The School Nursing Service is available for any child, young person and their family aged 4 to 19 years in Blackburn with Darwen. We work in collaboration with schools, GPs, youth services, other health services and many other community services to support your health needs. We are a workforce of Specialist Community Public Health Nurses who provide invaluable, expert advice and support.

Universal and Specialist public health services for children are important.

• We provide support, advice and guidance to other professionals and parents on a variety of topics to do with health and wellbeing.

• We deliver the Healthy Child Programme to children and young people aged 4-19 years.

There are four levels of service that can be offered to children and their families.

Level 1 - Communities Offer

The service works within our local communities to identify health needs and will work together with partner agencies to address them in the way that supports the best outcomes for families. Every school has a named school nurse.

Level 2 - Universal Offer

The service provides the following Universal service to every child:

• A health needs assessment in Reception and Year 6 and Year 9
• Height and weight measurements for all children in Reception and Year 6

Level 3 -  Universal Plus Offer

The service offers specific support for issues such as; bed wetting, behaviour, care plans for schools/settings, health training for schools, asthma management, parenting support, and support for children's transition to and from educational settings.

Level 4 - Universal Partnership Plus Offer

We work in close partnership with other organisations such as children’s and young peoples services, private and voluntary organisations, and collaborate to provide intensive, multi-agency additional support where there are identified health needs. 

Working together with children, young people and their families

At all stages through levels 1-4 the child/young persons voice is paramount in contributing to their plan of support.

School nursing contributes to better outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities by:

• Reducing health inequalities for children, young people and families in vulnerable groups
•  Improving the experience of children, young people and their families/carers with SEND using our services.
• Ensuring that staff are skilled in early identification of SEND needs and the actions required to support.