PUBLIC HEALTH AND LOCALISM CABINET PANEL

20 SEPTEMBER 2013

SCHOOL NURSING IN HERTFORDSHIRE

Liz Biggs – Health and Wellbeing Adviser – Public Health/Children’s Services

Summary and background

• School nurse service is now commissioned by public health, following the transfer of public health responsibilities to the Hertfordshire County Council on 1st April 2013

• The service is currently commissioned from Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust [HCT], who provide the service as part of an integrated service with health visiting

• In line with national policy, HCT have been commissioned by rolling forward existing arrangements and service configuration

School Nurses

• Coverage and current arrangements are historical and inherited

• Future arrangements are being developed

• 50.83 WTE (whole time equivalent) school nurses across the county

• In addition there is a core of support staff • Service delivery

Service delivery • Safeguarding - including referral, report writing, attendance at conference,

core groups and role within Child Protection plan. Domestic Violence, Targeted A & E where safeguarding is suspected, termly liaison with schools to pick up any school concerns about safeguarding issues

• Looked After Children – Review Health Assessments• National Childhood Measurement Programme/Vision/Audiology screening• Immunisation Programme – HPV DTP5. Support for children with complex

health needs including assessments, care planning with school, training (e.g. Epipen)

• PSHE Secondary Schools 2-5 sessions including immunisation discussions to increase uptake and sexual health

• Open access drop ins in Secondary Schools• Continence Services (Enuresis)• PSHE Primary Schools (Puberty)• New Parents evening primary schools • NEET (Not in education employment and training)

Priorities

• To ensure the transfer of the service and contract and understand what we are currently getting

• To do an audit to establish equity and lay foundations for future commissioning

• To work towards our future commissioning model