School Nursing

The Trust has officially launched ChatHealth – a confidential text messaging service that enables children and young people (aged 11-19) in Dorset to send questions via SMS to their School Nursing Team. They will then receive a reply that includes signposting to additional services.

The ChatHealth service is available Monday to Friday between 8.30am-4.30pm. This includes school holidays but not bank holidays.

If a child or young person sends a text outside these hours they will receive an automated message with advice on where to get help if they require it urgently. The ChatHealth nurse will reply to the message when the service reopens.

Children and young people can text about a range of issues including:

• relationships
• weight
• anxiety
• depression
• drugs
• smoking
• stress
• alcohol
• self harm
• Sexual health.

The ChatHealth telephone number is: 07480 635511

-> Check our privacy and data policy

If you're looking for resources to display in your school, please feel free to download these Chat Health leaflets and posters:

• digital version
• print version
• information for staff.

Click here to request support for a school-aged child/young person.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

• Boscombe Clinic (Bournemouth) - 01202 443035
• Moordown Clinic (Bournemouth) - 01202 518260
• Pelhams Clinic (Bournemouth) - 01202 570821
• Christchurch - 01425 891157
• Canford Heath Clinic (Poole) - 01202 691520

Dorset

• Blandford, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Sturminster Newton - 01425 891153
• Weymouth and Portland - 01305 752395
• Dorchester - 01305 752395
• Bridport and Lyme Regis - 01305 752395
• East Dorset - 01425 891153
• Purbeck - 01425 891153

Please note that during school hours the team are likely to be out and about in schools. If there is no one there to take your call, please leave a message and someone will get back to you at the earliest opportunity.

Scroll further down the page for additional contact details

Parents/carers will be notified of routine health checks carried out in school as appropriate – these include National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) growth checks and the School Entry Health Review in child’s first year of school – see School Nursing leaflet above for further information

The School Nursing team offers regular drop-in sessions in all primary schools with no appointment needed. You can ask your child’s school for details of when the drop-in sessions are held.

Young people and parents can self-refer to School Nursing at any time via school, GP or by telephone

School Nursing provides community based clinics for children experiencing problems with enuresis (night time wetting)

For queries in relation to immunisations, please click on the link below https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/schoolageimms

Self-Awareness Campaign

As part of Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust’s School Nursing Self-Help Awareness Campaign, a number of useful documents have been produced such as:

• A Little Book of Self-Help
• The 10 Key Ways to Happier Living Poster
• The Take 10 Together Leaflet
• The Self Help Postcard
• The Self-Help Campaign Poster

Children's guide to Coronavirus

• Emotional Wellbeing
• Keeping Safe
• Healthy Lifestyles
• Learning and Achieving
• The Stages of Growing Up
• Additional Needs
• Family Information Service
• Family Information Directory (FID)

Emotional wellbeing

Websites and online resources

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Dorset
• CAMHS Dorset website
• Ten Keys to Happier Living Guidebook or Ten Keys to Happier Living summary by Action for happiness
• Self-help guides by the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust ( ntw.nhs.uk)
• Mental Health & Growing Up Fact Sheets by Royal College of Psychiatrists - Parents and Young people section
• Calm Harm app for iPhone and Android by Stem4.org.uk
• A-Z of Mental Health by the UK charity Mind.org.uk
• Mental Health, self-help by Dorset for you (Dorset County Council)
• Childline for support, info and advice (or you can call 0800 1111)
• Young Minds - Looking after your mental health, getting support and advice.
• Griefencounter.org.uk - Coping with grief can be challenging, get support with
• Feeling anxious? Moodjuice offers help and advice (by NHS Scotland )
• #Lifeunfiltered - This film has been developed by young people from Poole Youth parliament regarding mental health, alongside Bournemouth University , Dorset Mind and Dorset Mental Health Forum. It's an opportunity to look at mental health through the eyes of a young person.
• Teen Health Podcasts - A new series of podcasts which delve into emotional and physical health problems faced by young people in Dorset have been launched online across the UK. Each podcast focuses on a different topic, from online bullying to sexual health, body image to mental health, as well as online grooming and pressures caused by social media.
• Kooth - from XenZone, is a confidential online counselling and emotional well-being platform for young people aged 11 – 18 years, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free at the point of use.

Books

• Overcoming your child's fears and worries by Dr Cathy Creswell & Lucy Willets

Keeping Safe

Websites and online resources

• Coping with self-harm, a guide for parents - A guide for parents, carers, families and friends who have discovered a young person's self-harm. It includes information on the nature and causes of self-harm, how to support a young person when facing this problem and what help is available.
• Childline for support, info and advice (or you can call 0800 1111)
• The Hide Out & Women’s aid - Understand domestic abuse, and where to get help if it's happening to you.
• Safer Internet - Find e-safety tips, advice and resources and stay safe online
• Barnardos, Real Love Rocks – If you feel vulnerable, are sexual exploited or if someone is hurting you at home, Barnardos can help you.
• Underwear Rule by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children - Easy rules to follow to stay safe. The website also provide advice and support on child abuse and neglect, keeping children safe, child protection and signs, symptoms and effects of abuse.
• Dorset County Council via Dorset For You website - Information and guidance to help children, young people and their families, including information about schools and special educational needs.
• Unicef - Unicef are are putting their years of experience working for children around the world into practice in the places that reach children day in, day out. They're working with the hospitals where they are born, the schools where they learn and grow and the services that shape their lives to make sure that every child has the same chance to shine.
• Crimestoppers Child Sexual Exploitation Leaflet

Healthy Lifestyles

Websites and online resources

• Sexual Health Services in Dorset or SexualHealthDorset.org
• Change4life – Tips on healthy eating with gamesand activities to encourage you to eat better and move more.
• Eat Well Guide – Use this guide to help you gethealthier diet. It also shows how much of each food group you should be eating.
• Step by step guide to food acceptance includes ways to encourage yourchild to try new foods.
• Hello to dry nights 7+ Evidence-based advice on drinking and voiding tohelp achieve dry nights.
• Information and guidance to help children, young people and theirfamilies, including information about schools and special educational needs by:
  • Dorset CountyCouncil
  • Bournemouth Council
  • Poole Council
• Family Planning Association – This websitehelps parents to talk to their children about growing up, supports for healthprofessionals, campaigns for better sexual health services and fights for therights of all young people to have high-quality relationships and sexeducation.
• Anaphylaxis.org.uk -The only UK wide charity operating solely for people at risk from severeallergic reactions and anaphylaxis.
• Living with asthma -Find support and ways to stay well when living with asthma.
• NHS Livewell - Advice on arange of medical symptoms, conditions, medicines and treatments.
• Rise Above -Find interesting and useful stuff from the web and beyond, topics include bodyimage, exams and friendships. You’ll find inspiring and useful stories, videos,games and advice.
• Talk to Frank -Drugs support and advice website for children and young people.
• Dietetic guides - A range of helpful guides and tips on a number ofsubjects, topic include tips for a healthy breakfast, getting organised,managing mealtimes, setting ground rules and getting your child involved.
  • Adapting recipes
  • Eating out and Takeaways
  • Getting organised
  • Getting your 5-a-day
  • Getting your child involved
  • Goal Setting
  • Healthy breakfast
  • Healthy pack lunches
  • Healthy portion sizes
  • Healthy snacking and drinks
  • Leading an example
  • Managing hunger
  • Managing mealtimes
  • Meals on the run
  • Praise diagram
  • Rewards
  • Settings ground rules
  • Smart shopping
  • Special Time
  • Super snack and drinks ideas
  • Talk time
  • Understanding food labels
• Barnardos, RealLove Rocks - A range of support and advice for vulnerablechildren, topics include fostering and adoption, young carers, sexualexploitation, child poverty and domestic violence.
• Toilet tool ERIC -Charity dedicated to the bowel and bladder health of all children and teenagersin the UK. Access support and live free from embarrassment, shame, isolationand fear.
• HeadSmart symptoms cards - The card is designed to help you know and spot the signs and symptoms of brain tumours in children and teenagers
• The Children's Sleep Charity - Useful source of information for parents and professionals
• Wessex Healthier Together - Improving the health of children and young people in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
• Unicef - Unicef are are putting their years of experience working for children around the world into practice in the places that reach children day in, day out. They're working with the hospitals where they are born, the schools where they learn and grow and the services that shape their lives to make sure that every child has the same chance to shine.

Learning and Achieving

Websites and online resources

• Learning Disabilities in Dorset
• Speech and Language therapy in Dorset
• Information and guidance to help children, young people and their families, including information about schools and special educational needs by:
  • Dorset County Council
  • Bournemouth Council
  • Poole Council

The Stages of Growing Up

Websites and online resources

• Moving on to secondary school

​Is your child going to be in Year 7 and moving up to a new school? Here is a short video produced by the Dorset Mental Health Support Teams in Schools which may help if you are worried about their move.

• Information and guidance to help children, young people and their families, including information about schools and special educational needs by:
  • Dorset County Council
  • Bournemouth Council
  • Poole Council
• Rise Above -Find interesting and useful stuff from the web and beyond, topics include bodyimage, exams and friendships. You’ll find inspiring and useful stories, videos,games and advice.
• Living with asthma - Find support and ways to stay well when living with asthma.
• YoungEpilepsy.org.uk - Find support and ways to stay well when living with epilepsy
• Anaphylaxis.org.uk -The only UK wide charity operating solely for people at risk from severeallergic reactions and anaphylaxis.

Pride 2020 support

Information posters