Changes in the RCN and the Children and Young People’s Cancer Nurses Community Rachel Hollis Chair, Children and Young People’s Specialist Care Forum

Focus on Forums  Key component of the RCN function as nursing’s professional body  Key component of the organization’s commitment to professional development  Key component of the RCN’s aspiration to be a ‘membership led’ organization  A long history, and a lot of change…

The role of the Forums  provide networking opportunities  help members enhance their practice knowledge and skills  provide an expert resource  support RCN Council  shape, drive and develop nursing practice  generate nurse leaders in their field  influence current and future health and social policy in the UK and beyond

Forum Reconfiguration  Rationalisation of the RCN Forums Over time, proliferation of Forums, Special Interest Groups, & other networking, expert, practice focussed and lobbying groups Over time, proliferation of Forums, Special Interest Groups, & other networking, expert, practice focussed and lobbying groups Recent lengthy process of ‘transforming’ the Forums to ensure equity and effectiveness Recent lengthy process of ‘transforming’ the Forums to ensure equity and effectiveness  Proactive approach of the Children’s and Young People’s Field of Practice

Paediatric Forums in the RCN  Collaborative and active Paediatric Groups have a long history within RCN  Over 30 Forums, Special Interest Groups and other Paediatric ‘entities’ developed over time Varying in size, activity, focus Varying in size, activity, focus  Paediatric Oncology Nurses Forum (PONF) one of the longest established of the Paediatric Forums (set up before Paediatric Society – 1 st ‘umbrella’ group) We shared a 25 th Anniversary last year! We shared a 25 th Anniversary last year!

Children and Young People’s Field of Practice  Collaborative working between the various groups well established and recognized  CYP ‘Advisory Board’ in different guises has been meeting, with other stake holders, over a number of years, and with support from committed Nurse Advisors  Recognised a need to engage with process of ‘transformation’ of Forums

CYP Field of Practice  The Field of Practice brings together all members working with babies, children and young people and encompasses respective specialty forums and communities.  It’s purpose is to: promote and develop high quality evidence based nursing care of children and young people and their families promote and develop high quality evidence based nursing care of children and young people and their families be a focus for RCN members committed to nursing children and young people, providing them with networks and opportunities for support, advice and professional development be a focus for RCN members committed to nursing children and young people, providing them with networks and opportunities for support, advice and professional development be a voice for children and young people’s nursing within the RCN be a voice for children and young people’s nursing within the RCN influence and lobby external organisations to ensure the voice of children and young people and nurses working with them is heard influence and lobby external organisations to ensure the voice of children and young people and nurses working with them is heard

CYP: Specialist Care Forum  This forum supports all members who provide specialist nursing to children and young people across all care settings.  The communities linked to this forum are: CYP Cancer Nurses CYP Cancer Nurses CYP Cancer Nurses CYP Cancer Nurses Children's Urology and Continence Nurses Children's Urology and Continence Nurses Children's Urology and Continence Nurses Children's Urology and Continence Nurses CYP Endocrine Nurses CYP Endocrine Nurses CYP Endocrine Nurses CYP Endocrine Nurses CYP HIV Nurses CYP HIV Nurses CYP HIV Nurses CYP HIV Nurses CYP Rheumatology Nurses CYP Rheumatology Nurses CYP Rheumatology Nurses CYP Rheumatology Nurses CYP Diabetes Nurses CYP Diabetes Nurses CYP Diabetes Nurses CYP Diabetes Nurses

Purpose of CYPCN Continues and builds on the aims of PONF to:  Be a professional voice for all nurses working with children and young people who have cancer and their families.  Facilitate collaboration and coordination in a common work plan that brings together the needs and expertise of all elements within the CYP Cancer Nursing Community.  Provide networking opportunities for nurses working with CYP with cancer.  Help members to enhance and develop their practice knowledge and skills.  Work with medical colleagues and other members of the multidisciplinary team within the specialty to develop shared objectives and strategies for influencing health provision and health service policy in cancer care Work with external agencies and voluntary sector partners to ensure that the needs of CYP with cancer and their families are addressed.

CYPCN within the Specialist Care Forum  Advise, influence and inform the CYP Specialist Care Forum of the specific issues in the care of children and young people with cancer.  Work with the other communities of the CYP Specialist Care Forum in collaborative projects.  Work with the other communities in planning our Joint Conference!

CYP Specialist Care Forum Conference 15 March 2011, MET Hotel, Leeds So what’s so ‘Special’ about Specialist Care for Children and Young People? Ministerial speaker invited Ministerial speaker invited Professor Faith Gibson Listening to children and young people Professor Faith Gibson Listening to children and young people Chris Caldwell – Modernising Nursing Careers Chris Caldwell – Modernising Nursing Careers Janet McDonagh - Transitional Care Pathways Janet McDonagh - Transitional Care Pathways Rebecca Thompson and Deborah Christie – Promoting Emotional Well Being Rebecca Thompson and Deborah Christie – Promoting Emotional Well Being  Concurrent sessions will include: Cancer specific ‘stream’ Cancer specific ‘stream’ NutritionAnd So Much More! NutritionAnd So Much More!

CYPCN: Ways of Working  The Link Member Network 2 identified Link Members in each CCLG treatment centre 2 identified Link Members in each CCLG treatment centre Represents members from each centre, and from diversity of clinical settings Represents members from each centre, and from diversity of clinical settings Still aim to meet nationally twice a year Still aim to meet nationally twice a year Subject to project bid processSubject to project bid process Aims to disseminate information and share expertise and experience between centres Aims to disseminate information and share expertise and experience between centres 2-way communication with Community Co- ordinator and ‘Key Community Contacts’ 2-way communication with Community Co- ordinator and ‘Key Community Contacts’

Who are the key contacts?  Community Co-ordinator  Newsletter/website leads  Coordinators of CYCPN groups: CYP Oncology Outreach Nurses (POONS) CYP Oncology Outreach Nurses (POONS) CYP Bone Marrow Transplant Group CYP Bone Marrow Transplant Group CYP Cancer Nurses Education Group (PONE) CYP Cancer Nurses Education Group (PONE) Childhood Cancer Research Nurses Group Childhood Cancer Research Nurses Group

Collaboration with the CCLG  PONF from its earliest days worked closely with the UKCCSG, and then the CCLG  Changes within both the RCN and the CCLG are: a threat to our respective identities as nationally recognised and significant organisations a threat to our respective identities as nationally recognised and significant organisations an opportunity to develop our partnership to strengthen both organisations in the future an opportunity to develop our partnership to strengthen both organisations in the future

CYPCN: New ways of working  Reviewing our partnership with the CCLG  Working as part of a Forum Collaboration on joint projects Collaboration on joint projects Continue our own activities Continue our own activities Process of project bidsProcess of project bids Focus on work programme rather than a ‘steering group’ approachFocus on work programme rather than a ‘steering group’ approach  Working as an ‘on-line’ community development of the website development of the website  Working across treatment and care settings – PTC, POSCU, Community The Workshop today The Workshop today