The Children in Care team comprises 6 nurses, including one clinical lead, 4 nursing assistants and 6 admin staff, some of whom work part time hours.
We are based at the St Stephens Centre, 171 Nineveh Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B210SY
The nursing team undertake review health assessments and occasionally initial health assessments.
We will provide a health plan, address any identified health issues and signpost to other services as required. We will give missing immunisations, carry out health promotion and screen for potential emotional well being concerns.
The nurses attend strategic and operational multi agency meetings city wide.
The nursing assistants assist at clinic and work alongside the nurses to provide health promotion and support in a wide range of settings.
The administrative team are responsible for all the referrals coming into and going out of the team. They provide administrative support to the nursing team as well as answering queries from many sources.
The team generally works from 8am til' 5pm but the nurses offer flexible appointments outside of these hours at times.
For all appointments it is important that you bring the dates of the young persons latest dental and optician visit, also the red book if you have it.
Referral/booking process
Referrals to the service are from social workers within Birmingham local authority and other authorities from around the country.
New into care
Social workers are to complete the relevant BAAF form and send the form to centralbookinglac@nhs.net. The social worker must ring central booking to make the appointment on 0121 466 3450. Failure to ring for an appointment will mean the referral being rejected after 4 weeks. Social workers must attend the appointment as failure to attend will mean the child will not be seen. For disabled children please see the section below.
Review health assessments
Doctors within the team see all children under the age of 5 and those with complex issues. For reviews for the doctors send the relevant completed BAAF form to Central Booking. The social worker must ring central booking to make the appointment on 0121 466 3450. Failure to ring for an appointment will mean the referral being rejected after 4 weeks. Social workers must attend the appointment as failure to attend will mean the child will not be seen. For disabled children please see the section below.
For any other child and young person over the age of 5 the nurses will be undertaking the assessment and the completed relevant BAAF form should be sent to Central Booking . Social workers do not need to attend this appointment.
Disabled children and young people
In order to avoid an unnecessary medical appointment as these children and young people are usually attending special school or already being seen by so many people all relevant completed BAAF forms are to be sent to Central Booking. These forms will be triaged by the team and any that need to be forwarded to central booking will be done so. The social worker will be notified if the form has been sent on to central booking so they can ring for an appointment.
Plan for adoption
When you are aware there is a plan for adoption you must telephone the adoption department on 0121 303 1010 to arrange the medical. This department will advise you if you need to book a child in care medical or an adoption medical. Children in care do not need to have a child in care medical and an adoption medical they only need one.
Sexual Health Support
BCHC has a sexual health nurse who can:
•Undertake health assessments
•Offer 1:1 contraception and relationship advice
•Offer Chlamydia testing
•Undertake pregnancy tests
•Demonstrate and offer condoms
•Look out for sexual exploitation/FGM
•Act as an advocate for the young person
•Signpost to Umbrella services
•Escalate safeguarding concerns
