Looked After Children’s Health Team
The Looked after Children’s Health Team are responsible for leading and developing on health improvement and reducing health inequalities for Looked after Children (LAC, also known as Children Looked After -CLA and Children in Care) and Care Leavers. The team coordinate the health journey for Looked after Children to ensure that statutory health assessments are completed within statutory timescales. Furthermore, the team ensure that identified health needs are acted upon and monitored to improve the health and wellbeing of Looked after Children.
The Looked after Children’s Health Team are part of CHCP community health services. We have adopted a dedicated 0-18 looked after children’s service model of delivery to complement the CHCP 0-19 service. Our LAC practitioners understand the physical and emotional needs of Looked After Children and how their past experiences of trauma and neglect impact on their attachments and future health, wellbeing, and development.
We work in close partnership with social workers, paediatricians, community paediatric nursing team, GP’s, CAMHS and other services that support Looked After Children.
Health Assessments
Looked after Children have a health assessment completed by a Doctor on entry into care. In Hull this is undertaken by specialist paediatricians based at Hull University Hospitals Trust. Children aged 0-5 years will have a review health assessment every 6 months and children aged 5 -18 years are offered a review health assessment every year. These assessments are completed by the Looked After Children’s Health Team. Children can choose where their health assessment takes place and if they would like someone with them or to be seen by the nurse on their own. This is an opportunity to discuss any worries they or their carers may have about their health. At the end of the assessment a health plan is outlined in partnership with the child, young person and carer to identify what needs to happen to stay healthy and safe. We can provide support with:
- Keeping healthy
- Managing health conditions
- Emotional health and well-being
- Sexual health
- Drugs and alcohol
- Smoking
- Enuresis and continence advice
Who can refer to the Looked After Children’s Health service?
The Looked After Children’s Health service accepts referrals for health assessment from children’s’ social care (the Local Authority).
We also work closely with other health professionals and can make referrals to specialist services if required. We offer support to carers, health colleagues and social workers.
Team Members
There are 4 LAC practitioners who are all registered nurses (RN).
The team is led by the Named Nurse (for Looked After Children) who is a qualified health visitor.
One of our LAC nurses is a paediatric nurse, one a mental health nurse and health visitor and the other a public health nurse (school nurse).
Contact us
We are based at Marfleet Health Centre, Preston Road, Hull, HU9 5HH
9am – 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).
Tel: : 01482 335887
E-mail: CHCP.lookedafterchildren@nhs.net
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