To consider a report describing the achievements, progress and challenges of the Looked After Children health service in meeting the health needs of Central Bedfordshire’s children and young people in care during the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.

The Panel considered a report from the Director of Nursing and Quality NHS Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG) which described the achievements, progress and challenges in meeting the health needs of Central Bedfordshire’s children and young people in care during the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.

The Designated Nurse for Looked After Children introduced the Annual Report.  She worked through the report highlighting particular issues for Members’ information.  However, the Chairman expressed concern that the report focused on the health care process and failed to provide information on what the health of the Looked After Children and young people was actually like.  The Designated Nurse assured the meeting that most of the children and young people were in good physical health although, from the results of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQs), it was apparent that some were experiencing emotional difficulties.  Discussion followed on this issue during the meeting was advised that some children, including some unaccompanied asylum seeker children (UASC), had undergone traumatic experiences and the Head of Corporate Parenting explained that this had lead to the distortion of the average score.  The SDQ results therefore needed to be ‘unpicked’ to be fully understood.  However, further Member comment followed during which it was commented that the number of unhappy children within Central Bedfordshire had been increasing before the growth of UASC.  The Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations explained that the growth could be due to a number of reasons and, whilst emphasising that the figures were not far from Central Bedfordshire's statistical neighbours, acknowledged that there was an underlying issue.  He suggested that a ‘deep dive’ session be held which would include the experiences of individuals so Members would gain an insight into the scale of the matter.

Further discussion followed during which Members sought clarification and sought views on a number of points including the absence of GP representation at the Corporate Parenting Panel.  In response the Designated Nurse first explained that all GPs operated on the same system and were aware through electronic means as to whether or not a child was a Looked After Child.  The exception was an out of area Looked After Child where it was the child’s social worker’s responsibility to notify the GP.  She added that all services,  including GPs, attended operational group meetings and so were fully briefed.

Consideration was given to health assessments for out of County placements, and the delays experienced.  The Designated Nurse explained the reasons for this and the measures taken to speed up the process, the success of which would hopefully be reflected in the next Annual Report.

NOTED

the Looked After Children Annual Health Report for 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.

RESOLVED

1          that a ‘deep dive’ session on Looked After Children’s and young people’s health care provision with a particular focus on the issues arising from the results of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaires be held at the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel on 14 November 2016.

2          that Looked After Children (LAC) nurses and representatives of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) be invited to attend the deep dive session.