The College Medical Centre is at the heart of delivering the care needed to support the girls' physical and emotional health and wellbeing. We pride ourselves in delivering high standards of care and promoting the life skills required to manage all aspects of health in the future.
The team that works here is an integral part of a pupil's life at College, whether that be supporting a chronic illness, emotional health concerns or just providing the care and monitoring required if they are unwell.
The Medical Centre at College acts as a satellite unit from locally based Overton Park Surgery and all boarders are registered as patients with them. The GPs have a surgery in the Medical Centre five days a week for an hour and a half a day. Advice and additional services are also available outside these hours.
We have in-patient facilities for pupils who are unwell overseen by a Registered Nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, during term-time. Rooms are quiet and comfortable with televisions and internet access and there is a dedicated kitchen where freshly cooked food is served.
The team, managed by the Head of Medical Health and Welfare and co-ordinated by the Clinical Nurse Manager, includes registered nurses with a broad skillset and experience. We have Specialist Nurses in Travel Health and Asthma, as well as Emergency Medicine, Respiratory, Paediatric Nursing, and those with expert skills in Trauma and Resuscitation. College provides staff training and Medical Centre staff are on call for pitch side and event assistance.
The Medical Centre has developed excellent working relationships with local NHS and private health services, such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Health Security Agency (HSA) and Nuffield Health, to enhance the service we can offer to Pupils. We also have a well-established team of additional practitioners, including three weekly Physiotherapy clinics. Sessions can be arranged through the Medical Centre and are chargeable.
Pupils with chronic health problems are well-supported and all boarding pupils receive an annual health check with their named nurse, who will arrange regular follow up visits for those who may need it.
A full complement of immunisations, vaccinations and medications for travel are also available, as well as Flu vaccinations for those eligible.
Mental health concerns in young people have reached unprecedented levels since the pandemic; we know that on average 1 in 6 children aged 5-16 were identified as having a probable mental health problem in 2021 (NHS).
At CLC, the Mental Health team promote collaborative working with pupils, their Houseparents and their parents but also respect the need for an individualised, confidential approach for some older pupils. An experienced team of three Therapists provide targeted interventions for pupils who require formal support for their mental health, while an Emotional Health Support nurse works with individual or small groups of pupils or staff on low-level interventions to help adjust their environment and promote positive behaviours. For higher-level concerns, we work with and are advised by a Clinical Psychologist, who can also provide pre-screening for Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), including AD(H)D and ASC.
The Mental Health team are managed by the Head of Medical Health & Welfare who works closely with the Head of Learning Support and the wider Learning Support team.
