Giving children a voice through partnership: a child rights-based approach to the co-design of postgraduate nurse education

Abstract

Background There is an increasing need for the voice of children and young people to be more evident in planning and designing services, including the delivery of higher education, for school nurses to ultimately influence service delivery. Aim To raise awareness of the importance of children's rights by embedding them in postgraduate school nurse education to influence school nurse service delivery. Methods A model was developed through direct partnership with representatives of the Children's Parliament in Scotland. This model facilitated the inclusion of children and young people's opinions in the co-design of postgraduate nurse education in order to incorporate children and young people's rights and opinions and improve the delivery of the school nurse service in Aberdeen. Results In a supported environment, children and young people were able to negotiate relationships with multiagency professionals on an equal basis, building connections and trust with them in partnership, based on their perceptions of school nurses' daily actions and characteristics. Their negotiation of relationships identified various change management categories for improving the delivery of higher education and services. Conclusions Children and young people have clear opinions and views when consulted in an inclusive age-appropriate way through rights-based participation. It is important that listening and taking due cognisance of children's voices becomes the norm in influencing higher education, and that children and young people have a direct influence on improving children's services.