School Public Health Update February 2019

Our Public Health Assistants are focusing this month on completing the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for Year R and Year 6 in schools where that has not yet taken place. We will also be offering catch up sessions in all schools to the children who were absent at the initial session.

We will be commencing the hearing and vision screening programme this month in the South and East of the county only. Schools in this area will be contacted by our Schedule Coordinator to book a mutually convenient date and the relevant paperwork will be emailed to share with parent and carers. The programme for the North and West of the county will be scheduled later in the academic year.

We can offer assurance that all staff carrying out the NCMP, hearing and vision screening; and immunisation programmes have the relevant DBS clearance and therefore, by wearing the KCHFT photo ID badge, will not need to provide additional confirmation when on site in schools.

The School Public Health Team would like to invite all schools that have not yet completed the Lancaster Model (HAPI - health awareness, prevention and intervention) with their Year 6 pupils, an opportunity to take part before 28 February 2018. The chance to work in partnership to help support and improve the health outcomes for children, young people and their families is happening across Kent now. The short lifestyle choices and behaviour questionnaire can help us to support your pupils on an individual level to identify and help prevent long term health problems from developing in the future. A unique plan can then be developed to help support you to deliver a whole school approach aimed at improving their health and wellbeing and supporting a smooth transition to Secondary school.

If you would like to take part, please contact our team in the Single Point of Access on 0300 123 4496 so that we can guide you through the presentation and send you the link, unique locality password and resources to self-facilitate and complete in school. We can even offer to attend your school and show the presentation to pupils and help them with the completion of the questionnaire

This year we will also be offering to support the delivery of The Lancaster Model to all pupils in Year 10. All young people in this cohort will have the opportunity to complete an online wellbeing and lifestyle behaviour questionnaire which will be assessed by our Specialist Community Public Health Nurses. Following completion of the questionnaire the school can expect a drop in where our practitioners will be available to support students on any health or wellbeing issues identified in their questionnaire. In addition to this we will provide the school with a unique report to help develop and improve health and wellbeing as a whole school approach.

For more information please visit the Lancaster Model website

Our Chathealth texting service for the 11 to 19 age group is proving to be a popular option with our young people in Kent. Chathealth is a confidential service where young people can have direct contact with a member of the School Public Health Team by text with the offer of face to face support if needed around a range of public health topics. We would appreciate if you could ensure students are aware of this aspect of the service which is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. The number is 07520 618850.

If you would like promotional materials about Chathealth please speak with your local School Nurse.

The School Public Health Service would like to thank our partners in education for their continued support to our service delivery this term to ensure the children and young people in Kent in mainstream education have access to the school public health offer.

Contact Details

If you have concerns about a child’s health, wellbeing or development, please do not hesitate to contact our team via the details below:

School Public Health Service
Telephone: 0300 1234496
Email: nem-tr.kentchildrenandyoungpeoplehealthservices@nhs.net

The Kent Youth Health website is available to all young people for advice, information and access to support.