Expert school nursing service in England and Wales

The role of a school nurse focuses on promoting the health and wellbeing of school-aged children and young people. They’re registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and have undertaken additional training to become specialist community public health nurses (SCPHN).

On a daily basis, school nurses:

· Carry out immunisation and screening for common health issues

· Promote healthy habits and practices

· Provide support to children with diabetes, asthma, mental health issues and other health issues

· Raise awareness of health risks including from smoking and alcohol consumption

In England and Wales, schools are not required to have an on-site nurse. While nurses in schools play an important part in improving health outcomes among students, their presence is dependent on available resource and policies. If a school has no dedicated nurse, they are strongly encouraged to provide nursing provisions to their students through external school nursing services.

A recent report from NHS Providers highlighted the importance of school nursing within the wider healthcare system. Over 80% of NHS trusts surveyed were not able to meet the current demand for children’s and young people’s services.

The main reason why trusts struggled was the complexity and acuity of patients (58%). School nursing provides an opportunity for prevention and early intervention, dealing with health issues when they first arise.

This can prevent complex later intervention that may require a hospital or specialist visit and is often costly. According to the report, some trusts have already started working collaboratively with partners like schools and local authorities to better meet demand and reduce long waits.

Thanks to our network of experienced healthcare professionals, we supply school nurses to educational facilities across the whole of England and Wales. Whether you’re in a major city or in a rural community, we will be able to match you with nurses to fit your organisational needs and expectations, including in:

· Bedfordshire

· Berkshire

· Bristol

· Buckinghamshire

· Cambridgeshire

· Cheshire

· Cornwall

· Cumbria

· Derbyshire

· Devon

· Dorset

· Durham

· East Sussex

· Essex

· Gloucestershire

· Greater London

· Greater Manchester

· Hampshire

· Herefordshire

· Hertfordshire

· Isle of Wight

· Kent

· Lancashire

· Leicestershire

· Lincolnshire

· Merseyside

· Norfolk

· Northamptonshire

· Northumberland

· Nottinghamshire

· Oxfordshire

· Rutland

· Shropshire

· Somerset

· Staffordshire

· Suffolk

· Surrey

· Tyne and Wear

· Warwickshire

· West Midlands

· West Yorkshire

· West Sussex

· Wiltshire

· Worcestershire

· Yorkshire

And across Wales in:

· Gwent

· South Glamorgan

· Mid Glamorgan

· West Glamorgan

· Dyfed

· Powys

· Gwynedd

· Clwyd

We are committed to minimising disruptions and can offer additional training for your staff. Our services are available year-round, guaranteeing continuity in care for all students, including international students with stayovers.

Yes, our school nurses are available for short-term placements of just a few days or weeks, as well as long-term assignments if needed. In the past, we have helped schools and other educational institutions with:

• Sickness cover, long-term sick leave – Continuing to provide essential school nursing when staff fall sick
• Holiday leave – Providing cover when staff take a well-deserved break
• Maternity or paternity leave – Stepping in to support your team when staff spend time with their newborns
• Interim cover – Keeping services running while you find the right permanent staff
• Additional expertise – Deploying experienced nurses and HCAs who specialise in mental health or learning disabilities.

If you are looking for short-term school nursing cover, get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements today.