Health

You should be provided with a young person’s basic medical history when they are placed with you. If it is a young person comes to live with you as part of an emergency, this should happen as soon as possible. As much information as possible needs to be understood about the young person’s health especially where the young person has health or behavioural needs that potentially pose a risk to themselves, you and others. Any issues should be fully shared with you, together with an understanding of what support you will receive as a result.

Information should be given about any allergies. See also First Aid and Medication and Health and Safety.

A young person will have a Health Care Assessment, which forms the Health Care Plan. If the young person does not have one, the social worker should arrange an assessment so that a plan can be drawn up and available for the young person’s first Child in Care Review, which will take place within 20 working days.

The Health Care Assessment happens at particular times:

• The first assessment must be done before the first placement or, if not possible, before the young person’s first Child in Care Review (unless one has been done within the previous 3 months);
• Further Health Care Assessments should occur at least annually.

The young person should have a copy of their health plan.

Young people placed should be responsible for meeting their own day-to-day health needs with support and guidance from you as required and in line with their Care/Pathway Plan.

Young people and providers should understand and adhere to agreed arrangements regarding the young person’s health such as taking non-prescription medication, managing prescription medications, booking and attending GP appointments and so on. 

This means talking to them and providing them with information about doing the things that keep them healthy and well.

You should encourage young people to follow their interests and leisure activities.

You should help the young person to identify where they can access activities in the local area and find out what they are interested in so you can encourage them to attend.

It is important that you keep a record of the young person’s health and, if necessary and agreed as part of the Placement Plan, that you support the young person to attend their health assessment and relevant appointments.

The health care plan should detail the progress the young person has made and include areas of health such as physical health, health education needs, emotional, social and psychological help.

For young people with lifelong conditions, their health needs should be identified (including their mental and sexual health needs, as appropriate). You and the young person should feel l supported and have access to local health services when needed.

The young person should have access to a GP, Dentist and Optician and if not you as the supported lodgings provider should help them register with these. If needed and where the young person has requested this, the supported lodgings provider should support young people to book and attend health appointments, with the aim of enabling the young person to manage their own health needs increasingly independently.  When appointments are made, account should be taken of the young person’s wishes, for example, to see a practitioner of a preferred gender identity. If you are supporting a young person to take medication, you must record when, how often and how much was given.

Please note that all care leavers have access to free prescriptions, dental and eye care service up to the age of 25. The government is also trialling a three year pilot to better support access to GPs and mental health support of children in care and care leavers. Health professionals should be aware of the child/young person’s status as a care leaver. For further information please see link above.

All medicines should be stored securely and accessible for those who need it. Safe management is in place with controlled drugs - see First Aid and Medication.

You should help young people to make informed decisions about their health, and they have a right to refuse treatment or support if they have the mental capacity.

If this is the case, you should consult the young person’s social worker/health professionals to decide what is the best course of action.  

See also What Decisions Can I Make? 

In the event of an accident or incident, you must record the details of what happened and inform your Supported Lodgings Social Worker and the young person’s social worker as soon as possible.

You will receive appropriate training. Social workers and health practitioners should ensure you have specific contact details and information on how to access relevant services, including Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS).