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.