School nursing in Stockton Borough

Sarah Bowman(Public Health, Stockton Borough Council)

School nursing?…

Consultation

• Youth assembly Borough debate - focus groups

• Schools – 5 primary (399 responses) & secondary / colleges (93 responses)

• Parents• Professionals• Carers• Special schools & complex needs (8 YP,

60 SENCOs, 15 parents, 10 SN)?

Youth assembly debate (Diamond 9):

Confidentiality

Advice on alcohol, substance misuse,

smoking

Easy to access

Advice on sexual health

Advice on mental & emotional health and

wellbeing

Preventing health problems

Support for health problems e.g. diabetes

Advice on healthy weight

Young people told us:

A professional, but not a teacher

Confidentiality

Key concerns for

parents / carers e.g.

dental health, healthy

eating & helping their

child stay healthy e.g.

exercise

Want easy & flexible to access: drop-ins, email

Approachable, supportive and non-

judgemental, caring & helpful

Want more advice & support on mental health,

smoking, drugs & alcohol & healthy eating

When people used the service, their experience was positive

Unclear how to access

or what service offers

School nurse are one

of the main groups

young people want

health advice &

support from

Consultation – Key themesTheme Content

1 Visibility The service is not clearly visible to stakeholders; little or no presence in schools.

2 Access to Service Where it works, it works very well; no clear access for young people themselves

3 Core Business Unclear to stakeholders what the core business is / The prevention outcomes of the service are not clear

4 Assumptions There is an assumption that school nursing only deals with Child Protection Cases

5 Information VS Professional Representation

It appears that representation at CP is often information-gathering and delivery rather than the need for a specific professional

6 Reactive Demand vs. Prevention Demand

General feel that the large majority of school nursing service time is taken up by CP, followed by LAC with the smallest amount of time for prevention work in the non-CP/LAC population

7 CAF Unclear how CAF is used beyond the School Nursing service; CAF appears well-used within the service

8 Skill Mix Highly skilled and committed staff with high level of skills; where services work with School Nursing, there is a very high level of regard

Our vision – Healthy Child Programme

Healthy Child Programme 5-19yrs

New service

• New service design based on consultation from April 2015• Market engagement – who would be interested in providing

the service?• Tendering & selection process – North Tees & Hartlepool NHS

Foundation Trust was successful• Each cluster of schools will have a named school nurse• Service will be designed on needs of population• Will offer a mix of drop-ins and appointments & link with other

services e.g. sexual health service, substance misuse service

Family weight management

• New specialist service for weight management commissioned• MoreLife was successful – to begin April 2015• Family-based support• School nurse service will manage the contract with MoreLife• The services will work closely together – support for young

people following National Child Measurement Programme

Questions?

Contact: sarah.bowman2@stockton.gov.uk