School Nursing criteria and how to make a referral

Information for referrers before making a referral to the School Nursing service.

Referrals

The School Nursing service provides initial assessment, advice, signposting and strategies to support children and young people with the following new and emerging concerns:

Emotional and mental health needs such as:

  • self-harm
  • self-esteem
  • low mood
  • anxiety
  • panic attacks
  • relationship difficulties
  • depression
  • behavioural difficulties
  • stress
  • changes in eating
  • bereavement
  • anger management
  • Young Carer responsibilities

Sexual health needs such as:

  • healthy relationships
  • contraception
  • sexually transmitted infections
  • sexual identity

Physical health needs such as:

  • sleep difficulties
  • day and night-time wetting (urinary incontinence or Enuresis Service)
  • healthy eating and weight management
  • soiling (faecal incontinence and / or constipation)
  • tobacco, alcohol, drugs, substance misuse.
  • Puberty

The Suffolk School Nursing Service accepts referrals for children who are resident in Essex but attend a school in Suffolk.

The Suffolk School Nursing Service is unable to accept referrals for children who live in Norfolk/Cambridgeshire who attend a Suffolk School, these young people are welcome to attend a drop in at the school if one is available.

For Norfolk visit Healthy Child Services 5-19

For Cambridge Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthy Child Programme - Health Visiting and School Nursing Service

We are unable to accept referrals from independent or private educational provisions.

If you want to make a referral for support from the School Nursing Team, please go to our online portal.

Before you make a referral, please read the information for referrers for more details.

Notes for school staff and other professionals:

Before you start to complete a referral on the portal, we recommend that you have the following information to hand:

  • Child information including date of birth, address, ethnicity and language
  • Parent/carer information including address, ethnicity, language and full contact details

When asked to provide an address on the referral form please ensure the address provided has been confirmed by the parent/carer as being the current address for the child/young person.

It is important that the details provided are accurate as they are matched against the child/young person’s health record and there may be a delay in processing the referral if these details cannot be matched.

If you are unable to access or complete a referral via the online referral portal, please contact the Health Business Centre on 0345 607 8866 or email childrenshealth@suffolk.gov.uk

Complete the referral form