| Every week we circulate a round-up of information we have been asked to distribute to our members, along with any other items of interest to share with you.
Contact us via the email address below if you have any items to request for inclusion, using the subject line ‘Child Health Tuesday’.
Email us: nencicb.northernchildnetwork@nhs.net Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky
If you have been forwarded this email, join the Network now to receive future bulletins directly to your inbox.
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Don’t miss your chance to apply!
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Healthier Together Champions – Education and VCSE settings
The Healthier Together website and mobile app provides trusted evidence-based NHS advice to help families and schools manage children’s health effectively. The Network is inviting applications for funding of £2,000 per organisation, from both community organisations and education settings, to become Healthier Together Champions to maximise access to Healthier Together for families in your communities, encourage parents and carers to use the website and app to support their children’s health and wellbeing, and help promote Healthier Together through your social media and other communication channels. Successful organisations will be provided with printed promotional materials to support their Champion work.
Education settings Offering clear guidance on when a child is well enough to attend school, the platform helps reduce avoidable absences and promotes consistent attendance. It supports school staff by giving access to reliable information for managing illness in the school setting and communicating clear return-to-school guidance to parents. The website also offers practical support for managing long-term conditions, helping children stay healthy and engaged in learning.
Incorporating Healthier Together into the school’s attendance and health policies promotes wellbeing, consistency, and stronger partnerships between families, schools, and healthcare services.
Apply here for education settings
VCSE settings
Healthier Together website and mobile app allows parents, carers, young people and professionals to access consistent evidence-based advice. The Healthier Together Champions funding aims to ensure reach to families in our most under-served communities and support VCSE capacity to embed Healthier Together as a resource they promote to families in their day-to-day delivery.
Apply here for VCSE organisations
Application closes on Tuesday 2nd December at 12 noon. Please ask identified Champion staff to hold Wednesday 10th December 12pm to 1pm for the Healthier Together Briefing Session via Microsoft Teams.
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Last chance to register
Healthier Together Lunch & Learn: Winter Respiratory Tract Infections – coughs, colds and everything in between
Thursday 27th November, 1-2pm, online
Our Healthier Together team is hosting a Lunch & Learn webinar to support winter readiness across the system. Dr Emma Lim, one of our Healthier Together Clinical Leads, will present an engaging session sharing top tips about upper and lower respiratory tract infections which are particularly prevalent at this time of year.
GPs, practice nurses, health visitors and school nurses are particularly encouraged to join to find out the best course of action for children presenting with coughs and colds.
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Reducing antibiotic use and signposting parents to the Healthier Together app for advice Children often get common illnesses like coughs, sore throats, and earaches – especially at school or nursery. These are usually caused by viruses, not bacteria, and most children, with a healthy immune system and up to date vaccinations, will get better on their own with rest, fluids, and care at home without needing antibiotics. Using antibiotics too often can lead to antibiotic resistance. This means that in the future, they might not work as well when they’re really needed for more serious infections. The North East and North Cumbria ICB Little Bug Busters campaign signposts parents and carers to download the Healthier Together app, for medical advice and help, to learn how to manage everyday childhood illnesses without relying on antibiotics. Campaign Aims
The Little Bug Busters toolkit provides content aimed at parents and carers and is designed for sharing across NHS partner social media and other communication channels.
Download the online toolkit here
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All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Creative Health – Neighbourhood Health and Creative Health Roundtable
On Monday 17th November, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Creative Health brought together speakers from health, local government, research, creative practice and lived experience for a roundtable exploring how creative health can support the Government’s new Neighbourhood Health Services. Chaired by Dr Simon Opher MP, the session highlighted the opportunities presented by the programme’s rollout across 43 places, including working-class areas, coastal towns and communities where healthy life expectancy is the lowest. Contributors reflected on how creative and cultural engagement can address entrenched health inequalities, support people living with long-term conditions, and help reach individuals who may be isolated or reluctant to engage with traditional services.
We heard from integrated neighbourhood teams working with creative practitioners, partnerships between schools, arts organisations and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), and cultural venues acting as community health hubs. Grassroots organisations and artists also shared how co-developed and culturally informed approaches are fostering trust, connection and community-led care – all core components of effective Neighbourhood Health. The voice of Lived Experience Experts, including primary school children, brought to life the potential for creative health to make health services truly person-centred.
Further Information: The National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH) provides the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Creative Health. More information is available here.
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Investing in Children membership drop-in session
Monday 8th December, 12-1pm, online
Are you an Investing in Children Membership Award holder™? Or thinking about becoming one? Our bi-monthly drop-in session is the perfect chance to:
Whether you’re new to the award or have been with us for years, we’d love to see you there. Let’s keep the conversation going!
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New online resource aims to transform mental health support for children in care
A new online training resource has been launched to help improve mental health support for children in care.
The ‘Shaping Futures Together’ training builds on the work of the ADaPT project, which was supported by four NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs), including ARC North East and North Cumbria. ADaPT focused on understanding strategies to improve access to best-evidenced trauma-focused mental health interventions for care-experienced young people.
Although care-experienced young people often have significant mental health needs, research shows they often struggle with access to mental health services and are not offered best-evidenced interventions.
The new resource, led by the UK Trauma Council, aims to empower commissioners, decision-makers and leaders across mental health and children’s social care. It gives them the tools to advocate for and build evidence-informed mental health provision for care-experienced young people.
The free training is available through the UK Trauma Council website. It has been developed in collaboration with care-experienced young people and over 100 cross-sector commissioners and decision-makers.
Read more and access resources
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Supporting our region’s care leavers In National Care Leavers’ Month, the ICB is keen to highlight the work the NHS and its partners are doing to help young people who have been in care to get into work and start careers. Our NHS Universal Family offer initially focused on supporting young people who have an interest in health and care careers – such as offering guaranteed interviews for care leavers applying for NHS jobs if they meet the essential requirements for the role. But many care-experienced young people also told us that pre-employment support is just as important. So, it’s great to hear that some of our young care leavers have taken part in specially designed workshops developed by Newcastle’s Live Theatre. These were designed to enhance communication skills, build confidence and help young people get the skills and knowledge needed for the world of work. After positive feedback on the Newcastle pilot, a further session has taken place in South Shields, with more to follow in Darlington and Cumbria. If you’d like to understand more about how we can support care leavers as they start their careers, you can watch bitesize ‘ Workplaces that care: Understanding care experience’ videos on the Boost learning and improvement website.
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Research into schools workshop
As part of a collaboration between the National Institute for Health and Care Research and Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust (BWCET), BWCET will be hosting a research workshop and focus group on Thursday 5th February (9.30am-11.30am & 1pm-3pm). We will explore the question:
These workshops will be chaired by Professor Jeremy Parr and colleagues (Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University and Consultant in Paediatric Neurodisability specialising in autism). Participants’ views will feed directly into a wider piece of research and academic analysis, which is being funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research – aiming to influence the future policies of the Department of Health and Social Care.
Therefore, it is our hope to bring together educationalists, from across the North East and North Cumbria region (the NHS Integrated Care Board area), and we would be delighted if you could complete the form to let us know which staff from your setting may be able to join us on the day.
Please sign up via this link: Research Into Schools – Thursday 5th February 2026 (9.30am-11.30am & 1pm-3pm) – Fill in form
Please note that the afternoon session will be a repeat of the morning session.
If you have any questions, or would like more detail, please contact Anthony Olsen, Strategic Lead for Inclusion, Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust aolsen@bwcet.com
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Healthcare that works for young people digital training package
The Acute Federation of Trusts and the South Yorkshire Mental Health Learning Disability and Autism Provider Collaborative Trusts in South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw (SYB) are committed to using their collective expertise and resources to ensure the people of SYB have prompt access to excellent healthcare. Meeting the needs of children and young people – and listening to them – is essential in healthcare. Though their rights were formalised only recently, new research shows adolescent brain development continues into the mid-20s. Health systems must now adapt to this knowledge.
Together, we have developed a Statement of Intent outlining five key priority actions aimed at embedding personalised, developmentally appropriate healthcare for young people — with the goal of enhancing their experiences and improving outcomes. One of our key priorities is ensuring that every member of our workforce is equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively support young people.
Together we have developed a digital, region-wide training package. The training is suitable for any staff who work with young people – whether through direct care, supporting them during hospital visits, or helping them plan their appointments.
Resources:
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Nutrition misinformation research survey for health professionals
Calling all healthcare professionals! Nutrition misinformation is influencing care more than we admit and we’re seeing the fallout daily. – Patients stopping essential meds after watching a Reel. Nutritank CIC and our expert collaborators, including Professor Greta Defeyter of Northumbria University, are studying how often clinicians encounter this and how it’s impacting patient care. Your real-world experience is crucial. 10 minutes | Anonymous | No right or wrong answers Please share widely – every perspective strengthens the research.
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Healthwatch Middlesbrough drop-in event
Thursday 4th December, 11am-1pm Grangetown Generations Centre & Library, 171 Birchington Ave, Middlesbrough TS6 7LP
Healthwatch Middlesbrough are hosting a free health and wellbeing event which gives attendees a chance to find out about their health, receive information from health and care organisations, and top tips on how to manage your wellbeing.
No booking required, just turn up and bring your family, friends and neighbours! Refreshments will be available.
Get in touch General enquiries: T: 0800 118 1691 E: healthwatchsouthtees@pcp.uk.net
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Talk Trust Treat training sessions delivered by young people
Association of Young People’s Health and Children North East are working together with a group of young health trainers with lived experience of accessing health services and long-term health conditions. They have used this knowledge to shape the training ensuring it reflects the issues and challenges facing young people growing up in the North East.
They have devised and will deliver two training sessions for health professionals in January and February 2026. Professionals can learn from the young people’s views and experiences and come away with a better understanding about how to provide health support in a welcoming environment and with appropriate support for young people.
29th January 2026, 12.30pm-5pm More info and book 13th February 2026, 10am-2.30pm More info and book
Training will be delivered in person at Children North East, 89 Denhill Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 6QE
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Exciting news from StreetGames
The charity StreetGames has unveiled an exciting update to their brand. This marks an important step forward for the charity, building on the strong reputation they have developed over the years.
The updated brand will help StreetGames reach more people, campaign with even greater impact, and continue supporting partner organisations across the UK in transforming young lives through sport.
Find out more about the new look and feel
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Barnardo’s Virtual Family Space commissioning offer
Barnardo’s Winter Wellness Offer is designed to straddle two key system priorities:
1. Tackling winter health pressures on families and across the health and social care systems, focused on Core20PLUS populations. 2. Strengthening health offers that align with Best Start Family Hubs.
Our Winter Wellness Offer provides 20 accessible evening, weekend and daytime virtual sessions to help families manage common winter challenges like preventing respiratory illness, preventing black mould and damp, support for fuel poverty and staying mentally safe and well.
What’s included:
Why commission Barnardo’s:
Ready to support families this winter? Get in touch to add this package to your local winter resilience plans: virtualfamilyspace@barnardos.org.uk
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NENC Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub
Quick, Free & Confidential Support for You!
Free, confidential support for all health and social care staff across the North East and North Cumbria. We aim to offer you an initial appointment within seven working days, followed by up to three additional brief therapy or support sessions. All with no waiting lists! Most sessions are via videocall or telephone, at times that work for you.
Whether you’re facing challenges at work, at home, or both, we’re here to help. Our experienced NHS clinicians are ready to listen and support you with flexible, timely appointments.
Getting help is simple:
Click here and self-refer online with our confidential brief form Email us: hubstheword@cntw.nhs.uk Leave us a confidential voicemail: 0191 223 2030
Don’t wait. Reach out today!
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Wellbeing resource on Boost website
A free health and wellbeing offer is available on the Boost platform for all staff and volunteers across the North East and North Cumbria. It includes resources for emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing, plus resilience tools and useful apps. You can also explore support for organisational change. Perhaps start with the ‘Emotional Wellbeing’ section for quick tools you can use today.
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The following messages have been circulated by the Children and Young People’s Transformation Programme team for information and action where appropriate.
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North East & Yorkshire region webinar on Neighbourhood Multi-Disciplinary Teams for Children and Young People
Monday 19th January 2026, 12.30 – 2.30pm
Neighbourhood MDTs for CYP embed paediatric expertise into primary care. Bringing together GPs, acute paediatricians and mental health practitioners, these models of care provide quicker access to specialist advice and support for children and young people who may have otherwise needed to wait for an outpatient appointment.
This webinar is aimed at all clinicians working in Primary Care with an interest in CYP, acute paediatricians, mental health practitioners and local commissioners but will also be of interest to wider colleagues working across Primary and Secondary care, ICBs and local authorities who are keen to hear more about this work.
The webinar will provide national policy context, an overview of what these models of care entail, and two local case studies will talk about their experiences of mobilising this new way of working, the lessons they have learned and the benefits they are now seeing. There will be the opportunity for discussion and the chance to pose any questions you may have, whilst also making links with other local colleagues interested in this work.
Please do share this invite with any other colleagues who may be interested in learning more.
To ensure you receive the official invite and papers, when you register for the event, please ensure your personal details are correct, especially your email address (surprising how many minor typos result in undelivered messages to the invite / papers), and your current organisation and job title.
Please click here to register your free place.
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Published: December 1
Tags: #StaffWellbeing