2021 to 2022: Oxford Brookes University – Dr Sarah Bekeart

Protecting children and young people vulnerable to harm and abuse – learning from School Nursing practices and new ways of working in the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study gathered vital information about school nurses’ innovative approaches to overcome practice restrictions as a result of Covid-19; specifically, in identifying and working with vulnerable children and young people, and working with partner professions, such as children’s social care. This mixed-methods study explored the benefits and challenges to school nurses’ work, and mapped innovative practices – including remote working and other novel initiatives. The impact of changes on school nursing practice and the best ways to work remotely, creatively and safely with vulnerable children and young people, and working alongside multidisciplinary partners has been explored. Recommendations have been made in relation to policy and practice in both remote and more traditional working practices in school nursing’s specialist public health care role, as well as the profile of school nursing in the public health care of children, young people and families within the multidisciplinary team, and at a commissioning and statutory level.

• Bekaert S, Sammut D, Appleton JV, Taylor J, Harrold T, Cook G , ‘Learning from school nursing practices and new ways of working during the Covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative study’. British Journal of Child Health 4 (2) (2023) 9 May 2023
• Sammut D, Cook G, Taylor J, Harrold T, Appleton JV, Bekaert S, ‘School nurse perspectives of working with children and young people in the United Kingdom during the Covid-19 pandemic: An online survey study’. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20 (1) (2022)
• Cook G, Appleton JV, Bekaert S, Harrold T, Taylor J, Sammut D, ‘School nursing: New ways of working with children and young people during the Covid-19 pandemic. A scoping review’. Journal of Advanced Nursing 79 (2) (2022) pp.471-501