The Children’s Community Nursing Service supports children and young people with health needs at home, and in community settings such as nursery, school, and respite centres.
Our aim is to help keep children and young people out of hospital, to enable children and young people to come home from hospital earlier, and to reduce re-attendance. We do this by offering home visits for nursing input, supplying essential equipment and providing training and support to parents, carers, and extended family. We also actively work with adult services to achieve a smooth transition when the young person becomes 18.
For some children, our Kaleidoscope Team of Care Staff (formerly Home Care Support Team) can support families through the provision of respite care, following a detailed assessment of the child’s needs and providing they meet recognised criteria.
There is also a palliative care service, called Kaleidoscope, who provide symptom management and/or end of life care on the occasions that this may be required. The Specialist Nurse leads this service in conjunction with the rest of the team, and 24 hour on call service may be provided to allow the child or young person to die at home if this is their wish.
The Community Play Specialists provide support to children and young people through play to help them prepare for, or cope with, the procedures they are going through. They also offer play to help children and young people work through their emotional journey associated with their health needs.
The Specialist School Nursing team provides health care to children in some of the Special Schools in the area, ensuring they are supported to be in school. The nurses and play specialists work closely with other professionals from both hospital and community services, as well as professionals from education, social services, and voluntary organisations. Examples of the care we provide are:
- Blood sampling
- Care of children with cancers and leukeamias
- Giving intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous medication
- Home oxygen therapy
- Wound management
- Special or complex health needs
- Support and equipment for nasogastric and gastrostomy tube feeds
- Children who are dependent on medical technology
- Palliative and end of life care
- Bereavement support
- Medical, developmental, and bereavement play