Complete guide to NHS children's services in the UK — paediatric care delivery, child safeguarding, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), child mental health, and paediatric software.
The NHS provides comprehensive children's services from birth to 18. Safeguarding is a legal duty for all NHS staff. This guide covers paediatric care, safeguarding, SEND, and child health software.
NHS Children's Service Components
| Service | Description | Age Range |
|---|---|---|
| Neonatal care | NICU, SCBU, transitional care | 0-28 days |
| Health visiting | Developmental reviews, parenting support | 0-5 years |
| School nursing | Health screening, immunisations, support | 5-18 years |
| Paediatric inpatient | Acute paediatric admissions | 0-16 years |
| Paediatric A&E | Children's emergency care | 0-16 years |
| Child and adolescent MH (CAMHS) | Mental health services | 0-18 years |
| Community paediatrics | SEND, neurodisability, safeguarding | 0-18 years |
| Immunisation programme | Routine childhood vaccinations | 0-14 years |
Child Safeguarding Levels
| Level | Who | Training |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | All staff (including non-clinical) | Annual, 30 min |
| Level 2 | All clinical staff | Annual, 1-2 hours |
| Level 3 | Staff with regular child contact | Annual, 4+ hours |
| Level 4 | Named Safeguarding Professionals | Annual, 8+ hours |
| Level 5 | Safeguarding Leads | Annual, 16+ hours |
NHS Immunisation Tracking
- Child Health Information System (CHIS): Records all childhood immunisations
- Recall and reminder: Automatic reminders to parents when immunisations due
- Coverage targets: 95% for all childhood immunisations
- MMR coverage: Target 95%, current 85-90%
- HPV coverage: Target 90%, current 80-85%
- Flu (children 2-4): Target 70%, current 50-60%
- Catch-up campaigns: MMR catch-up for under-vaccinated cohorts
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is NHS child safeguarding?
- NHS child safeguarding is the process of protecting children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. All NHS staff have a duty to safeguard children. Each trust must have a Named Doctor and Named Nurse for safeguarding. Safeguarding concerns must be reported to the Local Authority within 24 hours. Training is mandatory at all levels.
- What is SEND in the NHS context?
- SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) refers to children and young people (0-25) who need additional support due to learning difficulties or disabilities. NHS organisations must work with local authorities and schools to provide integrated SEND support, including health assessments and therapy services.
- What is the NHS immunisation schedule?
- The NHS immunisation schedule includes: 8 weeks (6-in-1, rotavirus, MenB), 12 weeks (6-in-1, PCV, rotavirus), 16 weeks (6-in-1, MenB), 1 year (MMR, Hib/MenC, PCV, MenB), 2-4 years (flu annually), 3 years 4 months (MMR booster, 4-in-1 pre-school booster), 12-13 years (HPV), 14 years (3-in-1 teenage booster, MenACWY).