About SAPHNA

SAPHNA, School and Public Health Nurses Association, was officially launched on 1st Jan 2006.

School Nurse and Public Health Nurses all over the UK have consistently called for a professional organisation that is dedicated to their needs. Having been a marginalised workforce for many decades there has never been a better time to work in the profession.

SAPHNA has been formed by a group of experienced School and Public Health Nurses from all around the UK. It is 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.

Professional Officer Sharon White says ‘The diverse and ever-increasing demands of the Public Health role of those of us working with school-age populations, their families and communities require the robust support of a professional organisation that fully understands the needs of its members. I have no doubt that this Association, which is fully aware of these challenges, will be able to offer this.'

Pat Jackson, Chairperson of SAPHNA says 'I was delighted to be involved from the start in what I think is an exciting development in the history of School and Public Health Nursing. The health of children and young people has never been higher on the political agenda as it is now and it is only right that those professionals working to deliver this agenda should have access to a professional organisation that caters specifically for their needs.'

The aim of SAPHNA

SAPHNA is 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. This will be facilitated through the dissemination of our pages in the British Journal of School Nursing, conference/events, bulletins, website, research and other activity with key stake-holder groups.

To deliver our mission we aim to:

Articulate

the interests of school and public health nursess locally, nationally and internationally;

Build

an organisation driven and directed by the needs of professionals and celebrate the diversity of the communities which they serve;

Commit

to the advancement of the profession through building our resource of expertise and innovation in practice;

Influence

Department of Health, Department for Children, Schools and Families, education and others to develop and implement policies that promote integrated service provision and the health and well-being of current and future populations.

SAPHNA Objectives

• Supporting career development
• A national voice across the UK
• A political base for influencing Government decision-making
• Hosting local, regional and national events to promote best practice
• Communication strategy via national and international links
• Promote and participate in research, ensuring dissemination of findings
• Links with like organisations
• Working in partnership with Voice: the union for education professionals

These objectives will be regularly reviewed at the SAPHNA annual general meetings. Any changes will reflect the current issues for School and Public Health Nursing, with particular reference to those directly concerning our membership.

SAPHNA offers

• A Professional Officer
• Expert UK wide Committee
• Links with the British Journal of School Nursing
• Links with Voice: the union for educational professionals
• Participates in local, regional and national events to promote best practice
• Annual conference
• Website
• Dedicated enquiry line
• A political base for influencing Government decision-making

For all enquiries contact SAPHNA

Download SAPHNA leaflet (July 2009) PDF 80KB