Role of health visitor

Case study maria James and derek smith 

role of health visitor? 

Group Case Study 2 Maria James and Derek Smith Maria is 25 years old. She is 8 months pregnant. Maria’s partner, Derek, is 37 years old and they have been in a relationship with 18 months. Both Maria and Derek have been diagnosed with a mild learning disability. Maria is unemployed and Derek was made redundant from his job as a caretaker in a local school. Maria has been inconsistent in attending maternity appointments. A home visit by the health visitor revealed that the home environment smells unpleasant and is very untidy. The kitchen also is dirty. Maria appears to be of low mood and is worried that they might be evicted and that her baby will be taken away. Maria shared with the health visitor that they are very short of money and have rent arrears. She also stated that Derek visits a pub most evenings and that customers take advantage of him as he will buy drinks for anyone that strikes up a conversation with him. He often returns home drunk and is not actively looking for work. The health visitor is concerned as Maria and Derek do not seem to have started any preparation for the birth of the baby and further concerned about their ability to parent the baby adequately. Maria is also isolated, she was abandoned as a baby and raised in a range of different foster care homes.