The service works together with GPs, paediatricians, hospitals, health visitors, school nurses, social workers and voluntary agencies to enable children to be cared for at home. It can help children and their families manage:
How does the team work?
The team visit children with a specialised nursing need, registered with a Birmingham GP, aged 0 – 19 years in their homes or other community setting.
Every effort will be made to book visits in advance at a time convenient to all parties. Occasionally delays occur and if the delay is expected to be over 30 minutes families are notified.
The team aims to:
- Holistically assess the needs of children and families and, together with parents, produce a joint plan of care.
- Reduce or prevent hospital attendances or admissions by providing a skilled paediatric nursing service.
- Enable and empower parents to look after their child in the most suitable environment with our support.
- Act as family advocates and network on behalf of children and families.
- Provide planned opportunistic health promotion.
When do the team work?
The team operate 7 days a week from 08:30 – 19:00 outside these hours there is a telephone advise service overnight from 19:00 – 08:30 and an on-call service for children/ young people and their families requiring end of life care.
Who can refer to the team?
Anyone can make a referral. When a referral is accepted the service will inform the child’s consultant paediatrician. Some children may have needs that the service cannot meet, in which case they will be referred to the most appropriate service. The team take part in the education of student nurses and doctors and occasionally they may be present during visits.
