Back to the future: A celebration of 25 years of Children and Young People’s Nursing Setting the scene Sue Burr, OBE, FRCN The voice of nursing in the UK

‘ The further back we can look, the further forward we can see’ Winston Churchill Looking back …….

Change from…… Practice based on tradition Parents excluded and received little information The voice of the child ignored Nurses worked in isolation Organisations interested in child health worked in isolation Children’s nurses rarely involved in influencing policy Children’s services commonly mixed with adult services in adult focused NHS Evidence based practice Parents as partners in care Children and young people listened to Working with children/young people and families within a multidisciplinary team Organisations interested in child health work co-operatively Children’s nurses influencing policy at local, national and international level Comprehensive child/young person focused services more commonly available

Change from…… Facilities/routines designed for adults as children viewed as small adults Inpatient care Long stay in hospital common Medical model of care Majority of staff very limited training in the specific needs of children and young people Very limited educational and career opportunities for children’s nurses Children viewed as property Child focused facilities and routines Nursing care provided in a variety of settings in the community Short stay with higher acuity Health model of care Majority of staff educated in needs of children/young people more common Vastly improved educational and career opportunities for children’s nurses Children viewed as individuals with rights

Children’s nurses had to quickly learn how to utilise all the benefits of being within the organisation The voice of nursing in the UK

The mechanisms used included: Unity across the children’s nursing groups Identifying evidence and using it Knowing the mechanisms of influence and using them Establishing and maintaining a network of credible contacts and alliances Promoting co-operative working and knowing the power bases Identifying and utilising opportunities

A strong voice for children and young people …… Unity between RCN children’s nursing groups Working with other organisations Working with Government

Evidence to influence policy Evidence extremely limited so Government Guidance Documents were utilised

Evidence & Guidance As real evidence was limited Government Documents were a rare source of guidance to good practice Recommendations Children should not be admitted to hospital unless appropriate care could not be given in the community Parents should be able to visit their child freely and stay with children under 5 years The ward sister should hold the RSCN qualification Adolescent wards should be established for young people Platt (1951)

First RCN publication A real influence and impact on the care of children and young people

The Department of Health Documents 1991 ‘Welfare of Children and Young People in Hospital’ 1996 ‘Child Health in the Community: A Guide to Good Practice’ 1996 ‘Charter for Services for Children & Young People

Government Reports of Inquiries 1994 ‘Report of the Allitt Inquiry: an independent inquiry relating to deaths and injuries on a children’s ward during the period February to April 1991’ 2001 ‘The Report of the Public Inquiry into Children’s Heart Surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary’

Publicising Evidence and Guidance RCN Documents Philosophy of Care for Nursing Children Philosophy of Care for Adolescents Standards of Care: Paediatric Nursing

Identifying & Utilising Opportunities

Education is the key to knowledgeable and safe practitioners Influencing Government and statutory bodies Degrees in Children’s Nursing

International Influence International Council of Nurses (ICN) International Paediatric organisations

Reflecting on the last 25 years… ‘Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm’ R. Emerson

Congratulations on the 25 th Anniversary of the RCN Children and Young People’s Forums and Groups. Enjoy your celebratory conference and reflect on how much you have achieved over the 25 years Hilary Herron, Former Chair of the Society of Paediatric Nursing