About the service
The Children's Community Nursing Team are a team with specialist skills and experience in nursing children and young people at home, as well as in other community settings. The team operates in Southampton and Portsmouth (Integrated Community Children's Nursing (iCCN) Service Portsmouth).
Their aim is to support families in order to minimise disruption to family life - so prompting the psychological and emotional wellbeing of the child and family/carer. This includes children recovering from surgery or trauma, children with certain chronic illnesses and some children with long-term complex disabilities who are dependent on healthcare technology.
For children with complex health needs including life-limiting and/or threatening conditions, the team also includes a Social Worker, a Psychotherapist and a Health Care Assistant providing crisis respite. These services are offered to the child and their immediate family. Symptom management is also offered, including advance care planning and palliative care.
What we do
The service provides specialist paediatric nursing care for children at home with nursing needs. This includes those recovering from surgery or trauma, children with certain chronic illnesses and some children with long-term complex disabilities who are dependent on healthcare technology.
The aim of the service is to provide a high-quality home paediatric nursing service. Objectives include early, safe, planned discharge for children with complex health care needs and the reduction in frequency and length of stay in hospital for children with ongoing treatment.
The nurses undertake practical nursing care in partnership with children and parents/carers. They also provide education and support for the family whilst maintaining close liaison with the hospital, GPs and Primary Health Care Team.
For children with complex health needs including life-limiting and/or threatening conditions, the team also includes a Social Worker, who can provide assistance and advice on:
- Financial matters including benefits and charity applications
- Housing
- Education
- Charity applications including funding and wishes
- Holidays
- Respite
Crisis respite is sometimes offered to these families by a trained healthcare assistant.
The team's Psychotherapist can offer support relating to:
- Pre and post bereavement
- Diagnosis
- Prognosis
The Psychotherapist can work with the child, their parents/carers and/or their siblings.
Symptom management is also offered, including advance care planning and palliative care.
Accessing the service
Please telephone the Community Children's Nursing Team to provide the team with initial details about the child and confirm they meet the criteria. You will be provided with a referral form to complete and return.
We accept referrals from:
- GPs and other professionals
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
- Other Health Trusts
- Schools
- Social Services
- Parents / Carers
- Voluntary Agencies
- Self referrals (children with life-limiting/threatening conditions seeking non-nursing support)
How to find us
Children's Community Nursing (CCN) Southampton
Adelaide Health Centre
2nd Floor
William MacLeod Way
Southampton
SO16 4XE
Integrated Community Children's Nursing (iCCN) Service Portsmouth
Batternburg Child Development Centre
Batternburg Avenue
North End
Portsmouth
PO2 0TA
Contact information
Children's Community Nursing (CCN) Southampton
Telephone: 0300 123 5063
Email: CCNWest@solent.nhs.uk
Open Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 4.30pm
Integrated Community Children's Nursing (iCCN) Service Portsmouth
Telephone: 0300 123 6631
Email: ccnsadmin@Solent.nhs.uk
Open Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5pm
Referrals to the team must meet one of the following criteria:
- The client group will be children from 0-18 years of age with an identified nursing need, registered with a GP in Southampton City PCT, The New Forest (excluding Ringwood and Fordingbridge), Eastleigh Southern Parishes (excluding Eastleigh North) and Test Valley South including Romsey.
- Young people in specialist educational placements supported by a statement will also receive a service up to transition into adult services at age 19 years.
The service information is being developed and will be updated shortly - if you are an existing service user, we will also be sending out emails/posts/SMS to let you know of relevant changes.
Please telephone the Community Children's Nursing Team to provide the team with initial details about the child and confirm they meet the criteria. You will be provided with a referral form to complete and return.