Children's Nursing & Midwifery Award

Nursing and midwifery play a key role in ensuring children receive the best start in life, those working in this field must consider the care and support needs of the wider family as well as the child.

Open to registered nurses and registered midwives working in services for children and young people and maternity services. This award aims to recognise those who have made an outstanding contribution to the care of children or young people or the care of mothers-to-be and new parents.

A registered children’s nurse, health visitor, school nurse, midwife, and all others working in a clinical role or managing a clinical service in children's healthcare.

The nominee should clearly demonstrate:

• a commitment to person-centred care, innovation and delivering high quality services that make a difference to the people receiving care
• the positive impact of their work for patients, families and colleagues
• the use of a credible evidence base and/or developing an evidence base to underpin the work for which they are being nominated
• how their work contributes to the delivery of local and national policy and strategy within health and social care.

If you have any questions or queries regarding the awards, please get in touch by emailing scotlandnurseawards@rcn.org.uk

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NHS Tayside

The CEYPS team, based in Dundee, aims to provide care, support and advice to care experienced children and young people up to the age of 26. It involves a team of nurses and midwives working closely with social workers, school nurses, doctors and other services to promote the health and wellbeing of these young individuals. The team provides support for young people living in different settings, improving transition for those leaving care, and offering health input for care planning and accommodation matching. Challenges in implementation were faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to adaptations in communication and working methods. Despite challenges, the team strengthened inter-agency links and received recognition for its work. The team has improved the experiences and health outcomes of young people by providing them with support, access to services, and a sense of safety and trust. Feedback from service users has been positive, encouraging continuous improvement of the service. Plans for dissemination include sharing the model of working with other health boards and raising the profile of the team through events and education sessions.

Deputy Charge Nurse
Midlothian Immunisation Team, NHS Lothian

Elaine was nominated for her exceptional leadership and dedication in delivering high-quality vaccination services in Midlothian. She consistently provides flexible and person-centred care, evident from the overwhelming positive feedback received from families. Elaine innovatively addresses the complex challenges facing the teams, including declining vaccination rates, often thinking creatively. She organises flexible clinics in unique locations, which not only increases vaccination rates, but also encourages community engagement and supports local facilities such as libraries and leisure centres. Elaine's proactive approach extends to partnerships with the private sector, securing clinics in accessible locations like Ikea. She also overcomes barriers to reach underserved communities, like the travelling community. Additionally, she secures funding for child-friendly resources to improve the vaccination experience for children and families. Recognising the importance of staff support, Elaine ensures colleagues receive necessary assistance and shares her expertise with other teams. Despite personal health challenges, Elaine consistently delivers outstanding service, earning her recognition for her invaluable contribution to the NHS and the community.

Leverndale Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

The West of Scotland Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) at Leverndale Hospital, Glasgow, provides acute inpatient mental health care for mothers and their babies. Staffed by a multidisciplinary team, including psychiatrists, nurses, therapists, and social workers, the unit offers various therapies to enhance the mother-infant relationship. The team is dedicated to delivering high-quality care and has engaged in numerous quality improvement initiatives. Accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists Perinatal Quality Network, the team ensures consistently high standards of care. Recent improvements include redesigning the multidisciplinary team process, introducing peer support workers, developing pathways for fathers, partners, and carers, and promoting health and wellbeing awareness. Feedback indicates positive outcomes, with mothers feeling more included in decision-making and families feeling supported throughout the admission and discharge process.

NHS Fife

Described by colleagues as a team which goes above and beyond, the central Fife based Children and Young People’s Community Nursing Service support and care for children, and their families, who are diagnosed with complex and severe health conditions. The team also provide palliative support for patients who are unable to access the specialist services of an urban setting. The team prides itself on being a strong voice for the children and families they serve, advocating to ensure they get the same level of care that a child in a big city would receive. One of their innovations included setting up a multi-disciplinary team approach to supporting enteral feeding at home with a one stop clinic to ensure care is joined up and seamless across the specialities. They also developed a ‘near me’ virtual clinic during the pandemic to support their vulnerable patients who could not attend appointments. The team’s goal is to demonstrate the value of good community children’s nursing and to encourage the nurses of the future to join the service and continue the legacy they have created.