Northern Counties School have access to our own School Nursing Service, which consists of two Qualified and Registered Nurses and a health care assistant.
Our school nurses and Health Care Assistant deliver both universal and targeted services and work across education and health, providing a link between school, home, and the community. The team also offers information, advice, and support for parents. Parents are warmly welcome to discuss their child’s individual needs at any time.
Our School Nurses have extensive experience in working with children who have complex needs. They are responsible for delivering programmes to improve health outcomes for school aged children and young people (5-19 years).
The School Nursing Team are employed by the Percy Hedley Foundation and respond to, and influence the health agenda for the school environment, working directly alongside head teachers, teachers, governors, and parents to promote the health and wellbeing of the students.
Health facilities within school comply with health and safety requirements, enabling confidentiality and dignity to be maintained at all times. Where appropriate, the nursing team liaise with outside agencies to support the needs of the students in a joined-up approach to their health management.
Our school nursing team manage the administration of medicines. They provide training and support teams to administer medication in a safe and timely manner as well as support with a range of health issues such as:
- Gastrostomy, PEG and enteral feeding care
- Tracheostomy care
- Continence at level 1
- Clinical interventions
- Following Government policies and recommendations
- Supporting families with their child’s health needs
- Promoting school attendance and improving health outcomes
- Care planning…. And much more!
Although all children have access to a school nurse, there may not always be a nurse on site.
The Department of Health and Public Health England have produced guidance and service specifications for school nursing see:
- Department of Health (2012) Getting it right for children, young people and families: health services
- Department of Health (2014) Maximising the school nursing team contribution to the public health of school-aged children
- Department of Health and Social Care (2014) School nursing: public health’s Guidance for putting in place public health services for children and young people from 5 to 19 years
- Public Health England (2018) Healthy child programme 0 to 19: health visitor and school nurse commissioning.