School nurses and youth workers team up to keep young people thriving in life
A new partnership between NHFT and local community organisations in North Northamptonshire is proving that when it comes to supporting secondary school-age students, teamwork really does make a difference.
The Trust has teamed up with Youth Works and Service Six, part of the Reach Collaborative of Northamptonshire youth counselling services, to offer joined-up health and wellbeing support for young people aged 11 to 19.
NHFT school nurses work hand-in-hand with youth workers providing a range of services to meet young people's needs - in secondary schools, colleges and for those educated outside traditional school settings.
Before the new arrangement began at the start of the current school year, school nurses played a vital role in promoting physical, mental and emotional wellbeing and supporting early identification of health needs in young people. Now the addition of youth support workers has brough in a youth work approach to supporting the young people with any non-clinical needs.
By coming together into a single 'Thriving in Life' service, the two teams are now better equipped than ever to deliver the right support for young people at the right time.
ow Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire each has its own embedded team made up of a senior school nurse (known as a specialist community public health nurse, or SCPHN), a school nurse and up to four youth support workers.
Regular drop-in sessions are held in schools and colleges alongside workshops and assemblies covering the key topics that matter most to young people. These include managing stress, anxiety, everyday school worries and bullying; sexual health and healthy relationships; reducing risk-taking behaviour; making healthy lifestyle choices; and preparing for the challenges of adult life.
One-on-one support can be offered for those who need early help to address emotional or mental health needs, and referrals are also made to specialist services like the NHFT Mental Health in Schools Team where needed.
The service has been designed in close partnership with young people, making sure it could meet the needs of service users from day one. And young people continue to be heavily involved as the service evolves, with youth forums set up in each area enabling young people to shape, develop and improve the service.
Plans are also being made to expand the Thriving in Life service from education settings out into the wider community so even more young people have the chance to benefit from the support on offer.
We couldn't do this without each other - Thriving in Life leads on why working together is key to success
"Thriving in Life is transforming how young people access public health services in North Northamptonshire. It brings together clinical and youth work approaches, enabling us to deliver tailored public health messages and interventions that ensure young people receive the right support, from the right professional at the right time. Our integrated model combines clinical and non-clinical expertise, with the diverse skills and experience of staff shaping a holistic, young person-centred offer - all underpinned by co-production and collaboration."
Rachel Andrews, Service Manager, NHFT
"This really is a much more cohesive way of working than we had in the past, with different organisations sending referrals between each other depending on the young person's needs. Now the young person gets help at the right time without having to keep retelling their story. The support and safety net that NHFT colleagues offer is also hugely important to give our youth workers the confidence to do their best in their roles. Neither of us could do this without each other."
Jane Rowley, Chief Operating Officer, Youth Works
Reach partnership builds on successful work with children and young people
Thriving in Life is not the first time NHFT and the Reach Collaborative have partnered up to support children and young people in Northamptonshire.
The two bodies have been working together for some time to deliver Northamptonshire Drop-Ins, informal cafe-style sessions for 8- to 25-year-olds in need of mental health support, and their parents and carers. Sessions are held six days a week across the county's major towns, each offering a safe space to talk and be listened to alongside wellbeing activities, one-to-one support and peer support.
Youth Works also worked closely with NHFT on a project to deliver workshops for parents on emotion coaching with children and young people. The community organisation provided much-needed administration support for this project.