebowale, who is also chief executive of social care charity Turning Point, told professionals that benefit changes would plunge thousands of families into crisis. He argued that this would have a direct impact on health visitors’ ability to deliver early intervention.

“Sometime around January a load of people living in London and other conurbations are going to get housing benefit cheques that won’t cover their rent,” he told delegates. “They’ll have to move. As you know, moving is one of the most disruptive things that can happen to families.

“Expect more family stress, expect more mental health problems and expect people to lose their jobs as a direct result. Your services were designed to prevent problems and now they are being pushed to deal with crisis and emergencies.”

Gail Cartmail, assistant general secretary of Unite, argued that government’s education policies will also compound the “deep social consequences and implications” of the welfare reforms.

“The tragedy of the educational maintenance allowance [EMA] alone speaks volumes for shooting ourselves in the foot,” she said. “Attendance and attainment were a condition of EMA and many young people are demotivated by its withdrawal.”

She added that problems such as domestic violence, safeguarding, homelessness and mental health issues will continue to increase. “There is a huge agenda facing health visitors,” she said.