School Nursing Service (Southend-on-Sea) - Young peoples services

School nursing services are offered to children and young people aged 5-19 in schools, homes and in an expanding number of Family Centres. School Nurses are the lead public health professional for school aged children, taking over from the Health Visitor on the child's fifth birthday. School Nurses work in partnership with families and other professionals to promote the health of all children aged 5-19 and support children with health needs in the school environment and within their homes if they are educated at home. This includes care planning with schools and parent's to ensure the needs of children with diagnosed conditions are met. Care packages and services are also offered for other health needs such as weight management, bed wetting, hearing and vision assessments, and emotional well-being.

Every year, throughout England, more than a million children in Reception and Year 6 have their height and weight measured as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The School Nursing Team will measure your child's height and weight at school. Information about your child's weight helps to build a national and local picture on how children are growing. The more children that take part, the clearer that picture will be. This is a government led programme and the data collected is non-identifiable. It is used to help plan and provide better health and leisure services for the children in your area. Please click on the link for more information: National Child Measurement Programme

For young people, School Nurses are a source of advice and support for a range of health issues by offering a drop-in service in schools. Confidential health appointments can also be arranged for young people if they are electively home educated. School nurses work in partnership with other health professionals to achieve positive outcomes for children, young people, and their families.

Young people living in Southend aged between 11 to 19 years can also access Chat Health, which is a secure and confidential text messaging service for young people via a text to 07520 649895. Chat Health allows young people to get in touch easily and anonymously with a School Nurse for advice and support. 11 to 19-year-olds can text for advice regarding mental health, sexual health, bullying, drugs, alcohol, self-harm, relationships and smoking as well as receiving a response to queries in relation to any other physical health or emotional well-being issue.

Parents and carers of children aged 5-19 in Southend can also text a school nurse on 07507 331884. When contact is made, a member of the school nursing service can offer advice and support with a variety of health issues including growth and development, emotional wellbeing, growing up, sleep, Immunisations, toileting, and healthy lifestyles. This service is available Monday to Friday (excluding Bank holidays) 09.30 to 16.30.

The School Nursing team offer a duty Service Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm which is managed by a registered senior nurse who will be available to answer any questions, queries, or referrals made via the telephone/email, 01702 534843/MSEICB-S.Southendpublichealthnurses@nhs.net. The duty service is for families, school staff and partner agencies to ensure that access to advice, guidance and support is available.

Southend School Nursing Service

Telephone: 01702 534843

ChatHealth: 07520 649895

ChatHealth Parentline: 07507 331884

MSEICB-S.Southendpublichealthnurses@nhs.net

Working Hours: Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm. Not open on Public holidays

Drop-in clinics run throughout term time across the City for parent/s carers in a variety of Family Centres, no appointment needed. Contact the service on 01702 534843 for further details.

A referral can be made via a School Nurse referral form which is available in schools, alternatively we accept telephone or email referrals. Referrals can be made by professionals and parents. All secondary schools have been offered a drop-in service where young people can easily and directly access their school nurse. For young people educated at home, an appointment can be arranged by texting Chat Health or calling the team on 01702 534843.