Bringing health support closer to rangatahi.
Updated: 6 days ago
Sometimes getting to an appointment is part of the problem.
For rangatahi who aren't attending school regularly, getting to a health appointment can be another barrier to accessing the support they need. That's why we've welcomed Talia to Te Tahi Youth as our new Community Health Nurse.
Talia has joined our clinical team and will work closely with our Attendance Navigators, BJ and Jess, to support rangatahi who are experiencing difficulties with school attendance.
We know there can be many reasons a young person isn't attending school. Health and wellbeing can be part of the picture, whether that's an ongoing health issue, something that hasn't been addressed, difficulty getting to appointments or a combination of things making it harder to get back into a regular routine.
Having a nurse who can go to the young person, rather than always expecting them to come to us, gives us another way to address those barriers.
Taking healthcare to rangatahi
A key part of Talia's role will be providing nursing support directly in the homes of rangatahi who are working with our Attendance team.
Being able to access healthcare at home can make it easier to identify and address health concerns that may be affecting a young person's ability to engage with school. It also means support can begin without asking the young person to overcome another barrier first.
The role strengthens the way our teams work together, too.
BJ and Jess can focus on the wider circumstances affecting attendance, while Talia brings clinical knowledge and nursing support into the picture. Together, they can build a better understanding of what's happening for the young person and identify what support might help.
It's a practical example of our integrated approach, looking at health, wellbeing and the circumstances around a young person rather than treating each issue separately.
Another way to access care
Not every young person will access support in the same way.
For some rangatahi, coming into a clinic is straightforward. For others, meeting a nurse at home may be a much more accessible place to start.
Talia's role gives us another way to reach young people who may otherwise struggle to access healthcare, while strengthening the connection between our clinical and Attendance & Engagement teams.
We're really pleased to have Talia on board and look forward to seeing how this role develops and supports rangatahi and their whānau.
Comments