3.14A
Sent to carers 15.07.2009
Dear Carer,
A recent incident involving a sick child has caused us to try and improve the advice we give to foster
carers especially those who are caring for very young children.
To help carers, Jackie Wilkinson, the Designated Nurse for Children in Care, has produced the
enclosed guidance, she has also asked that we give you the enclosed leaflet. I know it refers to ‘this
winter’ but the advice is good all the year round.
For those carer’s who look after children under 5 we, have also obtained copies of the ‘birth to five’
health book. If you care for this aged child you will shortly receive a copy of this book from your
fostering social worker. The book is also available on line (the reference is in the attached leaflet).
The leaflet and the guidance are both available in the foster carer area of the County Council website.
Finally if you are caring for a child who is not well, do say if you think the child is not well enough for
contact or day care. Contact their social worker to convey your views.
Remember that support is available to you through your fostering social worker, through the help line,
through LFCA, EDT and the local carers you are beginning to know in your locality group.
You can also discuss with your fostering social worker the health related training courses that are on
offer to you.
Yours sincerely.
Cath Sartoris
Service Manager (Family Placements)
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3.14A
The Sick Child
The Department of Health Birth to Five book www.dh.gov.uk/publications is available on-line and is a
practical guide for parents. It gives the latest advice and information on all aspects of child health,
immunisation, healthy eating, childhood illnesses and safety. There is a very good advice chapter for
parents / carers on sick children. NHS Direct is also available online for general health information
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk; or you can ring them on 0845 4647 (24 hrs).
The guidance below has been written to support foster carers to access appropriate local health
services. It is important that you ensure that children and young people are registered with GPs near
to where they are living. Unless it is certain that a placement is very temporary, permanent
registration with local GP is essential for continuity of care; this ensures that medical records will then
follow the child. Surgeries should fast-track requests for Looked After Children medical records.
ABOVE ALL, TRUST YOUR FEELINGS;
As a foster carer, you know better than anyone what the child or young person is like day-to-day, so
you will recognise changes in behaviour or signs that they are ill. If you need general advice on a
health matter, you can ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647 (24 hours) they will help you find health
services in the local area and are able to answer health questions.
Illnesses can be more worrying if you are caring for a young child or baby, as they can quickly
become more seriously ill. When a child has an illness that is giving concern, you will need to make
an appointment at the local GP surgery, where the child is registered. Dealing with a child’s illness
needs to be your highest priority and they will need to be looked after carefully. If there is a contact
visit planned or other activity that might interfere with the child being cared for, then these will need to
be cancelled.
If you’re worried and / or know the child needs more urgent attention:

Speak to the registered GP at any time of the day or night

If the surgery is closed you will be advised to contact, or be transferred to, the GP Out of
hour’s service; they will ask you lots of questions about the child’s illness (see guidance on the
following pages). They will then give you advice on managing the illness or they will arrange
for the child to be seen and examined.

If you need practical support with an ill child outside office hours contact the Foster carers
support line on 0776 859 2077. This is available from 6-12 each evening and from 12 noon
each weekend. The LFCA and foster carers in the locality group will also assist you.
If you are seriously worried about illness you should go, or be taken, to A&E. These departments are
open every day and treat serious and life-threatening emergencies. If it is obvious that you or another
person is seriously ill and in need of emergency care, you should call 999 and ask for the ambulance
service.
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The Local NHS Trust produces a Choose Well leaflet to help the public choose
appropriate local health services:
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3.14A
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE DOCTOR OR NURSE YOU SPEAK TO:
It is important you are able to describe clearly the child’s illness or symptoms and why you are
worried; here is guidance on how to do this well.
Tell them:
 child’s age and that they’re a child in care.
 what the child’s illness symptoms are, e.g. rash; vomiting; diarrhoea; breathing difficulties
etc.
 whether the child has a high temperature or not. Does their skin feel hot or cold? Is their
skin colour different, e.g. pale or very red?
 whether they are lively and alert or limp and lethargic?
 how long the child has been ill.
 if any treatments have been tried and how did the child respond to them?
 are there any known or ongoing health problems?
 are there any medicines being given?
 whether the child has any known allergies or reactions?
 whether the child is eating or drinking – how much and when?
 If they have passed urine and how often?
CARING FOR THE ILL CHILD
The Birth to Five book www.dh.gov.uk/publications guidance is available on-line and gives good
guidance on how to manage temperature and care for the ill child. It is important to follow the guidance
given by the health professional around the child’s specific illness.
General advice for supporting an ill child includes:
 Follow the medical or health advice that has been given.
 Don’t overheat the room the child is in, keep the room airy; avoid draughts.
 Give the child plenty to drink.
 Give the child time for quiet games, stories, company and comfort.
 Encourage them to rest and have a nap when this is needed.
 Check on the child during the night
 Cough and cold remedies are not recommended for children under 6 years, as coughing helps
to clear phlegm on the chest or mucus from the nose.
 Over the counter cough medicines are available in pharmacies for children over 6 years (it is
important to seek advice from your pharmacist).
 Look after yourself; it can be tiring looking after a child who is ill.
There is a wide range of training available to foster carers to support the health of children in care
which includes, emergency first aid, medicine management, immunisations, preventing infections and
good hygiene practices, dental care etc. Contact your supervising social worker for details on how to
access these training sessions.
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