The team support children living in Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre up to the age of 18 who are open to Awaken – Child Exploitation team, Youth Justice Service or Children Looked After that are requiring enhanced health support due to contextual safeguarding risks. The team consists of Band 7 specialist nurses, each child has an allocated nurse to ensure continuity of care and building of a trusted relationship. A full health assessment is completed, and they are supported with all their health needs.
Contextual safeguarding is an approach that focuses on understanding what risks there may be, to children outside the immediate family environment that may put the child or young person at risk of harm. Our approach is to understand and respond to the children or young person’s experiences of extra familial risk and harm. This trauma informed approach recognises the different relationships that a child or young person may have within the community.
The team work Monday to Friday 9-5pm, but also offer appointments outside of these times to support children as required.
The Childrens Contextual team also run a duty safeguarding advice line, Monday to Friday 9-5pm. This line is for any BTH staff throughout the trust to contact for Childrens Safeguarding advice.
We also have our specialist ED Navigators Nurses; these are Band 7 nurses that work with anyone who attends the Emergency Department with violence related concerns. The support children and adults between the ages of 10 - 29 years old. ED navigators are based in Blackpool Hospital, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley Hospital.
The ED navigator service provides a confidential and non-judgemental offer of support through a trauma informed & trusted relationship model. ED Navigators support in the community with areas such as emotional support, health assessments and support to all health appointments, referrals to further support, private specialised trauma therapy with a local service where they can be seen within 10 days, private boxing sports 1-2-1 sessions in the community with specialised sports coaches to build confidence and resilience. ED Navigators tailor the support for each patient individual needs to ensure they are supported to overcome the trauma they have suffered and make positive changes in their lives.
