Transcript Looking back at 2009/10

Health of Looked After Children
Nancy Sayer
Designated Nurse for Looked
After Children
Medway NHS Foundation Trust
[email protected]
Health of LAC vs. Peers
• Two thirds of all looked after children enter care with at
least one physical health complaint
• Complaints include problems with speech and
language, bedwetting, co-ordination difficulties and
dental or vision problems
• Vaccination programs are incomplete and routine
developmental appointments missed
• 25% have a disability
• Mental health and emotional well-being found to be
significant
• 45% LAC were assessed as having a mental health
disorder
• In 5 – 10 year olds 50% of boys and 33% of girls
identifiable mental health disorder
• In 11 – 15 year olds 55% of boys and 45% of girls
identifiable mental health disorder
Health of Young People Leaving Care
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Young people leaving care are 2.5 times more likely to
become teenage parents
Many aspects of young people’s health has been shown to
be worse in the year after leaving care
Twice as likely to have a problem with drugs or alcohol
(increased from 18% to 32%) and to report mental health
problems (12% to 24%)
78% of sex workers who are also problematic drug users
have been in care
Medway’s Looked After Children/Young People
Health assessments
• 90% have an up to date health assessment
• Continue to have a problem with high cancellation
and non attendance rates
Emotional Health and Well-being
• 71% have an up to date Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaire
• National Average Score 13.8 Medway Average Score
14.8
• Medway has a greater need in respect of emotional
and behavioral health compared to the national
picture
• 10% of Medway's LAC have a diagnosis of ADHD
(national survey 18% of LAC)
Consultation with Young People and Carer’s
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Range of reasons given by young people for not
attending health assessments
Support from the Children in Care Council in
developing an ‘on-line’ health questionnaire
The Zone – monthly drop in for young people
Phone appointment system requested by foster
carers
The importance of health and the role of the LAC
health team discussed with new foster carers at
their induction
Implications
• Poor health has an impact on all 5
outcomes of Every Child Matters
• Poor emotional health has an
impact on our ability to learn
• Reduces the future life chances of
these very vulnerable children and
young people
Recommendations
• LAC seen as a priority within the delivery
plans of all services which have contact
with them
• Improve communication
• Understand the importance of health to
every day life
• Improve access to CAMHs for both
children/young people, their carer’s and
those working with them
Questions?