Statutory Health Assessments for Children Looked After: Initial health assessment (IHA) when a child first comes into care followed by annual reviews (RHA) for those over 5 years or every 6 months for children under 5 years. IHAs are completed by Doctors and RHAs are largely completed by Nurses, but where required and appropriate, will also be completed by Doctors.
Health Promotion, advice, referrals and signposting: Offered at every health assessment. Health related issues such as sleep, healthy eating, dental health, optical health, alcohol/drug use, sexual health, relationships, mental health, smoking/vaping cessation are addressed at the appropriate age and stage of development.
Adoption and Fostering: The Medical Adviser for Adoption & Fostering attends Adoption Panels and Agency Decision Maker (ADM) meetings to give medical advice on children and prospective adopters; as well as medical advice on prospective foster carers to Fostering Panel.
Liaison with other professionals: The team work as an integral part of a large multi-agency and multi-disciplinary group who hold a Corporate Parenting responsibility to Lewisham’s Children Looked After including Children’s Social Care, foster carers, residential homes, specialist schools, school nurses, health visitors and other Lewisham health professionals, including Lewisham Paediatricians, General Practitioners, CAMHS, sexual health practitioners, and CLA health teams from other areas.
