CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ADVICE

We know this is a challenging and worrying time for everyone. We have created this dedicated page to provide children, young people and families with additional information and resources to support you through this period.

If you suspect you or a family member has Covid-19 symptoms please contact 111 online for advice and support. If you are currently pregnant please click here for advice from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and for infant feeding advice please click here.

Please remember our teams are still available for support and guidance. To speak to one of our health visitors, school nurses, public health nurses or nursery nurses please contact our duty team. Please click here for each locality’s contact details.

Below are some useful links with regularly updated advice for everyone regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19):

NHS UK Coronavirus

Hand-washing Advice Video

Guidance for face to face appointments within schools & nursery settings.

We are starting to return to visiting Schools and Nurseries in order to support the children and young people on our caseload. Clinical staff will only offer face to face appointments where there is an identified clinical need. To reduce risk the clinicians will always consider digital methods e.g., WhatsApp as a first option.
These are the measures that we will be putting in place to ensure safety across all settings. Please also refer to “What makes me a Contact” (see attached).
In those schools and nurseries where a temperature check is required before entering the building, the staff will comply with this being checked by the setting.

Offering face to face appointments for young people and families

Our staff will undertake the following measures to ensure safety is adhered to at all times when visiting:

Wear full PPE (that is apron, gloves, surgical mask and visor) within the schools. Each clinician will have hand gel and cleaning wipes and will use these frequently. They will ensure the PPE is disposed of safely.
Change PPE in between each child where working within under 2 metres
Change PPE when moving from one bubble / pod to another.
Minimise moving around the schools and work within a single bubble / pod per session where possible.
Inform school staff prior to the visit which bubble / pod they will be working in where necessary.
Speak to school staff within the classrooms and / or offer a virtual meeting through MS Teams at an arranged time.
If a room is identified for the clinician to work in during the day, then the surfaces within this room will be cleaned on entry and exit by them. If no room is available then the clinician will return to an NHS base to complete paperwork.
Email resources to staff and take minimal equipment with them into classes – when resources are needed these will be cleaned before and after use.
Ensure that they socially distance with adults whenever possible. If it is necessary to be closer (e.g. if working in a room with a child) then the clinician will ask the adult if they could wear a face covering.
When working with a child / young person the clinician will sit next to them rather than face to face whenever possible.
Any training or group education sessions will be offered through MS Teams.
If a school advises that they do not want clinical staff to wear PPE then unfortunately clinical staff would be unable to undertake interventions in this setting.

Process for seeing children and young people (C&YP) face to face:

1) Staff must wash or sanitise their hands, before donning PPE Guidance attached (appendix 1).
2) The C&YP (over 11 years) will be offered a facemask if they prefer or if the contact requires close contact and social distancing is not always achievable.
3) The staff member must return to the room and clean all surfaces and equipment used including arms of chairs that have been in contact with the client with the clinical wipes thoroughly in between appointments.
4) The staff member must remove and replace their PPE before the next client arrives. Staff member can continue to use the same mask and visor throughout the session if they have not become contaminated in any way.
5) If the staff member is moving through the building they must then apply a new mask.
6) PPE will be removed after exiting the building – with the mask being the last item removed and disposed of before sanitising their hands (appendix1).

Support for Young People

Our School Nurses are still offering support to those aged 11-19 (up to the age of 25 for those with special educational needs or disabilities) via our ChatHealth text messaging service, available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. For more information about ChatHealth please click here.

Many children and young people are feeling scared and anxious about the world, their health, and their family at the moment. For advice on how to talk to them about Covid-19 and managing their feelings please take a look at the advice by Childline and Young Minds.

If you are a young person and feel a little worried or anxious here is some really good advice:

Dealing with coronavirus linked anxiety

Childline: Worries about Coronavirus

Childline: Your feelings

Childline: Controlling your panic attacks

Young Minds: What to do if your anxious about Coronavirus

Young Minds: Looking after your mental health whilst self-isolating

Every Mind Matters

Headspace: Mental health during the coronavirus

Supporting your mental health