Is Scotland's health visiting service getting it right for every child? Exploring health visitors' perspectives

Citation

Komvoki N, Cheyne H & Fotopoulou M (2026) Is Scotland's health visiting service getting it right for every child? Exploring health visitors' perspectives. Journal of Family and Child Health, 3 (3), pp. 106-116.

Abstract
Background: The Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) policy approach, also involving health visiting, has developed in Scotland since 2006, aiming to enhance the wellbeing of children by encouraging partnership working in a timely manner. However, very little is known about GIRFEC’s potential tensions at the ground level. Aim: This paper aims to critically examine health visitors’ views of how the health visiting service has been delivered post-GIRFEC. Key findings: As part of a qualitative case study, 20 health visitors from one Scottish Health Board were interviewed. Conclusions: Health visitors’ responses highlight that, despite their intentions, they did not fully deliver the GIRFEC principles due to pragmatic challenges, including staff capacity and lack of training. They also suggested that developments need to be made in assessing families’ needs, record-keeping practices and seeking parental consent. Recommendations: For GIRFEC to be successfully delivered, practicalities and some of its core foundations need to be reexamined.

Keywords
Health visiting; Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC); Early intervention; Partnership working; Multi-agency activity; Child protection

Journal
Journal of Family and Child Health: Volume 3, Issue 3