PUBLIC Health Dorset has awarded a contract to provide a nursing service for young people.

Dorset HealthCare has been tasked with managing the Public Health Nursing service, which looks after the needs of children and young people up to the age of 19 across Dorset.

The service will include school nurses and health visitors.

Public Health Nursing lists the following four objectives as its key wellbeing priorities: reducing smoking in pregnancy, increasing physical activity, improving wellbeing and mental health and ensuring children arrive at school ready to learn and achieve.

Dorset HealthCare Chief Executive Eugine Yafele said: “We are delighted that we can continue with our work to support children, young people and families across Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Our aim is to help give local children the best start in life and retaining this contract means we can continue to develop and improve our services to make a real difference for children and families.

“Our staff are really committed and excited to help shape the future of services for children and young people.”

The service is intended to focus on improving health and identifying problems early to reduce pressure on specialist services.

Sam Crowe, Interim Director of Public Health, said: “In the tender we set some really stretching ambitions for this new integrated service and we’re delighted to award the contract to Dorset HealthCare.

“It’s a really exciting time to be working in Dorset as one of the first wave of Integrated Care System collaborations. There is a strong history in the county of partnership working to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families, and we are looking forward to working together to build on these successes.”

The service aims to offer a number of methods to help young people.

A spokesman said: "Working with families, teachers and practitioners, Public Health Nursing links up local services to deliver practical support for children and young people to improve their health and wellbeing. An extended digital service will also be offered, including digital consultations and advice by text, to help families find the information they need quickly and easily."