Archived decisions

Contact : Graham Linecar Ext 7390 - Health of Looked After Children

e-mail: [email protected]

Penny Velander Ext 7479 - Health of School Age Children

e-mail: [email protected]

1. Summary and Purpose of Report

1.1. The Committee's first review is to look at the health of our children and young persons.

1.2. The Committee has, as proposed in the consultation paper last autumn, decided to make more manageable the undertaking of a review of the health of children and young persons by dividing it into parts. The total review will be spread over more than one year: issues identified in earlier parts of the review will inform and direct later parts of the review.

1.3. The first part of this report summarises progress of the working group, led by Cllr Mrs Banks, which was asked to undertake the first aspect of that review - examining health care for looked-after children.

1.4. The Member working group appointed by the Committee at its last meeting to undertake the second aspect of the review has commenced. This working group, led by Cllr Mrs McNair Scott, is focusing on the health of school age children, paying particular attention to health inequalities.

2. Progress in examining health care of looked-after children

2.1. The Member working group was asked by the Committee to review health care for looked-after children, those children for whom the County Council has the responsibility of parent or guardian and who have been placed in foster care or a residential home managed by the County Council or another agency. The Committee has asked the working group to complete its review and prepare a report, with recommendations, by the end of 2003.

2.2 The working group is receiving back from those involved in health care of looked-after children responses to a questionnaire intended to establish some basis data about current practice and where improvement might be possible. Groups asked to respond include foster carers, primary care teams (GPs) and teachers with special responsibility for looked-after children. Arrangements have been made to seek views form looked-after children

2.3 The working group has arranged an all-day event on 24 November to discuss what has been learnt so far and discuss issues for presentation back to the Health Review Committee.

2.4 The working group is learning that undertaking a review requires time and effort. The working group is, so far, on track to complete a report by the end of the year - but the time table is tight and new issues emerging at the 24 November event may require investigation extending into the early weeks of 2004.

3. Progress in examining health of school age children.

3.1. The Member working group met on 6 October. A briefing paper was circulated prior to the meeting setting out key issues and suggesting a preliminary scope for the review. (see appendix)

3.2. It was agreed that the review will exclude:

· Children's mental health and therapy services as these are the focus of the next two Health reviews.

· Areas that come under the Green Paper `Every Child Matters' and

· Drugs, alcohol and sexual relations as these are being addressed by many statutory and non-statutory agencies

The review will, therefore, focus on the National Healthy Schools Standard (NHSS) and diet and exercise levels in our children and young people

3.3. The Strategic Health Authority is to be approached requesting information on how the NHSS scheme and targets are being addressed by health services in Hampshire. Plus, a questionnaire is to be sent to each Primary Care Trust to establish what work is being carried out to identify diet and physical activity issues.

3.4. Early indications are that no information is collected on children's weight or levels of activity despite mounting national concerns on growing levels of childhood obesity.

3.5. The working group is to meet again in December and will feedback a more detailed report on findings to the Health Review Committee in January 2004

Recommendation

That the report be noted

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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