The Designated Nurse for Children in Care
(CIC) presented a report, focusing on the BCP elements, a copy of
which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which
appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.
It was highlighted that the report was based
on the period from April 2023 to March 2024 and provided a full
overview of developments since the previous reporting period
2022-23, demographics for children in care, performance,
challenges, and areas for development 2024-25. The report included details on:
- Focus on IHA
performance.
- Launch and
dissemination of pregnancy pathway for children in care.
- Access to dental
care for all children in care and care leavers
- Analysis of
performance data and outcomes for CiC
- Reducing serious
violence funding and fruition of role
- Addressing dataset
variations
·
Care leaver voice – PCN pilot
·
Development of DiiS care leaver page
·
Adoption regulations
·
Blood borne virus and TB screening audit
Demographics
– as at end March 2024 a total of 1000
children were in care for BCP and Dorset, with another 346 children
placed in Dorset by other local authorities. 397 children came into
care in 2023-24 which is a 3.5% increase since start of the year.
UASC represented 119 of the number in care with 72.7% placed
outside of the county of Dorset.
Performance
·
Challenges
·
Out of area delays
·
IHA 20-day timeframe
·
Dental health outcomes
·
Care leaver outcomes
·
Areas for development
·
IHA performance and delivery model
·
CiC Health Forum
·
Health provider activity and performance
·
Addressing variations dataset
·
Dental Health
·
Reducing serious violence role
·
Mental capacity and consent training
·
Emotional and mental health services
·
Scrutiny of residential placements
·
SEND and transition
The Board discussed the report, including:
- The Chair
highlighted that Children in Care and Care Experienced were
classified as a protected characteristic within BCP Council however
it was acknowledged that they weren’t in terms of the
Equality Act and what it actually means needed to be
considered.
- The Chair also
highlighted the comparisons with physical neighbours and felt that
consideration should be given to BCP’s statistical neighbours
as it was noted that BCP’s physical neighbours were much more
rural.
- In response to a
query regarding the dental risk being removed in 2022, the Board
was advised that it was removed from the Integrated Care Board risk
register as it was felt to be a national issue and there had been
positive progress in terms of commissioning.
- In response to a
query regarding emotional and mental health services and the
introduction of wellbeing hubs that were currently targeted at
adults, the Board was advise of the current work including drop in
sessions by a care leavers transition nurse who attends the Insight
Group, however it was noted that this could be considered within
the PCN pilot to offer that additional support to care
leavers.
- An Insight
Representative highlighted the importance of the care leavers
transition nurse and acknowledged that covering the whole of Dorset
stretched her accessibility to those in need. The Designated Nurse for CIC advised they wanted
to provide evidence of the good work and positive impact from
interaction with the transition nurse to get more funding for this
important role.
- The Corporate
Director of Children’s Services welcomed the differentiation
between BCP and Dorset both in terms of landscape but also in terms
of the journey their Services were on and the differing needs
within them and enquired how there could be an equitable shift to
ensure the health needs of the children within BCP were
met. The Designated Nurse for CIC
advised of the creation of the pan Dorsey CIC Health Forum which
provided a greater understanding of what was required by both
conurbations.
- An Insight
Representative enquired of the possibility of separate mental
health support for CIC and CE young people and the Board was
advised that part of the CAMHS transformation programme was
considering increasing the age of access to access the emotional
health and wellbeing practitioners which currently ended at 18
years.
- An Insight
Representative provided the Board with personal experience of her
treatment once she was identified as a care leaver, and the
barriers she felt that may have contributed towards a delay in a
health diagnosis and advised of the need greater awareness and
education within healthcare settings about CIC and care leavers to
remove the stigma attached. The
Designated Nurse for CIC thanked the Insight Representative for
their feedback and acknowledged that there was a lot of work to do
across health settings to educate and remove the potential
stigma.
The Board noted the
report.