Health

All professional working with children and young people have a duty to promote their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

In conjunction with the children's Social Workers, Foster Carers must make sure that Children Looked After and Young People placed with you are registered with a GP and see a dentist regularly, as well as having support including special equipment required for any particular health needs.

It is the responsibility of the child/young person's Social Worker to ensure that all information about a child's health condition is obtained and passed on to foster carers so that they are aware of known health conditions and can take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the child. Foster carers will receive a summary of any health concerns identified from the Social Worker following the Child’s Looked After Initial Health Assessment.

Foster carers have a responsibility to seek medical advice and gather information to enable them to promote the child's health and wellbeing.

Children Looked After are known to have greater health needs than other children. Their early experiences are often in families affected by alcohol, substance misuse and/or domestic violence. Many have experienced abuse and neglect. As well as the emotional and behavioural difficulties these children may have, they often miss out on routine health screens, have incomplete immunisations or unfinished treatment by specialist health professionals.

Feelings of loss and abandonment may make the child very anxious, fearing further rejection and uncertainty. This can make the child want to control what is happening around them. They may have little regard for rules, be bossy or provocative. They may be prone to unpredictable outbursts and disruptive behaviour.

These children need calm environments and clear boundaries and routines. It's also a good idea to give them advance notice of upcoming changes. You should be provided with a child’s basic medical history when they are placed with you. If it is an emergency placement, this should happen as soon as possible. As much information as possible needs to be understood about the child’s health especially where the child has health or behavioural needs that potentially pose a risk to themselves, you and others. Any issues should be fully shared with you, together with an understanding as to what support you will receive as a result.

A child/young person will have a Health Care Assessment which forms the Health Care Plan. If the child/young person does not have one, the Social Worker should arrange an assessment so that a plan can be drawn up and available for the child’s first Child Looked After Review which will take place within 20 working days.

All children new to care require their statutory Initial Health Assessment which provides an in-depth overview of general health, emotional wellbeing, development, past health problems and future care.

The Children’s Looked After Health Team will arrange the Initial Health Assessment upon receipt of a referral from Children's Social Care. The Initial Health Assessment is a legal requirement and should be completed within 20 working days of the child becoming Looked After. The Assessment will be carried out by a qualified Health Professional. You will need to accompany the child or young person to the Health Assessment appointment, along with the child's Social Worker.

Please let your Supervising Social Worker or the Specialist Nurse for Children Looked After know when the child has immunisations or appointments with health professionals so the child's records can be updated.

Review health assessments can be done by the Specialist Nurse for Children Looked After, Health Visitor or School Nurse. For children under five, further health assessments will be done 6 monthly. For children aged five and over these are carried out annually.

The Health Assessment is a holistic assessment of the child's physical and emotional health and well-being. The Health Assessment is an assessment that all Children Looked After are entitled to and which is beneficial to them in ensuring all their health needs are met.

The Health Care Assessment happens at particular times:

• The first Assessment must be done before the first placement or, if not possible, before the child’s first Child Looked After Review (unless one has been done within the previous 3 months);
• For children under five years, further Health Care Assessments should occur at least once every six months;
• For children aged over five years, further Health Care Assessments should occur at least annually.

The child should have a copy of their health plan.

You play an important role in looking after and promoting the health needs of children in your care. This means talking to them and providing them with information about doing the things that keep them healthy and well.

You should encourage children/young people to follow their interest and leisure activities.

You should help the child/young person to identify where they can access activities they are interested in and support them to attend. This may be linked to the educational setting they attend. It could be sporting activities or activities which they enjoy which make them feel good about themselves.

It is important that you keep a record of the child’s health and that you take the child for their health assessment and relevant appointments.

Information should be given about any allergies. See also First Aid and Medication and The Foster Home and Health and Safety.

The information you hold about the child - including their daily routine, likes and dislikes, health issues etc. - may need to be shared with other professionals.

You should check whether you need to register a child with a GP, Dentist and Optician and whether you have delegated authority to take the child for any treatment. This will usually have been decided when completing the Placement Plan.

Each time a child is given medication, you must record when, how often and how much was given. All medicines should be stored securely and accessible for those who need it.

You should help children/young people to make informed decisions about their health and their views should be taken into account when making decisions.

In the event of an accident or incident, you must record the details of what happened and inform your Supervising Social Worker and the child’s social worker as soon as possible.

Specialist Nurse for Looked After Children

The role of a Specialist Nurse for Children and Young People in Care is:

• To undertaking statutory CLA health assessments (for Children and Young People in Care who are over 16 and those of any age who are not covered by a Berkshire Health Visitor/School Nurse or who live within a 20 mile radius outside the Berkshire boarder) and in conjunction with Social Care ensure recommendations from health assessments are implemented;
• To provide specialist advice to Children and Young People in Care to enable them to make informed choices about their health and to act as their advocate as required;
• To identify and provide training for foster carers, health, education and social services staff with regards to the health of Children and Young People in Care;
• To provide expert advice to health professionals, carers and other agencies including Social Care, Education and the voluntary sector with regard to the health needs of Children and Young People in Care;
• To promote awareness of the needs of Children and Young People in Care and promote competency in other professionals undertaking CLA health assessments e.g. Health Visitors, School Nurses and medical staff;
• To liaise with Social Care departments, Integrated Care Boards and other health providers regarding health assessments and health recommendations for out of authority placements;
• To represent the health needs of Children and Young People in Care within foster panel.

Contact details for Specialist Nurse for Looked After Children:

Susie Davies
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Email: susan.davies@berkshire.nhs.uk
Email: CICBerkshireEast@berkshire.nhs.uk
Tel: 07770315627
Website: www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk

You will receive appropriate training including health promotion, communicable diseases, hygiene and first aid. Social Workers and health practitioners should ensure you have specific contact details and information on how to access relevant services, including CAMHS.

For CAMHS referrals please click on the link below which explains the CAMHS referral criteria and how to make a referral;

cypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/media/33429328/camhs-referral-criteria-march-2020.pdf

Information can also be obtained from the Common Point of Entry Referral Hub on 0300 365 1234