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The health and wellbeing of every child or young person who is looked after by the local authority will be supported during their time in care.
The following information is for foster carers of children looked after by the local authority.
Why a health assessment is needed
There is a legal requirement for all children or young people who become looked after to have a health assessment.
What happens in the assessment
A healthcare professional will conduct the health assessment. Initial appointments will be with the community paediatrician. Reviews will be completed by either a specialist nurse for looked after children, or the community paediatrician.
As the child/young person’s foster carer, a member of the healthcare team will ask you if there are any health and wellbeing concerns. These may include general health, hearing, vision, dental and behaviour.
The healthcare team will check records to ensure that immunisations are up to date.
They will also discuss any concerns about emotional health.
If the child is seen by a paediatrician, they will have a general medical examination. This will include weight and height and a developmental assessment for pre school children.
When it takes place
The health assessment must be done within the first month of the child becoming looked after. If the child has had a health assessment or a medical within the last 3 months, this information may be sufficient and a further appointment may not be required.
If the child remains in care, health assessments will take place every 6 months for children under 5 years, and every 12 months for children between 5 and 18 years.
How it is arranged
The team will contact you by letter or telephone to arrange the assessment appointment.
Health assessment outcomes
The healthcare team will draw up a plan to ensure that the child stays healthy, enjoys achieving and attending school, and stays safe.
As the foster carer, they will send you a copy of the health plan. The health plan will be reviewed and you will have an opportunity to discuss this at the child’s looked-after review.
Accompanying the child to the assessment
Foster carers should attend the health assessment. In some cases, the child’s social worker or parent may also attend the meeting.
For children under the age of 16, depending on their age and understanding, the team will consult them about the health assessment and ask them who they would like to attend. In some cases, an older young person may choose to be seen alone. The specialist nurse or doctor will discuss this decision with the young person and, providing they have sufficient understanding, the nurse or doctor will see the young person alone for their health assessment.
What to take
Take the following to the healthcare assessment.
- Red Book (if available).
- Dates of GP appointments.
- Dates of hearing test, vision test and next review date, if any.
- Date last seen by dentist and next review date.
- Immunisations given since last health assessment.
- Dates of visits to A&E or admissions to hospital.
Contact information
Looked after children