My child is not in school, can we still get support from school health?
Yes – we work with all school aged children in different settings
My child wets the bed, how do we get support?
If your child is aged 5yrs+ and wets the bed, you can speak to your school nurse or GP for support and advice
What emotional wellbeing issues can school health support with?
The School Health emotional wellbeing team can provide a short-term therapeutic support for child struggling with feeling sad, anxious, stressed, angry or self-confidence. If your child needs counselling or more specialist support we will try and signpost you to the right support.
I think my child may have additional needs, how can school health support
The school health team can offer you an initial assessment to explore your concerns and help signpost to the right support.
Who is the Medway School Health team for?
Our School health team support children and young people aged 5-19 years who live in Medway and/or attend a Medway state school
Where can I get support for challenging behaviour?
If you are worried about your child’s behaviour, we would recommend discussing this with their school to understand whether there is any difference in behaviours at home and school. Your school might even be able to signpost you to a course to better understand your child’s behaviours and development. You may want to consider referring to school health for an initial health needs assessment to better understand the concerns.
What happens if my child is referred to school health?
The School Health team would normally complete an initial assessment to gather more information about your child’s area of need. Following this assessment, we may make recommendations for you to try and/or signpost and refer on to other services to best meet your child’s needs.
I am worried about a child / Young person who lives in Medway, what should I do
If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child/young person who lives in Medway you can report this to Medway Social Care or anonymously to NSPCC. If the child/young person is in immediate danger, you should call 999.
Report to Medway social care referral: https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200170/children_and_families/600/concerned_about_a_child
Report to NSPCC: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/nspcc-helpline/
How Often are school liaison meetings?
Primary and Secondary schools are offered a 1-hour liaison meeting once a term with their link school nurse.
How do I refer for anaphylaxis/epilepsy and asthma awareness training?
School health can offer an awareness session once a year to schools who have children and young people with a confirmed diagnosis. Schools are required to complete a referral (incl. copy of care plan(s) in order to deliver a session tailored to the needs of the child(ren) at the school.
Who is the link School Nurse for our school?
The Schools SENCO should have this information. However, if you are still unsure, you can contact the School Health team on 0300 123 3444 or email: medch.schoolhealth@nhs.net and request the details of your link school nurse.
How do I contact my link school nurse?
You will have a scheduled contact with your link school nurse once a term at the liaison meeting. However, if you require support outside of this meeting you can contact the link school nurse via email/telephone. Alternatively, you can contact the Duty School Nurse on 0300 123 3444 or medch.schoolhealth@nhs.net
Is it best to use a self-referral or a professional referral into school health?
School health have the option for self-referrals and professionals’ referrals. It is important that all referrals are discussed with the child and family before being made. All referrals received will be carefully screened, so that the best support can be accessed by the child/young person. It is important to make this decision based on the family’s individual needs
Can a young person see the school nurse without parental consent?
Yes, for older children, we consider using Gillick competency to better understand the young person’s understanding. School Nurses have the young persons best interest at heart and we work strictly to the confidentiality rule and would only break confidentiality if we were worried that a child or someone else was at risk of harm. When assessed as safe and appropriate, we would support young people to talk to their parent/carer(s) for additional support.
How can I help to keep my child safe online?
It is healthy to set age appropriate boundaries and have open discussion with your child about online safety. ‘Think UK now’ have some excellent resources to support you but child line also have some helpful resources. Schools will also be able to offer support around online safety. www.thinkuknow.co.uk
I am concerned about my child’s relationships (with peers / boyfriends / girlfriends)
It is important to talk about healthy and unhealthy relationships with your child and help them understand consent from an early age. The NSPCC and Childline have some helpful resources for parents, profressionals and children/young people https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/friends-relationships-sex/sex-relationships/healthy-unhealthy-relationships/ .
You may consider a referral to school health, we can offer support and advice to your child on health relationships and consent.
If you have urgent concerns about a child’s safety and wellbeing you can contact Medway social care or contact NSPCC to make a referral.
Report to Medway social care referral: https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200170/children_and_families/600/concerned_about_a_child
Report to NSPCC: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/nspcc-helpline/
How do I access the Lift-Off behaviour presentations?
Visit the Medway Community Healthcare School Health website. You will see the ‘Lift off’ link on the top right corner. There are two Lift Off presentations which are free and targeted at understanding the behaviours and development of primary school aged children. This presentation may not be appropriate for children with some additional needs.
What support is there for children who are not accepted by the Indigo Pathway (Neurodiversity pathway for ADHD, ASD and Sensory processing)?
Your child’s school will continue to use ‘core standards’ which are support strategies tailored to your child to help them thrive in school. Your school may also be able to signpost you to parenting course to learn new strategies to continue to support your child. If you feel your child could have an underlying medical need, please complete a referral to the school health team for an initial assessment. You may also consider referring to Medway’s Small Step service who offer support to
children and families pre and post diagnosis of ASD and ADHD. You may consider a referral to Early Help/Family solutions if you are worried about your child’s behaviour having an impact on their wellbeing and/or the family’s safety.
What emotional support is available for children aged 5-18?
From time to time we all struggle with our emotional health and wellbeing. For some children and young people they can find it difficult to manage and understand these feelings. Difficulties that children and young people will vary but could include low mood, issues sleeping, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating, avoiding school or social situations. We offer emotional support over the course of 4-6 sessions. Providing practical techniques and strategies to help children and young people move forward. To access this support or for more information please see our emotional wellbeing page, complete an online referral or call 0300 123 3444
How do I support my child through bereavement or loss?
We are sorry to hear this. Your child and of course the whole family could be experiencing grief. There is no right or wrong way to deal with grief but some symptoms are: shock, numbness – this is usually the first reaction to loss and can be describe as being in a daze or removed from real life. Sadness – this can happen at any time and for no reason. Tiredness/exhaustion, Anger /short tempered or irritable, Survivors guilt. Encourage your child to talk to someone, even if they cannot talk to you find an adult in their life they feel comfortable to be open with. If you want more information about bereavement services and support, please visit Holding on letting go, Winston’s Wish or CHUMS