Evidence-based tool which enables nursing staff to assess the acuity and dependency of Children and Young People (C&YP) to support establishment setting

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The Children and Young People’s Safer Nursing Care Tool is an evidence-based tool which enables nursing staff to assess the acuity and dependency of Children and Young People (C&YP) to support establishment setting.

 

The tool was most recently updated in 2026, and has been developed to help NHS hospitals make evidence-based decisions on staffing in Children and Young People’s inpatient wards in line with the National Quality Board’s expectations using evidence based decision support tools to inform these decisions.

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The tool, which is appropriate for use in any acute children and young people inpatient wards in hospitals within England, is part of a suite of SNCT tools including tools for adult inpatient wards and adult acute assessment units, emergency departments and mental health settings. All the tools are tested in teaching and district general hospitals in England, to ensure they are robust and easy to use.

 

As of 2026, the tool has now been updated to include a classification for 1:1 enhanced care with associated multipliers (staffing resource), and specialty specific multipliers e.g. children’s adolescent/young person’s services.

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