www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Croeso
Welcome
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
• Debbie Williams
• Health and Social Care Lecturer/co-ordinator
for the Btec National Diploma in Health and
Social Care
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Background information
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SEN
Conversion Course
RGN
DiP(N)
BSc (Hons) in
Community Health
Studies
• PGCE
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Aim of this evening….
• Highlight the health
needs of Looked after
Children
• Identify additional
difficulties they may be
experiencing
• Familiarise yourselves
with the support
network available to
this vulnerable group
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Wellbeing
• Children and young people who are looked
after are amongst the most socially excluded
groups in England and Wales
•
Promoting the Health of Looked after Children (DOH 2002)
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Definition of a Looked after Child
• Children become looked
after when their birth
parents are unable to
provide ongoing care in
either a temporary or
permanent capacity.
Children can either be
looked after as a result of
voluntary agreement by
their parents or as the
result of a care order.
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
What does Looked after mean
• introduced by the
Children Act in 1989
and refers to those
children and young
people who are subject
to a care order or
accommodated
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www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
• Over 60% have Care
Orders or Interim Care
Orders under section 31
of the Childrens Act
1989
• (and / or on EPO under
section 44 of the
Childrens Act 1989)
• Over 30% are in care
under a voluntary
agreement with parents
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www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
• The remainder are
accommodated under
section 21 of the
Children Act 1989
• - Remanded to Local
Authority Care
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www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
National and Local Picture
• Approx 60,000
children/young people
looked after in the UK
• 5,100 within Wales
• 175 from Conwy
• 165 from Denbighshire
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
• Over 65% cared for by
foster carers
• 15% - residential
homes/school
• 10% - secure units
• 10% - parents/families
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Why do children/young people
become looked after?
• Family stresses
• Abuse
• Illness or death of
parent
• Disabilities
• Hardship
• Behavioural problems
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
How does this feel?
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Sadness
Confusion
Loneliness
Anxiety
Depression
Abandonment
Different to everyone
else
• Loss
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Corporate Parenting
• 'Corporate parenting means
the formal and local
partnerships needed
between all local authority
departments and services,
and associated agencies,
who are responsible for
working together to meet
the needs of looked after
children and young people,
and care leavers.'
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Health Needs of a Looked after
Child
Improving the health of looked after children is a
multi-agency responsibility.
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
• Prior to entering the “care
system” many children will
have health needs arising
from
 Living with families affected
by drugs, alcohol or
domestic violence
 Trauma/abuse/neglect
 Special needs
 Come from highly mobile
families
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
• Evidence from studies
suggests neglect of
routine immunisations
and screening, lack of
appropriate care for
known acute/chronic
health conditions and
failure to diagnose
health and mental
health problems
•
(Promoting the Health of Looked
After Children DH 2002)
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
• Whilst in care their
health needs may be
further affected by:
 Frequent placement
moves
 Change of social worker
 Change in school
 Poor support
 Inadequate record
keeping
 Poor planning
This results in.....
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Higher incidence of:
Teenage pregnancies
Drug and alcohol issues
Serving prison
sentences
• Prostitution
• Mental health problems
• Depression
• (Who Cares? Trust 2001
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
• Higher incidence of:
• No academic
qualifications on leaving
care
• Not progressing to FE
• Not attending
education
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Colin's story
• Colin, 17, describes how he is coping after
leaving care
• When I left care it was the right time for me because I didn't get on very
well with my foster carers. But I didn't feel ready to be on my own and
have a flat. So that's why I am in supported accommodation to help me
with my cooking etc. And also I have been looking for a job but I have just
been out of luck.
• I will continue to look for jobs and hand in my CVs, to earn a little more
money as well. And I wish I'd stayed a bit longer at school to try and get
better qualifications.
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Support
• LAC Nurse
• Education Liaison
Officers
• Personal Tutors
• Named teachers
• FE Support Staff –
• Universal services
• CAMHS
• Social Worker/Personal
Advisors
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Improvements?
• Improved general
health
• GP registration
• Dental registration
• Immunisations
• Development of
creative, sensitive
flexible ways of working
and supporting this
vulnerable group
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
Coleg Llandrillo
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Personal tutor
Link worker
Drop in sessions
Additional support
available
• Partnership working
• Communication
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
The State is my Parent....
But it has:
No arms to hug me;
Or lips to kiss me;
Or eyes to see me;
Or ears to hear me.
 (Voice of a child in care 1998)
www.llandrillo.ac.uk
www.meirion-dwyfor.ac.uk
• Diolch yn fawr, noswaith dda
• Thank you very much, good evening