Children Looked After
The Children’s Looked After health team are responsible for leading on health improvement whilst reducing any health inequalities for children and young people that reside in the local area.
Health assessments
A health assessment for a child or young person in care is a holistic assessment of their physical, emotional and behavioural needs. It is not an isolated event, but part of a process of continuous care including monitoring and promoting the child’s health.
Children Looked After will have an Initial health assessment completed on entry to care, preferably within 28 days.
Children aged 0-5 years will have a review health assessment every 6 months and children aged 5-18 years will be undertaken annually. These health assessments will be completed by the team at home, in a clinic setting or virtual depending on the child’s or young person’s preference. A Health Plan is then devised in partnership with the child, young person and carer.
The team can support with:
- Managing health conditions
- Sexual Health
- Emotional health and wellbeing
- Smoking
- Sleeping
- Drug and alcohol use
- Nutrition and hydration
- Growth monitoring
- Enuresis and continence
- Referrals to external and internal agencies
- Signposting to appropriate services
- Immunisation advice and support
Who we are
We are a team that is made up of Paediatricians, Nurse Specialists for Children Looked After and administrative support. The team are experienced and knowledgeable on the physical and emotional needs of a child looked after and how their past experiences of trauma and neglect impact on their attachments and future health, wellbeing and development.
We work with children services, paediatricians, Health visitors, School nurses, GP’s and other services that support children looked after.
Contact Us
We are based in Woodland House, Maes Y Coed Road, Cardiff, CF14 4HH
Tel: 02921832040/02921832038
Email: Lookedafterteam.cav@wales.nhs.uk
NHS WALES LAC HEALTH ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK DOCUMENT
(Updated January 2024)