Children in Care Team
OVERVIEW:
Providing a secure, caring environment can help children and young people overcome their early life experiences. It can ensure that children in care are given the best chances in life. It is crucial that children in care are helped to develop strong, trusting and stable relationships with their carers, social workers and other professionals.
- About Us
There are approximately 700 children living in Wigan that are placed in care of a local authority and a further 200 children living out of the area.
These children and young people might be living with foster parents, at home with their parents or other family members, under the supervision of social care, in residential children’s home or other residential settings like schools or secure units.
Providing a secure, caring environment can help children and young people overcome their early life experiences.
It can ensure that children in care are given the best chances in life. It is crucial that children in care are helped to develop strong, trusting and stable relationships with their carers, social workers and other professionals.
Children up to the age of 5 years (prior to starting in reception school) have their health needs supported by the Health Visiting Team.
From the age of 5 to 18 years, health needs will be supported by the Children in Care Nursing Team.
As Children in Care Nurses, we aim to support children and young people in meeting their individual health needs.
Interventions available:- Sleep
- Smoking cessation
- Drug & alcohol
- Sexual health – STI screening, pregnancy tests, issue of condoms, contraceptive advice
- Enuresis support
- Health eating
- Emotional wellbeing
Our local offer:
- Annual review health assessments
- Referrals to other specialist agencies
- Regular support visits
- Attendance at multi-professional meetings
- Brief intervention work
- Health promotion activities
- Foster carer training
- Liaison with other health services
- Provision of advice and guidance
- Health advisor to other agencies
- Meet the Team
Alison Jones – Named Nurse for Children in Care
Tamara Brinksman - Lead Nurse for Children in Care
Julia Crompton - Team Co-Ordinator for Children in Care
Lauren Hook – Children in Care Administrator
Amanda Ashby – Children in Care Administrator
Andrew Caley – Specialist Nurse for Children in Care (West)
Jen Bowen – Specialist Nurse for Children in Care (West)
Molly Caley – Specialist Nurse for Children in Care (West)
Michelle Kehoe – Specialist Nurse for Children in Care (East)
Cath Prescott – Specialist Nurse for Children in Care (East)
Carol Williams - Specialist nurse for Children in Care (East)
Rae Alder – Specialist Nurse for Children in Care (East)
Michelle Nicholls – Specialist Nurse for Complex Safeguarding
- Contact Us
Children in Care Team
Claire House
Lower Ince Health Centre
Phoenix Way
Lower Ince
Wigan
WN3 4NW
Telephone: 0300 707 1297
E-mail: wwl-tr.cicwigan@nhs.netFollow us on X @CICTeam1
If under school age
Please contact your local Health Visiting service - Useful Info
IHA preparation
What is an Initial Health Assessment (IHA)?
When a child or young person comes into care of the local Authority they will have an Initial Health Assessment (IHA).
This is a statutory health assessment that is required to be completed within 28 days of coming into care.
It is completed by a paediatrician or an appropriately trained medical practitioner.
What will happen at my IHA?
The assessment consists of a general discussion about the child or young person’s health and general wellbeing.
There will be an opportunity for the child or young person to discuss any concerns or worries they may have.
Who will complete my IHA?
Dr Felvira Godinho
Review Health Assessment (RHA) preparation
What is a Review Health Assessment (RHA)?
Like the IHA, the Review Health Assessment (RHA) is a requirement that all children and young people who are looked after have an RHA completed once a year.
This is an opportunity for information to be gathered about a child’s health through conversation with them and their carer.
Why we do RHA’s?
By completing an RHA once a year with the child or young person, this gives us the opportunity to look at all aspects of a child’s lifestyle and to ensure the child or young person is getting all the care that they need.
It also gives the child an opportunity to ask questions about how their body works or talk about anything that may be worrying them.
What you should have ready for an RHA?- Any health concerns that you wish to discuss
- Up to date dental dates (last dental date)
- Last opticians appointment
- Last attendance to GP and reasoning
- Strength and difficulties questionnaire completion
- Pre-assessment voice of child form.
Where does my RHA take place?
- Home setting/placement
- School
- Health centres
We encourage this to be the choice of the young person or child however it is normally more likely to have completion at home setting.
The health RHA can take anywhere from 60 – 90 minutes.
There will be a point in the assessment where the nurse will ask to see/speak with the child or young person alone.
This is nothing to worry about this is purely to have the opportunity to discuss possible confidential issues or chance to speak in private if they are concerned about anything.
SDQ Form
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a screening tool we use to establish any possible issues that may need addressing or support linked with:- emotions
- concentration
- behaviours
- hyperactivity
The questionnaire consists of a series of questions with 3 choices of answers. Each answer has a score. The overall questionnaire is then scored out of 40.
The scores will then indicate if any support/further action is required.
This will be for the CIC nurse to assess accordingly and may form information for further assessments. - Training