Growing Healthy 0-19 Service

Health Visitors, School Nurses and Family Nurses work together to support child development, early identification of health needs and promote the health of children, young people and families. Locally, this is referred to as the Wakefield 0-19 Service. 

The service aim is to improve health and wellbeing by promoting good health, preventing ill health and reducing inequalities.

Health Visitors and School Nurses form part of the team and are Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN) who are also registered nurses or midwives. Health Visitors specialise in working with families with children aged 0-5 years while School Nurses specialise in working with families with children and young people aged 5-19 years (or up to 25 years for those with a special educational need and/or disability).

What do the Health Visitor Team Do?

• Build on families' strengths.
• Give every baby the best start in life.
• Connect families to the right support and find solutions together.
• Provide  extra support when families need it the most.
• Work in partnership with families, communities and professionals to promote health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities.
• Promote child development, including support with sleep, speech, language and communication, behaviour, and readiness for school.
• Support children with additional needs and Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities.
• Support with physical and mental health.
• Support with safeguarding.

When do you see the Health Visitor Team?

The Health Visitor Team will visit you at home to undertake health and wellbeing reviews at the following stages:

• Antenatal, before your baby is born
• Following the birth of your baby
• 6-8 Weeks
• 3-4 Months
• 9-12 Months
• 2-2 1/2 Years 

What do the School Nurse Team do?

The team undertake health promotion sessions in infant and junior schools; dental health, hand hygiene, healthy lifestyle, sun safety and puberty and transition into high school.

They also undertake the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) where children aged 4-5 years have their height, weight, hearing and vision checked. If further checks are needed, you will be referred to the appropriate services for support.

Height and weight are checked again in Year 6 at age 10-11 years.

Physical and Emotional Health and Wellbeing

School Nurses work for the NHS and not for individual schools.

Children and young people can be seen in the family home, in school and/or at local family or youth hubs. Support can be provided with parents or carers present, or through one-to-one sessions with the child or young person.

The team will support with but not limited to:

• Bowel management
• Night time wetting (nocturnal enuresis)
• Positive parenting
• Healthy lifestyles
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Self-esteem
• Sleep
• Low mood
• Eating difficulties

Healthy Young Person (HYP) Clinic

A Healthy Young Person (HYP) Clinic is held every week in secondary schools across Wakefield. Young people can attend and speak with a School Nurse, without an appointment, for support with their physical and/or emotional health and wellbeing.

If preferred, parents/carers or professionals can complete a referral form on behalf of a young person, with their consent. If appropriate, the young person will be offered a one-to-one appointment during school hours.

If a young person is not attending school, a member of the team may be able to see them at home or at a local family or youth hub.

Single Point of Access

You can contact your Health Visitor or School Nurse for support Monday to Friday 9am-5pm on 0300 373 0944

Growing Healthy Website

You can visit the Growing Health Website at Growing Healthy 0-19 Wakefield | HDFT Childrens Health Service

Growing Healthy App

The Growing Healthy App is a free NHS app provided by the 0-19 Healthy Child Service. It offers trusted information, advice and support for children, young people, parents, carers and families.

The app provides guidance on health, development and wellbeing, as well as interactive features such as videos and helpful resources.

The app has a recite me function to support people with reading and/or visual difficulties. Users can change colours and display settings, have content read aloud, and translate information into different languages, making the app more accessible and easier to use.

Download the Growing Healthy App from the Apple App Store
Scan the QR code below if you use an iphone or ipad

Download the Growing Healthy App from Google Play 
Scan th QR code below if you use an Android device

Health Chat

The app includes Health Chat, a live messaging service that give direct access to school nurses and health visitors Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

Users can send messages outside of these hours but responses will be provided the next working day.

Please note that Health Chat is not an emergency service. If you have urgent concerns about a child or young person's physical or emotional health, please contact 111 or call 999 in an emergency.