CYP(3) PCC 19
Children and Young People Committee
Inquiry into the Arrangements for Placement of Children into Care in Wales.
Response from Children's Partnership on behalf of Bridgend Local Health Board
Response compiled by Children’s Partnership Planning Manager on behalf of Bridgend Local Health Board.
Information collated in discussion with colleagues within Looked After Children(LAC) Health Team, within Bridgend LHB and ABMU NHS Trust.
Gathering information about a child –to determine plement
Regarding new placements in County –the Local Authority takes the lead in gathering information from services already involved e.g Health Visitor, Paediatrician or therapists. Once notification of the placement is received the L.A.C. Health Team co-ordinate and ensure initial statutory health assessments are completed either by L.A.C. Clinical Nurse Specialist or the Community Paediatrician. The health information is shared with the Local Authority. This information is co-ordinated into an individualised care plan for the child.
Regarding new out of County placements – as above information except that the L.A.C. Health Team currently request that the initial L.A.C. health assessment is completed by a designated lead LAC professional in the receiving county. (Funding has now been secured from the three ABMU LHBs for an out of county L.A.C. Nurse to address the health assessments of children placed out of county).
The LHB Nurse responsible for LAC (or designate) and Trust LAC Clinical Nurse Specialist attend the placement panel meetings to share information that will enable an appropriate placement to be found for the child.
Accountability for the placement rests ultimately with the Local Authority , Social Services has a statutory responsibility for the child’s safeguarding and wellbeing, health professional work in partnership to achieve this goal.
Health works in partnership with the Local Authority in finding a suitable placement and has responsibility to raise any concerns about the ability of the placement to meet the child’s identified needs. The inclusive elements related to the individual child are considered as part of the assessment process and subsequent placement e.g. the ethnic origin, cultural background, religious origin are considered in placing the child in the most suitable environment to meet their holistic needs.
The Children’s Commissioning Support Resource Database is available for advice regarding placements, however, the health related elements are not comprehensive and this makes it difficult to evaluate the ability of the placement to meet the child’s identified health needs.
The information that is available related to health provision is not accredited or evaluated from a health professional perspective which raises concerns about the quality of provision.
Health services are involved in contributing opinion to the health related aspects of the provision but the lack of accreditation and evaluation makes this very difficult.
The database could be better utilised if it contained a fully evaluated health element pf provision.
The Local Authority take the lead in completing a ‘pen picture’ of the child’s needs, which health staff have contributed to as described in question 1. This information should inform any discussions with foster care services, including foster carers themselves in ensuring they can safely meet the child’s needs.
The LAC Doctor and Trust Clinical Nurse Specialist contribute to training and preparation courses for foster carers.
Placement planning does take place via placement planning meetings which the LHB Nurse with LAC responsibility(or designate) and the Trust LAC Clinical Nurse Specialist attend in order to facilitate the safe placement of the child in a situation that can meet his/her identified needs.
Emergency placement requires a quick response in the short term, the situation is then assessed longer term after safe placement has been achieved.
The Trust LAC Clinical Nurse Specialist and the Community Paediatrician provide advise to foster carers regarding specific health needs and associated risks e.g. blood borne viruses, infectious diseases and infection control.
All advice and information is offered and provided underpinned by the principles of safeguarding and confidentiality.
Children and young people are involved in the reviewing process. Local Authority Independent Reviewing Officers seek the child’s views on placement and any issues that require resolution.
The LAC Clinical Nurse Specialist will highlight concerns voiced during health assessments and advocate for the child as required.
The health team would engage with the young person throughout the assessment process and the action planning process is child / young person centred.
Particular attention is required if there are communication barriers e.g. as a result of disability.
The LHB understands that the role of the Social Worker involves:-
Coordinating a child’s care plan in the role of case manager
Visiting the child in placement to monitor the placement and review the child’s needs.
Liaising with the child’s school which includes informing the L.A.C. Education Co-ordinator to ensure they support the child’s educational plan.
The Local Authority retains responsibility for monitoring of children’s placements.
The LHB and health LAC Team contribute opinion as requested regarding the progress of individual placements and the ongoing ability of the placement to meet the child’s needs.
The Children’s Commissioning Support Resource Database should be further developed to encompass accredited health elements that would serve to better inform placements and their ability to meet the health related needs of looked after children.
