Health Plans

A key part of the care plan is the health plan which is informed by the health assessment. A good health assessment will provide an informed oversight of the child's health, identify issues that may have been overlooked in the past and need addressing, as well as providing a base line for monitoring ongoing health of the child.

All carers should play an active role in promoting all aspects of a child's health and co-ordinate their health plan.

Children and young people should have an adult who they can confide in about any health concerns.

The first health assessment should be completed before the child comes into care (via the GP or paediatrician), and at the latest before the first review. How frequently this is reviewed is then dependent on age, with under 5's being reviewed every six months, 5's and over being reviewed every 12 months.

Children on short breaks are entitled to an annual health assessment, however as the majority of children using the short break provision remain living at home with their parents, the local authority has no power to insist that a health assessment is undertaken.

Meeting health needs of looked after children

The department now has a health visitor (children in care) employed to take responsibility for the health needs of looked after children. This role is designed to ensure that children who are looked after have their health needs met.

Children will keep their own GP irrespective of where they live on the island unless they, or their parents, choose to change.

All looked after children are entitled to free dental care with the school dental service and have access to any other services appropriate to their identified health needs. Annual eye checks are required and a review of their immunisations should be carried out.

Consent to health assessments

In order for a health assessment to take place, there needs to be consent given. Such consent should, ideally, be given by the birth parent or child (where the child is considered to have the capacity to consent). Such consent can be given for each individual health assessment, or an overarching consent form can be completed. In cases where the local authority have a community parenting order the social worker can sign to consent to health assessments, however it is preferable to seek the consent of the parent or child wherever possible.

Which medical form do I need? This is dependent on the stage you are at and the age of the child:

Children who are to be placed for long term foster care and adoption The following relevant forms are required to be completed for the purposes of a child being placed for adoption/long term fostering:

BAAF Consent Form BAAF

Consent form is to be completed by the parents, following discussion with the social worker and ideally when the child first becomes a Looked After Child.The form has a Part A for the agency worker to complete; Part B for birth parents to complete giving permission to collect the child's obstetric and neonatal information, and for their own and the child's information to be shared.

BAAF FORM M

(Obstetric Report On mother and FORM B (neonatal report on child) BAAF Form M and/or B should be sent with the above consent form to the hospital soon after birth. If this is not possible, the forms must be sent as soon as long term fostering or adoption is under consideration. These forms are required for the presentation of a Child Permanence Report and for Matching at the Adoption and Permanency Panel.

BAAF FORM PH

(birth parents health history) BAAF Form PH must be completed as soon as possible after the child becomes looked after and should therefore be available in the child's files. If not they will need to be completed by parents in discussion with the assessing social worker when long term alternate care is considered to be in the child's best interest.

BAAF FORM IHA-C Initial Health Assessment for children from birth to 9 years

The child will be required to attend a GP appointment and the IHA-C form will be completed by the GP. The child's social worker will be required to forward the IHA-C form to the Medical Adviser for his comments on Part C.  Only Part C can be shared with Panel Members as the remainder of the form is confidential. These assessments are required for the presentation of Child Permanence Reports and for Matching.

BAAF FORM IHA-YP Initial Health Assessment for young people 10 years and older

The child will be required to attend a GP appointment and the IHA-YP form will be completed by the GP. The child's social worker will be required to forward the IHA-C form to the Medical Adviser for his comments on Part C. Only Part C can be shared with Panel Members as the remainder of the form is confidential. These assessments are required for the presentation of Child Permanence Reports and for Matching.

My child refuses to have a health assessment

If the child is felt to have sufficient understanding to be able to make the decision then no assessment should be undertaken - that a health assessment was offered and refused should be recorded in the child's file . However the child's health needs should still be considered as part of the care plan and reviewing process.

Pre-adoption medicals

The requirements of a medical for the adoption process are different, and there is a different referral form to complete as well as other information to be gathered. Such medicals are requested at the time that you ask for a child to come before the Adoption Panel. For further information including the relevant paperwork please see the adoption section of these procedures.

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