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Health Team

Who are we?

  • There is a Health Co-ordinator for Looked After Children. She is a Senior Nurse and you can contact her on 01922 443909.
  • There is a Named Nurse for Looked After Children. She can be contacted on 01922 443908.
  • There is a Health Advisor for the Transition and Leaving Care Team based at Jervis Court, Walsall. She is a nurse who can be contacted on 01922 748110.
  • There is a Consultant Paediatrician with special interest in looked after children. She is a Senior Doctor who can be contacted through her secretary on 01922 443903.

How can we help?

  • We're here for you if you need to talk in confidence about anything to do with your health. You can also talk to a school health advisor, or for carers of children under five, a health visitor.
  • We give foster carers, social workers and personal advisors general information to help them support you in keeping healthy.
  • All young people are invited to have a health assessment and with your help we develop a Personal Health Plan that is special to you.

How do we do this?

  • We develop services to improve the health and lifestyle of all looked after children.
  • We arrange your health assessments.
  • We make sure you get to any other health services whenever you need to.
  • We work with foster and residential carers.
  • We give you information either on your own or in a group to help you make choices about your health.
  • We make sure you see the paediatrician quickly if you need to.

Who do we talk to about you and your health when you have had a health assessment?

NOBODY! Even if you are under 16

Unless.....

You give us your permission to share info with your carer, social worker or personal advisor

Or……

We think that you may be in danger or at risk.

What is a health assessment?

A chance for you to have a chat with a nurse – this might be your school health advisor, health visitor or another health advisor - or doctor about what matters to you about your health and anything else that’s worrying you.

You are not on your own! All young people who are looked after, living with foster carers or in a children’s home or sometimes with parents, need to have a regular health assessment to help them stay fit and healthy.

What will happen?

First time - Before your assessment, we will tell you what’s going to happen.

You'll be seen by a doctor, who, with your permission will examine you. The doctor might listen to your heart for example, but there are no surprises and you will not be given any injections!  At this assessment and at other times:

  • Your height and weight will be checked and we’ll make sure you’ve had all your immunisations.
  • You get the chance to tell us if you’re worried about your hearing or eyesight or any other areas of your health, like how you’re feeling about life at the moment.
  • It's also a great time for you to pick up information and support to help you make choices about your lifestyle. Information about diet, exercise, smoking, drugs, contraception and alcohol is available if you want it.

After your first assessment, you will probably not need to see a doctor again. At all assessments, you can talk to the health worker on your own and so can your carer if they want to.

What is a personal health plan?

  • At the end of the assessment, you will get the chance to make a plan about your health with the health worker.
  • It says what the health need is, what needs to be done, who needs to do it and when it needs to be done by.
  • You and the health worker sign the plan and you will get a copy of it.

Useful contacts

Here is a list of services and other organisations that may be of help.

  • The Manor Hospital – Walsall - 01922 721172
  • NHS Walk in - Walsall - 01922 858550
  • NHS Direct – Help line - 0845 4647
  • GUM (Local) - 01922 633341
  • Hatherton Clinic (Family Planning) - 01922 775041
  • Sure Start Plus - 01922 710351
  • Child Line - 0800 11 11
  • Walsall Pregnancy - 01922 649000
  • Health Co-ordinator, Lichfield House - 01922 858956
  • National Aids Helpline - 0800 567123
  • Walkways - 01922 615393
  • Addaction - 01922 646262
  • Lantern House - 01922 858463
  • National Drugs Helpline - 0800 776600
  • Walsall Quit Smoking Service - 0800 169 9346