Provision of a School Nursing Service

Halton Borough Council is pleased to share this opportunity to tender to deliver a service for the provision of a community public health School Nursing Service.

Halton Borough Council is responsible for commissioning services to promote the health and wellbeing of children and young people resident in Halton with the aim of improving public health outcomes and reducing health inequalities for these children across the life course. Through this specification the Commissioners seek to work in partnership to plan and commission the delivery of the School Nursing Service for children and young people from 5 to 19 years.

The Service will provide the universal delivery of the Healthy Child Programme with a schedule of health and development assessments and reviews, immunisations, parenting support and health promotion advice available to all children and families. In addition, where additional needs and risks are identified through this process, evidence based interventions will be offered to support children, young people and their families to promote equality in outcomes and improve the life chances of those children who are vulnerable.

The Service is intended to provide seamless support from age 5 to the young person's 19th birthday, and is described in three discrete specifications:

• School Nursing Services for 5 - 19 years; the implementation of the healthy child programme 5-19
• National Child Measurement Programme Services.
• Immunisation Services for children and young people aged 5 - 19 years; (this will be contracted separately by NHS England but forms an integral part of the service)

The Commissioners seek the delivery of a high quality Service which is both effective in improving outcomes through the use of evidence based interventions delivered by skilled practitioners, and safeguards children by identifying children at risk of harm. As appropriate the Provider will work with other professionals to devise a joint multi-agency plan to reduce risk to the child and improve their immediate and long term health and wellbeing. The expectation is that the Service will combine a balance of advice/guidance and direct evidence based interventions for those that require additional support.

Criteria - This service will be available to all children and young people between the ages of 5 and 19 who are resident in Halton.

Accommodation - It is expected that the service will be based in a community venue(s) that are easily accessible to patients of Halton and operate flexible opening hours as outlined in the specification.

Contract period - 3 years, plus an option to extend for one further period of 12 months.

TUPE will apply to this service.