School Nursing Services Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust (BCHC) provides school nursing services across the four tiers of the Healthy Child Programme (HCP) for children aged 5 16 years. HCP Community HCP Universal HCP Universal Plus HCP Partnership Plus Whole school approach All children and families Additional needs Complex additional needs School and community profiling including school readiness Data collection Public health promotion Partnership activities (for example, sex and relationships; healthy weight etc.) Audiology Vision NCMP Health screening Drop-ins Referral system Health promotion based on profiled needs Targeted work with YP and families Additional health needs and care plans Drugs, alcohol and smoking advice and support Health related non - attendance Sexual health Emotional health support Multi-agency planning, Assessment & Review Early help through a coordinated multi-agency approach School Nurse as Lead Practitioner Child Protection Parenting advice
School nursing services are provided under each tier of the Healthy Child Programme The school nursing services shown above (and further described below) are predominantly delivered in schools. They require school nurses to maintain regular liaison with school staff to ensure the needs of children are being met. Secondary schools should expect to see a nurse from the school nursing team at least once a week. Primary schools should expect to see a nurse at least once a fortnight. To ensure services are provided by staff who understand the particular needs of schools and communities, our staff are organised into multidisciplinary teams, led by clinical team leaders aligned to named schools. Team leaders will be happy to discuss any issues or concerns with school colleagues. Their direct numbers and secure email addresses can be found on: www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk/snteams Confidentiality and information sharing Like all NHS services, school nursing support for children and families is provided on a confidential basis. Young people tell us this makes it easier to ask us for help when they need it. The school nursing service is pro-active in sharing relevant information with schools to ensure we work together to meet children s needs. This is done with the knowledge and agreement of both children and parents, unless maintaining a child s safety and serving their best interests requires us to share information without their consent.
HCP Community School Health Profiling: Every year the school nurse, in collaboration with each school, will profile the pupils health needs. The nurse then works with the school to agree, plan and deliver services, which will help meet those profiled needs. HCP Universal Each child s parents are asked to complete a health questionnaire when their child is in reception. This is to identify any health concerns for their child, which can then be followed up by the school nurse. We measure the weight and height of all children in reception and in Year 6 to calculate their BMI. We offer advice to parents about how to make sure their child is eating healthily and is physically active. We check the hearing of all reception pupils using an audiometer and refer any concerns to specialist audiologists for further assessment. In Year 7, all children are offered the opportunity to complete a health questionnaire so the school nurse can offer to help them if they have any health concerns. Parents are informed of this process before the questionnaires are given out. Hearing tests: Children can be tested at any age if there is a concern.
Confidential drop-in: All mainstream secondary schools are offered a weekly drop-in service for young people to see their NHS school nurse in a private and confidential environment within school. Some primary schools offer a parental drop-in, which is advertised in the school newsletter. Medical needs in school: The school nurse team supports children with medical needs who require an individual management plan. The plan is developed in partnership with parents, school staff, nurses and medical advisors for children who may require emergency treatment. Referrals can be made for school children of any age. We accept self-referrals, parental referrals and professionals referrals. Your school nurse team leader will be happy to help with any queries about the referral process.
HCP Universal Plus Following assessment, we can offer brief planned interventions to help with a range of health issues affecting children and young people. Usually these interventions are provided over one to six meetings with the child or young person and address issues including: weight management growth concerns poor school attendance related to health issues behaviour concerns toileting concerns and bedwetting emotional health sexual health drugs & alcohol use and smoking advice and referral for any other health concerns. HCP Universal Partnership Plus Safeguarding: School nurses will support children and young people involved in child protection proceedings, where the school nurse has knowledge of and involvement with the child or young person, or where there is an unmet need that the school nursing service can address. Integrated Support Plans: School nurses will be involved in the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) and will contribute to integrated support plans where a school nursing intervention with the child and family is required.
Multi-agency sexual exploitation meetings (MASE): School nurses will provide relevant school nursing interventions to children and young people as part of a co-ordinated MASE response to concerns about sexual abuse. School nurses work with a range of professionals for children receiving a HCP universal partnership plus service eg. GPs, social workers, CAMHS, drug and alcohol services. Referral Process Professionals, families, children and young people can all refer to the school nursing team. The referral form can be found at: www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk/snreferral Referrals can be made electronically to the school nurse team s secure email address account, faxed, or sent to the postal address. All of the team s contact details can be found at: www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk/snteams It is essential to seek consent from the parent or young person prior to the referral being made. School nurse teams or team leaders are happy to discuss any queries or concerns about the referral process.
If you would like to discuss the school nursing service provided to your school, please do not hesitate to contact either: Stephen Rawlings Operational Manager Tel: 0121 466 6258 Karen Hansford Head of Universal Services 5-19 yrs Tel: 0121 466 6259 Moseley Hall Hospital Alcester Road Birmingham B13 8JL Produced by Clinical Photography and Graphic Design, Tel: 0121 466 5107, Ref:44063 11.05.15