Chailey Heritage School

The Residential School Nursing Team (RSNT) offers a 24 hour nursing service working throughout Chailey Heritage School and residential bungalows. Managed by Chailey Heritage Clinical Services (CHCS), a part of Sussex Community NHS Trust, the team work in partnership with the school and share premises. A new 2 bed school base was opened in 2008 and a separate office is located within the residential area. All nurses are fully qualified and undertake regular training to update knowledge and skills.   

Who are the team?

The team is varied with a wide range of background experiences, knowledge and skills, including children’s nursing and learning disabilities. Collectively their experience spans over 250 years in nursing young people at Chailey Heritage. Within the team there are currently 2 nurse practitioners who can assess the pupils and can also prescribe medication. They are also nurse specialists for nutrition and continence. Chailey Heritage Clinical Services has strong links with the University of Brighton which offers numerous courses to develop nursing expertise and practice. The RSNT is regularly used as a placement base for pre and post registration nursing students.Our team has recently expanded our remit to cover some of the clinics at Chailey Heritage Clinical Services.  

What does the RSNT team do?

RSNT provides 24 hour on site nursing cover for day and residential pupils of Chailey Heritage School. Nurses on shift respond to medical emergencies and pupils who become acutely unwell on site, as well as health promotion, training of care staff and attending/running daily clinics.During out of hour’s shifts and at weekends, a nurse advice system is also available and an on-call consultant provides telephone advice about medical assistance if required. In the event of an emergency, young people may be transferred to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton. Parents of day pupils are encouraged to seek routine medical advice and assistance from their own GP but the nursing team do work closely with CHCS specialist registrars, consultants and nurse practitioners for issues that require urgent/immediate attention or concern residential pupils.RSNT regularly meet and liaise with the multi-disciplinary team, that is, all those involved in the care of a young person including care/school staff and therapists. Through this approach, care can be coordinated to be most beneficial. Contact with parents/carers is maintained through face to face, phone, email or written means. Allocated or team nurses will usually attend multi-disciplinary meetings and health reviews along with parents to follow through and review care plans and changes to regimes.A large part of the RSNT role is to train and assess members of CHS staff in skills needed to care for young people with complex health needs. Theoretical training sessions are planned and led by nursing staff then practice of skills is supervised and assessed to a satisfactory level. Guidelines for standards of care are regularly reviewed and staff attend updates to maintain good practice. Through working in partnership with CHS staff, optimum health and well-being is promoted. 

How do we work?

Team Nursing

Although ultimately the whole team works closely together to maintain good health in CHS pupils, each nurse has a caseload of young people to oversee. The school is split into three sections:

• Pre-school & Primary
• Secondary
• 16+

These sections then have a team of 3 or 4 nurses who have a specifically allocated caseload but are also knowledgeable about all the young people in that age group. The objective of this method of working is to provide continuity in a young person’s provision of care and gives parents/carers a specific point of contact. Obviously due to shifts, the relevant allocated nurse may not be available but on many shifts another member of the same team will be available. Communication within the RSNT is essential. This is managed through comprehensive handover meetings at the beginning and end of each shift and school day. Once a week the team hold a meeting to discuss issues and ways to develop the service. Two or three times a year full team training is carried out.