Looked After Children Service (LAC)

The Looked After Children (LAC) service ensures that all children who enter the care system have an Initial Health Assessment (IHA), carried out by a registered medical practitioner.

Each subsequent review health assessment will be completed by either a health visitor every six months (if the child is under five years old), or a LAC nurse (if the child is older than five).

Our ECCH team consists of three qualified nurses and two administrators. As well as undertaking health assessments, our LAC nurses support and offer training to foster carers and social workers. The service works very closely within the multi-agency forum to ensure timely completion of health assessments and appropriate referrals as needed.

Unaccompanied asylum seekers: You will be offered an initial health assessment and a review health assessment with an interpreter if you need one.
At your initial health assessment you will be offered a referral for blood born virus and tuberculosis screening as these diseases are more common in some other countries.

Confidentiality: Children and Young People in care have the right to confidentiality. Your Doctor or Nurse will discuss this with you and information will only be shared with your consent. We would only pass on information in order to protect you or someone else from serious harm and when possible, we would discuss this with you first.

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.