Start well: children and young people 

The World Health Organisation estimates that 3 million lives are saved every year worldwide through immunisation. It's important that all children and babies are fully immunised to protect them from potentially serious diseases. While many infectious diseases have been eliminated in the UK, the threat of others, such as measles and meningitis, has not gone away.

Some adults will need immunisations to protect their health at work or while travelling, and national programmes exist to protect those at risk from conditions. Southwark Public Health Division, together with key partners and stakeholders, has produced the following documents.

Southwark JSNA reports

• immunisation preschool JSNA 2019
• immunisation school age JSNA 2019
• immunisation adults JSNA 2019

Other local plans and strategies

• Southwark immunisation strategy and action plan 2019 to 2021
• Southwark health and wellbeing strategy 2015 to 2020

External resources

• OHID, health protection profile
• OHID, complete routine immunisation schedule
• OHID, the green book
• NHSE, child immunisation
• NHSE, London immunisations

Tooth decay is the primary reason for hospital admission in children ages 5 to 9. Poor oral health impacts more than just a child’s physical health. Dental pain can lead to difficulties eating, sleeping, socialising, and even smiling, and negatively impacts a child’s wellbeing. 

Children in our most deprived communities are both the most affected by decay and also the least likely to access dental services. The level of tooth decay among children in Southwark is less than the national and London average, with about one in six 5-year-olds experiencing decay compared to one in four in London and England. However, this still equates to about 660 5-year-olds affected by a preventable condition. Find out more.

Southwark JSNA reports

• oral health JSNA 2018  

External resources

• OHID (2017) Health Matters: child dental health
• OHID (2017) Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention
• OHID (2016). Children’s Oral Health Improvement Programme Board Action Plan 2016 to 2020
• OHID (2014). Local authorities improving oral health: commissioning better oral health for children and young people

The death of a child is a tragic event that profoundly affects both the family and the wider community. Child death review partners have a statutory responsibility to review the deaths of all children normally resident in their local area. 

This is to determine whether any factor(s) related to the death impact or could affect the health and wellbeing of local residents. It is also to identify actions that may mitigate future child injuries, accidents or death. 

Southwark and Lambeth work in partnership when reviewing child deaths. 

Southwark JSNA reports

• child death JSNA 2019 
• school aged children JSNA 2017

Other local plans and strategies

• Lambeth children and young people’s plan 2018 to 2022
• child death pathway information for GPs - Lambeth and Southwark 2019
• child death pathway 2019 

External resources

• NHS England, When a Child Dies: A guide for parents and carers
• Department for Education, Working Together to Safeguard Children: Chapter 5
• Department of Health and Social Care, Child Death Review: Statutory and Operational Guidance
• Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership, The National Child Mortality Database

Being overweight or obese increases a person’s risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and some types of cancer. It can also contribute to low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness and as a result lead to poor mental health and social withdrawal.

Children who are overweight or obese are likely to remain such in later life. In Southwark, about 3 in 10 reception-age children are overweight or obese; this increases to about 4 in 10 by the time they reach year 6. Currently, over half of adults in Southwark are overweight or obese.

Southwark JSNA reports

• childhood obesity JSNA 2019

Other local plans and strategies

• healthy weight strategy 2016 to 2021

External resources

• OHID, Public Health Outcomes Framework: Southwark Profile   
• OHID, National Child Measurement Programme Local Authority Profile: Southwark

There is a strong link between children’s health and their capacity to learn. Creating positive and healthy school environments can significantly improve health, well-being, academic achievement, and reduce inequalities.

Southwark’s children are more deprived than the London average with approximately 15,000 children aged under 16 living in low income families. 

We work with NHS Southwark Clinical Commissioning Group and other partners in education, health, social care and the voluntary community sector to make sure services for school-aged children and young people are effective, integrated and respond to their health needs.

Southwark JSNA reports

• school age children JSNA 2017 
• demography JSNA factsheet 2018 to 2019

Other local plans and strategies

• Southwark children and young people’s plan 2013 to 2018 

External resources

• Healthy Child Programme (HCP) from 5 to 19 years old (2009)
• Improving young people’s health and wellbeing – a framework for public health
• OHID, School-Age Children: Southwark Profile

There is a large body of evidence that shows that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities often experience poorer outcomes than their peers, in health, education and in the transition to adulthood. 

Improving our understanding of this group is vital to ensure we are best able to improve health, wellbeing and academic achievement, at the same time as reducing inequalities they face.

Southwark Public Health and partners have produced the following documents.

Southwark JSNA reports

• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities JSNA 2022 

Other local plans and strategies

• Local Offer

External resources

• OHID, Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Profile
• OHID, School-Age Children: Southwark Profile

The number of children and young people experiencing mental health problems is growing in the UK. Poor mental health in childhood increases health and wellbeing risks later in life. Although mental health services are expanding, many children and young people do not get the support they need.

Southwark JSNA report

• children and young people’s mental health JSNA 2023 

External resources

• OHID, Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing: Services: Southwark profile
• OHID, Child and Maternal Health: Vulnerable Children and Young People: Southwark profile
• OHID, Child and Maternal Health: Healthcare Use: Southwark Profile