The Children in Care (CIC) team (formally Looked after Children) works in partnership with the Office of Children and Young People Service to ensure that children in the care system receive health services that are equitable to that received by any other child. The team also offers services to the carers and parents of children in the care system.
The Luton Children in Care team work with children that are placed into care by Luton Local authority.
We see children that are placed in Luton by Luton Local Authority and children placed from Luton within a 25 mile radius of our base in Luton.
The Children in Care Team are based in Woburn Court, 2 Railton Road, Kempston, Bedfordshire, MK42 7PN. The team co-ordinate and arrange initial holistic health assessments within 20 working days of a referral being received from Luton Social Care.
You can contact the team via the Health HUB on 0300 555 0606 or ccs.beds.childrens.lac@nhs.net
Every child and young person is then seen for a Review Health Assessment.
- Children who are under 5 years are seen every six months by either their Health Visitor or the Specialist Nurse for CIC.
- Children over 5 years are seen annually by a Specialist Nurse within the CIC team.
The majority of review health assessments are conducted within the Child or Young Person’s home. This enables us to see the child in their normal environment and prevents them from having to be taken out of school.
We work closely with Luton Social Care, our Designated Nurse for CIC and Safeguarding, CAMHS, Community Paediatricians, Health Visitors and School Nurses.
Health Assessments
Initial Health Assessments are conducted by paediatricians in clinics at the Edwin Lobo Child Development Centre in Luton, or a designated doctor local to where the child is placed. A detailed Health Summary Action Plan is shared with the Social Worker, the Independent Reviewing Officer, the Foster Carer, the GP and in some cases the biological parents. Outstanding health issues are addressed and necessary referrals made by the Paediatrician.
Review health assessments are conducted in the Child’s or young person’s home. As with initial health assessments a detailed action plan is produced and shared in the same way.
What to expect from your initial health assessment.
Care Leavers
The last face to face health assessment is conducted before the young person’s 18th birthday. A Health Passport is then completed and given to them with a copy of the health plan, which ensures that they have information about their health history.
The CIC team contact young people between their 18th and 19th birthday to offer health advice and support, which is available from the CIC nurses to all care leavers up to the age of 21 (25 if in full time education).
In addition, the CIC team liaise regularly with the residential and semi-independent living houses in Luton and Bedford and provide training and support for their young people when necessary.
How to access the service
Referrals come from Luton Local Authority Looked after Children team.
You can access our service by clicking the button below:
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Contact us and find us at:
Woburn Court
2 Railton Road
Kempston
Bedfordshire MK42 7PN
Tel:0300 555 0606
Email: ccs.beds.childrens.lac@nhs.net