A mental health trust is opening its doors to people willing to take on a career in healthcare.

St Michael's Hospital in Brigadier Hill, Enfield, will invite prospective health visitors to find out more about the role and discuss the options within the community care team.

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust says the chance of a child developing obesity, diabetes, physical illness and mental illness as a teenager or adult is significantly reduced by early intervention by health visitors.

Alan Beaton, community services director at the trust, said: “We recognise the immense value of health visiting to local families and are actively seeking to recruit more health visitors for Enfield to meet the needs of a growing population.

“Health visitors are qualified nurses or midwives that support families from pre-pregnancy through to a child’s fifth birthday.

"They make a huge difference to families making sure children are hitting their developmental milestones, they are healthy and any additional health needs are investigated and treated early.”