Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is welcoming staff and members of the public to its monthly Board meeting on Thursday 25 April 2019, at its headquarters in New Mill, Saltaire.

Board meetings are an opportunity for people across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven to learn more about the work of the organisation and its wider involvement in improving healthcare across the region. At each meeting the Board uses a patient story to reflect on current services and this month has a focus on children in special schools.

The service reaches 1400 children and young people throughout the Bradford and Keighley region.  At present, the specialist team works across nine schools for children aged 4 to 19 years old with complex health, disability and behavioural needs, by supporting and training staff within the education sector. This involves creating bespoke care plans to ensure the children’s needs are met in school, as well as helping them to access short break facilities such as Wedgewood House and Valley View House, throughout the district.

Sally Newsome, Team Leader in School Nursing Special Needs, commented on how important the service is in helping the children to achieve optimal learning, whilst meeting their social and play potential: “Our service works hard to ensure children with complex needs from Bradford and Keighley have access to education, equal to that of any other child. We undertake many different training packages to ensure the children and people taking care of them feel confident and safe, working hard to support them in accessing the specialist provisions and services they require, to lead a full and healthy life.”

Family support also plays an important role in ensuring these complex needs are met. One mother credits the team with acting as a lifeline to her son and family over the last 12 years; feeling that due to the nurses’ specialism and compassion, it has led to directly obtaining a diagnosis for her child.

The special needs school nursing team are passionate about ensuring that ‘one size does not fit all’ in special needs schools, and it is down to personalised care and training packages that children are able to live as happy and healthy lives as possible.

The provider of mental health, community health and specialist learning disability services will also discuss upcoming priorities, the chief executive’s monthly report and the monthly performance report. 

The Trust’s Board meeting will take place on Thursday 25 April, 1.30pm – 3.30pm, at New Mill, Victoria Road, Saltaire, BD18 3LD

To find out more about the school nursing team visit: www.bdct.nhs.uk/services/school-nursing-teams/