Children's learning disability team
The children’s learning disability team in Craven, is part of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust’s community children’s service.
Who we are
The children’s learning disability team are a specialist team of learning disability nurses and healthcare support workers who aim to provide high quality, evidenced-based nursing support to children and young people with a learning disability aged 5 to 19 in the Craven area. Referrals from families or professionals and can be contacted on 01274 221203.
What we do
If a child meets our criteria on referral, the team carries out initial health assessments with the child and their parents/carers, as well as observations in other settings such as school and liaison with other professionals. This holistic assessment forms the basis of the child’s care plan, ensuring that the referral correctly reflects all the child’s needs and that they and their family are included in the planning of their care. Once developed, the care plan is then shared with families and other agencies to maintain consistency for the child and obtain optimum health outcomes.
Our collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach is aimed at improving and optimising quality of life and reducing health inequalities. We offer advice, support and information to parents and carers on issues specific to learning disabilities and support the child or young person to live a fulfilling life as independently as possible. Our support can be either on a long or short-term basis as needed, working in the home, school, respite, and other community environments.
We provide:
- continence assessments, toilet training advice and other health promotion activities
- support for transition, particularly to adult services, developing health action plans and hospital passports and acting as a link to liaison services
- parent workshops on topics which are common reasons for referrals into our team
If your child has a diagnosis of a learning disability they will be eligible to be part of the transforming care programme. This is a programme designed to link health, education and social care at a high level to improve services for young people and their families.
If your child is 14 or over and has a diagnosis of a learning disability they are entitled a learning disability health check from your general practitioner. This health check should be completed every year. It is designed to be a full review of your child’s needs so that any health need can be identified at the earliest opportunity and the right action taken.
As your child enters adulthood your general practitioner will be your main point of contact which is very different to being in children’s services. However, having that relationship with your general practitioner can help to navigate the adult health world and access the right services at the right time.
The School Nursing Special Needs team at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust offers a special school nursing service to Brooklands school in Skipton.
School Nursing Special Needs team
Who we are
The School Nursing Special Needs team includes a specialist school nurse), children’s nurses, learning disability nurses, mental health nurses, general nurses and healthcare support workers. They are supported by a clinical manager, team leader, administrator and team facilitator.
The team works with families across Bradford, Airedale and Craven supporting children aged 5-19 years old who attend special schools. The School Nursing Special Needs team can be contacted by phone on 01274 221203.
What we do
The School Nursing Special Needs team provides school nursing services within ten special schools and four social emotional and mental health schools across Bradford, Airedale and Craven, so children and young people with complex health, disabilities, social emotional mental health and SEND can safely attend specialist education settings. We work collaboratively to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of these children.
Initial health assessments - the school nursing team carries out initial health assessments with all children starting at a Special Needs School (usually reception or as a movement into area). This holistic assessment ensures that health needs are assessed, the child and family are included in the planning of care in school, and children and young people can safely access education.
Care plans - following the initial health assessment, care plans are developed by the team according to the child’s needs. These are provided to school prior to the child starting and updated annually, or sooner if there are any changes to health needs. The care plan supports school staff to meet the child’s immediate health requirements and promotes safe and evidenced-based care.
Training and assessment for schools - School Nursing Special Needs offer a wide range of theory with practical based competency assessment for schools, and theory-based training for two short breaks (respite) settings to ensure staff feel safe and competent in supporting and caring for the children attending their provision.
Weekly care team meetings - to ensure schools are feeling supported by the School Nursing Special Needs team, we also facilitate and attend weekly care team meetings, sharing good practice meetings (once a term with care team managers), school safeguarding meetings, enteral feeding club and medication club.
What we do in the Craven area
Hearing tests - offered to all children in reception class for early identification of hearing problems - parents/carers are informed by letter.
Heights and weight monitoring – in reception and year six and when requested by a consultant, paediatrician or dietitian due to a health need. School Nursing Special Needs supports specialist practitioners, including paediatricians, dieticians and children and adolescent mental health services in school with their clinics
Health promotion sessions - a variety of fun and informative health promotion sessions are delivered across the academic year to all schools. They include hand hygiene, healthy eating, sun safety and accident prevention.
Parent workshops - the team also offers advice for parents and runs parent workshops focused on toilet training advice and support for children with additional needs.
Transition - for children in year six to upper school, or upper school to adulthood, to ensure all relevant health information is shared and that the transition is well supported and as smooth as possible for the child. We collaborate education and adult services to achieve this.
Statutory responsibilities - School Nursing Special Needs has a statutory responsibility in Safeguarding and Education Health Care Plans. School Nursing Special Needs submit reports and attend meetings for all children with child protection plans whom we are supporting. As part of the Education Health Care Plan process, School Nursing Special Needs currently write reports for children in reception, Year six and Year 13, or any child where additional health needs arise.
Support service – we are committed to supporting all children and parents with their health concerns. We offer a duty service Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm where a team member is available to offer advice, support or signposting as necessary. We also accept referrals from parents and professionals and can offer support on a wide range of health needs.
