1.9.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans |
REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
England: STANDARD 6 - Promoting good health and wellbeing
Regulation 20 - Health needs of children
Regulation 21 - Medicines
Wales: Standard 17: Good Health and Wellbeing
OUTCOME STATEMENT
Children's health needs are met and their welfare is safeguarded by the home's policies and procedures for administering medicines and providing treatment.
AMENDMENTS
August 2011: this chapter was amended to take account of the Care Planning Regulations (2010). The key change relates to:
- The timescales for the first Health Care Assessment (see Section 1, Health Care Assessments);
This Chapter was amended in March 2009 to take account of the Regulations 5 and 8 of The Placement of Children (Wales) Regulations 2007 and Regulation 11 Children’s Homes (Wales) (Miscellaneous Regulations) 2007. The key change relates to:
- The timescales for the first Health Care Assessment (see Section 1: Health Care Assessments);
- The role of the Keyworker in relation to promoting children's health care, see Section 3: Designated Link Worker.
Contents
1. Health Care Assessments
Each child should have a Health Care Assessment soon after being placed and then at specified intervals; as set out below.
The purpose of Health Care Assessments is to promote children's physical and mental health and to inform the child's Health Care Plan and ensure that the placement meets the child's holistic health needs.
Health Care Assessments must be conducted by a suitably qualified medical practitioner; who should provide the social worker with a written report.
- In England the first assessment must be conducted before the child’s first placement, or if not reasonably practicable, before the child’s first Looked After Review - unless one has been conducted in the previous 3 months. In Wales, the first assessment must be conducted within 14 days of the placement.
- For children aged between two and five years, further assessments should occur at least every six months.
- For children aged over five years, further assessments should be at least annually
- Health Care Assessments must be conducted more frequently where the child’s health needs dictate.
The Social Worker is normally responsible for ensuring that Health Care Assessments are undertaken, but this responsibility may be undertaken by the home.
In order for the assessment to be conducted, it will be necessary to ensure the Consents section of the child's Placement Plan has been completed and signed by the parent or a person with Parental Responsibility.
2. Health Care Plans
Each child's Placement Plan must include a Health Care Plan, setting out the healthcare needs for the child and how they will be promoted, ensuring that the child's holistic health needs are met.
The initial Health Care Plan should be drawn up in time for the first Looked After Review, after a Health Care Assessment has been undertaken. The plan should then be updated after each Health Care Assessment or as circumstances change.
The matters that should be considered in drawing up the Health Care Plan are as follows:
- Whether there are any specific health care needs - and how the home will meet them.
- If it is agreed that Paracetamol or other painkillers can be used to provide relief for headaches, menstrual or other pain; also whether there are any restrictions
- On the use of non-prescribed medicines, Home Remedies or use of first aid.
- The involvement of the child's parents or significant others in health issues during the placement.
- Any specific medical or other health interventions which may be required, including whether it is necessary for any Invasive Procedures and how they will be undertaken.
- The extent to which the child is able to retain or administer medication, or requires support to do so.
- Whether it is necessary for any immunisations to be carried out.
- Any specific treatment or Therapeutic Interventions, strategies or remedial programme's required.
- Any necessary preventative measures to be adopted.
- Whether the child is allowed to smoke and any measures agreed to reduce the behaviour.
- Whether there are any illegal or other activities including self harming which it is known or suspected the child is engaged in which may be harmful to the child's health, and the interventions/strategies to be adopted in reducing or preventing the behaviour.
- Whether the placement will contribute to any other health related assessments.
- Whether the home will contribute to any health monitoring.
New Section March 2009: The whole of this section is new/March 2009
One of the key responsibilities of the child's Link Worker (Keyworker) will be for promoting his/her health and educational achievement, liasing with key professionals, including the Clinical Nurse Specialist, the child’s GP and dental practitioner.
The Keyworker will also ensure that up to date with information is kept on the child in relation to his/her health needs, development, illnesses, operations, immunisations, allergies, medications, administered, dates of appointments with GP's and specialists.
The Keyworker must also ensure the child is registered with a GP and other health care professionals as set out in General Practitioners, Dentists and Opticians Procedures
Also see Link/Keyworker Responsibilities Procedure.
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