Scottish Government

Rationale

Criteria

Achieved

Action Plan

The Scottish Executive's commitment to social justice is set out in Social Justice - A Scotland where everyone matters (1999). This is further re-stated in Our National Health (2000), with commitments made to closing the gap in health status between the best off and worst off members of society.

Some groups of children are particularly vulnerable or have additional social or health care needs, these include:

• Looked after children and young people
• Children and young people where there are child protection concerns
• Travelling or highly mobile families
• Children and young people from ethnic minority groups
• Children and young people whose first language is not English
• Refugees and asylum seekers
• Children and young people with mental health problems
• Children and young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties
• Children and young people with disabilities
• Children and young people with drug misusing parents
• Children and young people with caring responsibilities either for siblings or dependent parents

Scottish Executive Education Dept Circular No 5/2001 Guidance on Education of Children Absent from School through Ill-Health recommends close liaison between school health services and education authorities and schools over children absent from school through ill -health.

• Community, practice and school profiling identifies vulnerable groups who may require extra or different support and help.

• Specialist skills within the nursing team are deployed effectively to address identified needs.

• Close working with New Community Schools & Primary Health Care Teams enables nurses working in schools to participate actively in identifying and working with vulnerable children and groups outwith the school environment.

• LHCCs and Trusts support the public health nursing team to work in a variety of settings in order to meet the needs of this group, including accommodated units, residential/ specialist units.

• Many vulnerable children and young people can be involved in risk taking behaviour including early unprotected sexual activity, smoking, and drug and alcohol misuse. Health promotion activities reflect the risks and dangers, enabling informed choice and providing access to continuing support, advice and help.

• Where appropriate, nurses working in schools will provide family support to vulnerable families outside the school setting, in partnership with public health nursing/health visiting colleagues.

• Children, young people and families who repeatedly fail to attend for appointments are followed up and encouraged or supported to attend or make contact.

• Effective record keeping ensures that this often very mobile group of children and young people receive continuity and consistency of care.

• Nurses working in schools liaise with parents, teachers and other health service staff to support children being educated at home due to ill health, and, where appropriate, assist pupils to re-integrate into school after periods of absence due to ill health.