The benefits of using the Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale in health visiting practice

Abstract

Health visitors have a key role to play in the government's public health strategy with its emphasis on early identification of vulnerable children. This paper raises the profile of infant mental health as a public health priority and outlines the vital importance of a loving early relationship between an infant and primary caregiver for a child's healthy development. It describes the Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS) and the appropriateness of its use by health visitors. This tool has been underused in the UK, but is being used in clinical practice and research in many other countries, such as the USA. It can add value to the assessments already being carried out by health visitors and can contribute to partnership working with parents as together they observe how the infant interacts with and organises his/her world. The NBAS enables health visitors to demonstrate to parents an infant's strengths and abilities, together with any needs for extra care giving. This assessment has been shown to improve developmental outcomes by enhancing the infant-caregiver relationship, and provides health visitors with the opportunity to consolidate their relationship of trust with families.