We are CFHD: Community Children's Nursing (CCN)
We spoke to Lisa, Clinical and Operational Lead for Community Children’s Nursing (CCN) pathway in Children and Family Health Devon about the role of CCN’s.
What do CCNs do within CFHD?
Our pathway has a range of nurses that work across the county. We work in children’s specialist schools, we work with children that have got a generic nursing need and also children that have really complex medical needs or life limiting and life threatening illnesses.
We work with children aged 0-18 years old in their home, in the community but also support with schools, education and in hospitals.
We help to support families to care for their children. We’ll provide training for parents and carers on clinical tasks and generally support children to enhance their quality of life as much as possible, so that they can engage in social activities.
We have a varied team across the county, who do a wide range in roles but are all really committed to looking after children.
It is a real privilege to work with the children and families, particularly at some really challenging times and to offer support to them and enhance their quality of life as much as we can.
We caught up with Claire, just one of our incredible Community Children’s Nurses (CCN) to find out about her role, why they do what they do and what advice she would give to someone considering a career in CCN.
What is your role?
My role within CCN is a Specialist Community Children’s Nurse.
What do you love about your job?
Being able to provide a high standard of care to the wonderful children and their families. Who are such an inspiration.
I love knowing I’ve made a difference, for example, as a Special School Nurse, integrating into education, so that the children get the care they need, at the time they need it, without impacting on their ability to access the world around them.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in Community Children’s Nurse (CCN)?
Being a CCN is a privilege, people let you into their world when they are often at their most vulnerable. Being able to make even a small difference to their lives, is something really special. So I’d recommend it to anyone.
Tell me a bit about your day working as a Specialist Community Children’s Nurse in CFHD.
I get to school for around 9am as the children start arriving and I’ll often go and see my most complex children first, checking in and seeing if there are any concerns or anything I can support with. Then I’ll check emails and attend any meetings that might be in my calendar for the day. I am also involved in writing Educational Health Care Plans for children at the school, to ensure that their health needs are meet when they are at school.
It is a really great place to be as a nurse because I can see the children really frequently, put plans in place and review them in a timely manner.
The children will then go home at 3pm. My day ends around 5pm so once they have gone home it gives me time to finish up everything I need to do, ready to see the children again the following day.