The Paediatric Community Nursing Team (PCN Team) provides clinical nursing care for children that have complex and on-going health needs in the community. The team cares for children between the ages of 0 – 16 years that would need to return to hospital or their GP for their health care needs.

The service is managed and delivered by nursing staff who have a registered sick children’s qualification and who have received additional and ongoing training specifically to care for sick and unwell children.

The service operates in partnership with the child and family to promote hospital avoidance, unnecessary hospital admission and facilitation of early discharge. This is encouraged by teaching and supporting children and their families to manage their conditions at home.

Children are predominantly visited within their own homes but may be seen at Southend Hospital children’s ward, children’s centres and schools or nurseries.

The service has an administrator based at The Old Pharmacy at Rochford Hospital.