Health Visiting & School Nursing (Ballymena) - Northern Trust

HEALTH VISITING The aim of the Health Visiting Service is to promote the health of the whole community and addressing concerns about physical and mental well-being. Health Visitors work as part of Public Health Nursing Team alongside Public Health Nurses, Child Health Assistant and School Nurses. All Health Visitors are qualified nurses or midwives, with additional special training in health promotion and education. We offer practical support and advice on a host of diverse situations, surgery working alongside primary care professionals based in the local health centre or clinics. The health of your baby or young child:- Every family with children under 5 has a named Health Visitor, who can advise on everyday routines and sleeping problems, feeding as well as immunisation programmes, parenting classes or special needs your child may have. Parenting and supporting young families:- Health Visitors can also: - Advise on employment and benefit rights - Support fathers-to-be and reassure new fathers about their role Give information on local support networks including ante-natal classes, breastfeeding and toddler groups, etc. Advise on options for child care available locally. Your emotional well-being:- Health Visitors can point the way to specialist help, should you be coping with problems such as unemployment; a recent bereavement; serious illness; an unhappy or violent relationship or new culture if you have arrived from abroad. Living a healthy life:- Health Visitors can provide practical advice on how to stay healthy. They also run health groups, keep-fit, parenting and baby massage groups, postnatal depression support group and parenting groups. Safeguarding:- We work as part of a Multi Disciplinary Team that seeks to keep children safe and healthy, reaching their full potential. SCHOOL NURSING The School Nursing Team work during term time, to be a link, and to work in partnership with parents, children, young people and schools. This includes training, advising, assessing and referring in regard to health needs of all school age children, health prevention and health promotion. School Nurses are specialist nurses who work as part of an Integrated Public Health Nursing Team alongside other disciplines i.e. health visitors, public health staff nurse and child health assistants. Health Promotion activities include: Training – for teaching staff, how to use Auto-injectors for children with severe allergies, and the giving of emergency treatment for children with Epilepsy. Assessing Health – all Primary 1 and Year 8 pupils are offered a health appraisal, referrals are made where necessary e.g. Audiology clinic or ENT, CAMHS, Continence Clinic, Dietician, General Practitioner, Orthoptist/Optician, Social Services and Speech and Language. Advising and working in partnership with staff, parents and children on many health issues including behaviour, cancer prevention, dental, diet, drugs and alcohol, emotional health, exercise, head lice, keeping safe, mental health, sexual health and sign posting to other agencies as required. School Nurses contributes to Public Health Programme through family support/group activities/clinics and home visiting etc. Obesity – Breastfeeding/Nutrition/Exercise Smoking – Prevention and Cessation Safety – Home and Environmental Sexual Health – Puberty/Contraception Immunisation Team:- This team work alongside school nursing and provide your children with the required vaccines in school. Safeguarding:- We are part of a team to keep children safe and healthy, reaching their full potential.