Recommendation One:

A top level multi-agency group accepts responsibility for the co-ordination and monitoring of review findings and recommendations to improve all care and support arrangements for children who are looked after in Hampshire

Lead: Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership

Action

Lead / partner

Commentary

Produce an action plan which can input into recommendations 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

CYPSP

Receive and monitor progress reports from partners progressing recommendations 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

CYPSP

Link with and feed back monitoring reports to the Health Review Committee

CYPSP

Maintain an overview of all strategic planning for care and support for children looked after ensuring it meets their needs

CYPSP

Promote the needs of children looked after at county, regional and national levels

CYPSP

Promote the two principles identified through the review

1. All services should endeavour to create a culture which values children and young people.

2. All children who are looked after should be at the centre of a truly multi-agency, needs lead approach that is co-ordinated across the county

CYPSP

Recommendation Two:

Establish a health information scheme which will enable children who are looked after to maximise their health and care choices

Lead: Social Services / Primary Care Trusts

Action

Lead / partner

Commentary

Build a comprehensive directory of health and care services, what they do and how to access them. This should be available to all Hampshire children who are looked after

SS / PCT in collaboration with all CYPSP partners

Maintain a focus on health promotion for diet and physical activity which builds on the Health of School Age Children Recommendations 3 and 4

SS / PCT in conjunction with Education

Special provision to be made available for children and young people living in children's homes to have cookery lessons and opportunities to cook. Keep SS informed of progress.

Children's Home Managers

Feedback progress to the C&YPSP

SS / PCT

Recommendation Three:

Provide a comprehensive, responsive and supportive multi-agency network of services to support children looked after

Lead: Social Services / Primary Care Trusts

Action

Lead / partner

Commentary

Develop principles and protocols of good practice to enable children who are looked after to gain speedy access to all general and specialist services as and when needed

SS /PCT in collaboration with other relevant agencies

There should be a range of specialist services available to children who are looked after provided with their needs in mind

SS /PCT in collaboration with other relevant agencies

Establish a mentoring scheme which develops professionals from a range of backgrounds to support children looked after to provide them with a consistent person to confide in, and advocate for them

SS /PCT in collaboration with other relevant agencies

Develop principles of good practice for involving children and young people in the placements that are made

SS /PCT in collaboration with children looked after

The image of professional services needs to be more approachable, child friendly and accessible

SS /PCT

Children looked after need to be able to access NHS Dental care and should be seen as a priority group

PCT

Could be part of an overall review of access to dental services

Feedback progress to the C&YPSP

SS / PCT

Recommendation Four:

That key professionals who are responsible for collating and transferring information should design, establish and monitor a transferral system that meets the needs of children, carers and professionals.

Lead: Social Services / Primary Care Trusts

Action

Lead / partner

Commentary

Review existing transfer of information systems. Identify where they can be standardised and improved to make the system speedier and more efficient

SS / PCT

Establish improved systems ensuring that all carers, professionals and agencies are aware of new procedures

SS / PCT

Review new procedures annually to improve and update as necessary

SS / PCT

Promote the practice of children looked after having ownership of their own hand held records where practical

SS / PCT

Feedback progress to the C&YPSP

SS / PCT

Recommendation Five:

Develop clear guidance and procedures for health assessments and GP practices.

Lead: Social Services / Primary Care Trusts

Action

Lead / partner

Commentary

New guidance on health assessment procedures developed which balances the wishes of children looked after with regulatory requirements

SS / PCT

New guidance on good practice and procedures for all GPs highlighting registration requirements and the new holistic health approach

SS / PCT

Feedback progress to the C&YPSP

SS / PCT

Recommendation Six:

Establish a training and support network to enable continual professional development and improve communication

Lead: Social Services / Primary Care Trusts

Action

Lead / partner

Commentary

A toolkit of good practice and advice for mentors and peers developed and made available

SS / PCT

Appropriate training available for foster carers, mentors, peers, GPs and other professional staff

SS / PCT

A support network that all carers can access as and when they need it (perhaps electronic - website and chatroom)

SS

Improve communication between all working with children and young people who are looked after

SS / PCT

Feedback progress to the C&YPSP

SS / PCT

Recommendation Seven:

Maintain an overall involvement and responsibility for review recommendations

Lead: Health Review Committee

Action

Lead / partner

Commentary

Written responses to recommendations to be received within the statutory timeline of 28 days

Received from the suggested leads

Deadline extended

Responses to recommendations to be presented at the Health Review Committee meeting on 30 March 2004

Working Group Chairman

Receive annual reports and updates on progress of review recommendations

C&YPSP

Ensure that all information relating to the review is available on the Health Review website with the aim of informing and communicating with those people working with children who are looked after

Health Review Officer