The Looked After Children Health Team is responsible for completing health assessments and providing a specialist service for 'looked-after children' (also known as 'children looked after' and 'children in care') and care leavers, their carers and social workers.

The team works in partnership with social care and education teams to help looked-after children remain healthy, both physically and emotionally.

It arranges, co-ordinate and undertake statutory review health assessments for children cared for by Telford & Wrekin Council, Shropshire local authorities and those placed in the area by other local authorities in accordance with Department of Health statutory guidance.

Initial health assessments are completed by the Community Paediatric Service and led by the designated doctor for looked-after children. There's a duty to complete these within 20 working days of entering care following referral from the responsible local authority.

Review health assessments are completed by the Looked After Children Nursing Service and will be undertaken following referral from the responsible local authority:

• Every six months for children under five years old
• Annually for children and young people aged 5-18.

The initial and review health assessments are holistic assessments which include:

• Physical health
• Diagnosis/ medical conditions
• Dental health
• Visual health
• Developmental growth
• Immunisation record
• Emotional/mental health
• Sexual health (over 13s)

The team also arranges and completes leaving care summaries (also known as health passports) for young people cared for by Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Councils from 17 years of age and prior to their 18th birthday. The health passport provides young people with a record of their medical history and health information relating to transition to adulthood. This forms part of the local offer to care leavers for young people in the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin areas.

The completed initial or review health assessment is shared with the child/young person's GP, and the care plan is shared with the child/young person, the carer and the child/young person's social worker.

For further information please get in touch:

• Email: shropcom.shropshirelachealthteam@nhs.net
• Phone: 01743 450823
• Address: Coral House, 11 Longbow Close, Shrewsbury SY1 3GZ
• Or visit the LAC health website.