Children and Young People in Care

What is a health assessment?

A health assessment is a detailed talk about your health with a nurse or a doctor. It will help you understand your health history, to be healthy, and to have the knowledge to stay healthy. 

These assessments are a good opportunity to make sure you're up to date with all health appointments, including immunisations, and to ask for further advice on different health topics, if needed. 

It's your decision to have a health assessment, you can say no or stop it at any time, but remember its purpose is to help you to be as healthy as you can be.

Sussex CCG have created a fantastic tool to show children what to expect at their health assessment.

Initial health assessment

An initial health assessment is the first health assessment you will be offered, usually within a month of you coming into care. This is completed by a doctor, usually at a clinic. They will ask you about your health and any concerns you may have. They may also ask your parent/carer and social worker about your health too.  

They will check your height and weight, ask about your hearing and vision, ask about your visits to the dentist and if you have any concerns about your health or the way you are feeling.  

You can be seen on your own, or a social worker, key worker or carer can come too if you prefer.

Review health assessment

A review health assessment is usually completed by a nurse. Children under the age of 5 will be seen 6 monthly, and those over the age of 5 will be seen yearly. As with the initial assessment, the nurse will ask you questions about your physical and emotional health and any concerns you may have. You will also have the opportunity to have your height and weight measured if you are comfortable with this and remember you can say no if you want to.

You can let the nurse know where you would prefer to be seen eg in school, at home, in a health centre or by virtual appointment. You can be seen on your own, or a social worker, key worker or carer can come too if you prefer. 

Questions you'll be asked

Some of the questions can feel rather personal. We will ask (if age appropriate) about sexual health, puberty, alcohol and drug use and mental health, including self-harming behaviours. We'll also ask about your immunisations, dental and vision screenings, any allergies and medications, and your diet. 

If you don't feel comfortable with the questions, or you want further explanations of why you're being asked, you can talk to the nurse completing the assessment with you. Please remember you do not have to answer any questions you don't want to.

After the assessment

Once the assessment has been completed, it will be written up and actions agreed with you to make sure that all your health needs are being met. This will include dental health, eye health, immunisations, emotional health and wellbeing as well as any other health needs you may have. Sometimes we will need to make referrals to other services. If this is the case, we will discuss this with you, your carer or social worker. 

Care leavers

We offer a health summary/passport to all young people leaving care either at or after their final review health assessment. The summary documents your health history and health needs and it’s aim is to make sure you have the information you need to manage your own health and wellbeing.

Sharing your information

Your assessment is confidential which means information will only be shared with your consent unless there is a serious risk of danger or harm to you or someone else. We will ask your consent to share a copy of your assessment along with the health recommendations for your care plan with your social worker and GP (doctor). It will also be shared with your carer.

If you do not want the assessment to be shared please tell your doctor or nurse, but remember it is helpful if the people caring for you and working with you know your health needs so they can support you.  

The NHS website provides trustworthy information and guidance on all aspects of health and health care. 

Accessing your GP records

Your GP records include information about your health such as previous illnesses, allergies, vaccinations  and medication you may have been prescribed. You can access your records through your GP.

Dental health

Children and young people under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education do not have to pay for NHS dentist care. It is recommended that every child should start attending regular dentist appointments as soon as their milk teeth appear. Your dentist will then advise how often you should be taking your child for check ups. The Children and Young People in Care Nurse can also support you in finding and registering with a dentist. Visit the NHS website for advice on taking care of children's teeth and how to find a dentist near you.

Eye health

Children and young people under 16 and young people aged 16- 19 and in full time education are entitled to free eye tests. It is recommended that you should have an eye test every two years, however your optician may recommend more frequent tests. Visit the NHS website to find a local optician. The Children and Young People in Care Nurse can also support you in finding and registering with an optician.

Fostering resources

Foster Care Matters is a hub for foster carers, aspiring carers, and the wider fostering community. It’s a site packed with news, insights, and useful fostering resources.  

Immunisations

Throughout your life you will be offered a range of immunisations/vaccinations. These are really important to help protect you from life-threatening illnesses. For further information, visit our Immunisations page.

LGBTQ

Support U - LGBT+ resource for Thames Valley. 

Emotional and Mental Health

Emotional and mental health is a very important part of the health assessment, but you don’t need to wait for a health assessment for help. You can talk to your carer, social worker, school nurse or nurse for Children and Young People in Care. You may also find these sites helpful:

• Kooth: an online mental wellbeing community which offers free, safe and anonymous support. If you are looked after by Bracknell Forest, Achieving for Children or Slough Children's Trust, you can access this service. 
• Childline: a free, private and confidential service with lots of useful information, strategies and advice. You can call, email or text them for a chat or advice. 
• Young minds: lots of information, strategies and advice. You can also text them for support. 
• Samaritans: a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide throughout the UK and Ireland.
• Tellmi: If you are looked after by Brighter Futures for Children, West Berkshire or Wokingham, you can access the Tellmi digital peer support app.
• Talking Therapies: if you live in Berkshire and are over the age of you 17 can access support through your GP or self refer for support.
• This May Help: For parents and carers to help manage their child's mental health.
• You can also visit our Mental and Emotional Health pages for advice on mental and emotional health wellbeing including bullying, gender identity and self harm.

Sexual Health

It is important that you are aware of local health services available to you. While you are living in Berkshire, you can visit Safe Sex Berkshire for information on sexual health, consent, relationships and local services and clinics. It can be translated into different languages.

If you live outside of Berkshire you can find information on clinics on the NHS website. 

Alcohol and Drugs

Visit our webs pages on substance and alcohol misuse.

Smoking and vaping

Visit the NHS Better Health website and Smokefree for advice and support if you are looking to stop smoking or vaping.

Young people with disabilities

Visit Mencap, a UK charity for people with a learning disability that supports young people, families and carers.

Advice on sleep

Visit our blog area for lots of advice on sleep.

Dental health

It is recommended that you have dental check ups every six months, or as advised by the dentist.  

You can find a dentist here.

Information on payment for NHS dental treatment can be found here (some people do not pay for dental treatment).

Eye health

It is recommended you have your eyes tested every two years or as advised by an optician.  

Information on payment for NHS eye tests can be found here (some people do not pay for eye tests).

Health advice

You can find information on the NHS website on health conditions, symptoms, healthy living , medicines and how to get help. You can also find information on local services. 

Visit www.nhs.uk

NHS account

You can register for an NHS account here.  

With your NHS account you can order repeat prescriptions, view your health record to see information like allergies and past medicines. If your GP has given you detailed access you will also see test results and details of any consultations. 

Support with housing, employment and fincances

You can find out from Barnardo's where to get support if you're a care leaver.

Visit the Gov website for information on what happens when you leave foster or local authority care.

Emotional and mental healt support

Visit our mental and emotional health pages for advice on mental and emotional wellbeing including bullying, gender identity and self harm.

Text support line

You can text for confidential support via our ChatHealth service. If you need support on relationships, healthy eating, drugs and alcohol, anxiety, stress, low mood, bullying, self-harm, body changes, dealing with medical conditions at school, smoking or sleep. Available if you live in Bracknell, Wokingham, Reading and West Berkshire.

Text 07312 263188

ChatHealth doesn’t receive images or pictures. Please be aware that it is not a live chat session and we will aim to respond to all messages within 24 hours.

We see children and young people from all around the world who are seeking asylum in England. If you need an interpreter, one will be provided for you.

As part of the health assessment the nurse or doctor will invite you to talk about your experiences in your own country and on your passage to the United Kingdom as there may have been things that will affect your health. Remember, your health assessment will not affect your claim for asylum in the UK at all. 

In addition to your initial health assessment, your social worker will refer you for latent (sleeping) tuberculosis testing.  

These websites have more information on health for young people seeking asylum in the United Kingdom:

• The British Red Cross
• Refugee Council: mental health services for unaccompanied children
• You can also contact the Migrant Children's Project for advice by email
• Tuberculosis: this website explains what TB is in over 30 languages and gives advice on treatment
• Doctors of the World: this website offers translated health information and highlights the mental health services and resources available to asylum seekers and refugees.

In this film young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds share their experiences to help young people new to the UK who may be struggling with their mental health: 

Our foster carer training is currently being updated. It will recommence in early 2024 with our new training programme for both new and experienced carers. We will update this webpage with full details once finalised.

To arrange an initial or review health assessment for a child in care living in Berkshire.

Please read the following information:

• Review health assessments guidance
• Social worker initial health assessment information

Referrals are usually made by social workers or health professionals but children and young people and their carers can also contact the teams directly. 

You can contact us Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm:

East Berkshire Team – Bracknell Forest, Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead, Slough: cicberkshireeast@berkshire.nhs.uk 0118 904 7910

West Berkshire Team – Reading, West Berkshire and Wokingham: cicberkshirewest@berkshire.nhs.uk 0118 904 7920

Text us

If you’re aged 11-19, looked after, and need some advice, you can text a school nurse in total confidence via our ChatHealth messaging service. It could be that you have worries about issues such as relationships, healthy eating, drugs and alcohol, anxiety, stress, low mood, bullying, self-harm, body changes, dealing with medical conditions at school, smoking or sleep.  
Text 07312 263266

There is also a number for young people who have left care aged up to 25 years who are living in Reading, Wokingham or West Berkshire.      
Text 07312 263188 

It's available to those who live in Bracknell, Wokingham, Reading and West Berkshire. ChatHealth doesn’t receive images or pictures. Please be aware that it is not a live chat session and we will aim to respond to all messages within 24 hours.

ChatHealth is not for professionals who need to speak to the Health Visiting or School Nursing Service. Please use your normal method of contact.

We’ll never share the information you give us, unless we are really concerned about your safety, but we’ll usually speak to you first. Your messages are stored and can be seen by other health care staff who follow the same confidentiality rules. We aim to reply to you within one working day and you should get an immediate message back to confirm we have received your text. Texts will only be seen between Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm. If you need help before you hear back from us contact your GP, nearest walk in centre or dial 111. Our text number does not receive voice calls or MMS picture messages. We support messaging from UK mobile numbers only (which does not include messages sent from landlines, international mobile numbers and some 'number masking' mobile apps). To prevent the health professional from sending messages to you, text STOP to our number. Messages are charged at your usual rates.