School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA)

Who we are

We are a professional organisation dedicated to the promotion of excellence in practice, taking forward the public health agenda by working in partnerships for the benefit of children and young people and the communities where they live and learn.

Since its’ inception, SAPHNA has gone from strength to strength and is now a valued and esteemed non-union-affiliated Professional Organisation, recognised and utilised locally, nationally and indeed, internationally. Demand for our services continues to grow and therefore our profile and influence does also.

We have an active committee of volunteers supporting our CEO, professional officers and deputy professional officers. We each individually bring a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience from a broad cross-section of areas spanning many years.

We work with a host of partners who share the same vision of enhancing the profession through professional growth and development, therefore, improving the health and well-being of children and young people.

Any activity that SAPHNA become active in, is underpinned by our mission statement and must comply with our ethical policy, charitable status not-for-profit declaration and the Nursing and Midwifery Council code of conduct. We are non-union affiliated and fully independent.

Our Mission.

To achieve equality and excellence in school nursing practice leading to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities for all school aged children, young people and their families and communities.

We believe:

- Improving Public Health outcomes for children, young people, families and communities is central to School Nursing practice.

- School Nursing is pivotal to the delivery of best quality standards of Public Health for all and, therefore, to reducing inequalities in health and wellbeing

- By ensuring the highest standards of education, research and practice School Nurses can deliver a world-class service

- We can develop an environment of academic and professional excellence, in which, School Nursing leaders of the future will flouris

Our culture and values

Our Values.

Excellence: in school nursing practice, supported by sharing innovation, contributing to research, and informed by evidence.

Partnership and collaboration: working with organisations and policy makers, ensuring that school-aged children and young people are at the centre of all we do. Co-producing with school aged children, young people, and their families.

Advocacy: promoting the unique contribution of all school nurses. Using evidence and practitioner intelligence to articulate the school nursing contribution to improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities.

Diversity and inclusion: Embracing and valuing diverse perspective and backgrounds in all that we do and challenging inequalities.

Integrity: As nurses, we will be open, transparent, trustworthy and do what is right to improve outcomes for school aged children, young people