A call has been made by sector leaders to ensure the retention of the public health function within 0-19 services.

ADPH, iHV and SAPHNA Release Joint Policy Position on Safeguarding Role of Public Health

The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), Institute of Health Visiting (iHV), and School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA) have joined forces to publish a new policy position on the safeguarding role of public health 0-19 services.

The joint statement, released on Monday 4th November 2024 at 10am, addresses the increasing demand for health visitors and school nurses to support children and young people who fall below the threshold for children’s social care services. With child health deteriorating and health inequalities widening across the nation, there is a pressing need for these specialist public health nurses to shift their focus from “sickness to prevention” and support the national effort to improve the wellbeing of children and families.

The policy position highlights the strain this additional safeguarding work is placing on health visitors and school nurses, limiting their capacity to carry out their public health function. It outlines a number of measures that would support the entire sector in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and families while also promoting good health and preventing potential issues, including:

– Ensuring discussions take place between health professionals and social care to determine the most appropriate Lead Practitioner for children with identified health needs.
– Ensuring public health professionals’ “duty to cooperate” in child safeguarding does not interfere with their own public health responsibilities.
– Providing funding to support the 0-19 public health nursing service in compliance with the Care Law.
– Exploring options for additional health capacity in multi-agency safeguarding hubs.

Speaking on behalf of ADPH, Prof Tracy Daszkiewicz stresses the importance of not neglecting public health in the effort to safeguard children and young people. She calls for a sustained increase in public health funding to support the government’s commitment to shift from “sickness to prevention.”

Alison Morton, iHV’s Chief Executive, emphasizes the urgent need to improve both child health and safeguarding, stating that a strong workforce is essential for achieving these goals. She highlights the vital role of Specialist Community Public Health Nurses in working “upstream” with families to prevent, identify, and treat problems before they escalate.

SAPHNA’s Chief Executive, Sharon White OBE, stresses that while safeguarding is a core aspect of the school nursing role, it should not overshadow their broader public health responsibilities. She highlights the significant returns on investment that public health has and calls for recognition and support for the strain placed on school nurses.

The joint policy position has been published by ADPH, iHV, and SAPHNA, three leading organizations in the field. The ADPH represents Directors of Public Health in the UK, while iHV is a UK Centre of Excellence supporting the development of high-quality health visiting practice. SAPHNA is a leading voice advocating for school and public health nursing, working to improve the health and wellbeing of school-aged children and young people across the UK.

For more information on the joint policy position, please visit www.adph.org.uk, www.ihv.org.uk, and www.saphna.co. For media inquiries, please contact info@ihv.org.uk or info@saphna.co.

Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/

Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.

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