7.9 Health Promotion Policy for Looked After Children in Oxfordshire

RELEVANT CHAPTERS

For detailed procedures, see Health Assessments and Health Action Plans Procedure

Aims of Health Promotion
Roles and Responsibilities
Staff Training Guidance and Support
Dissemination
Monitoring and Evaluation
Key Elements for Inclusion in Health Promotion Activity
Resources to Support Health Promotion Activity
Young People Leaving the Care System

1. Aims of Health Promotion

To facilitate the acquisition of knowledge in relation to health
To encourage personal responsibility in all forms of behaviour
To encourage self esteem and self confidence
To develop decision making skills
To encourage respect and consideration for others
To provide support and information for young people and their carers
To strive to remove or reduce structural barriers which are detrimental to health and to tackle inequalities

This policy adheres to five main principles to guide staff/carers in their work in helping young people up to the age of 18 (and / or aged 24).

It aims to reflect the health promotion interests and priorities outlined in a child's Health Action Plan.

2. Roles and Responsibilities

While the child is being Looked After, residential social workers and foster carers are the main health promoters (by virtue of their role and responsibilities). They will work in partnership with the child, parents, field workers and colleagues in Health, Education and the Voluntary sector.
Both the child and their carer, with the child’s social worker, will work to achieve the points in the Health Action Plan.
The agreed Health Action Plan will provide the framework for monitoring progress and identifying future health promotion priorities
Supervision and support for this work will be provided by the foster carers’ family placement social worker and Team Managers for fieldwork and residential social workers.

3. Staff Training Guidance and Support

All staff will receive introductory training in health promotion which will be integrated into basic staff development and induction programmes
Foster carers will receive support and guidance on health promotion issues and will receive training where appropriate
At least one key trained worker within each residential unit will take responsibility for developing and maintaining health promotion resource packs and information for each unit. The role of these individuals is to act as consultants and peer trainers for colleagues through a " cascade" training model
Those undertaking health promotion work in the Children, Young People and Families Service will be given a copy of this policy and asked at all times to work within it
Health Promotion activity will be supported by Oxfordshire Health Promotion who will act as a resource for carers and residential homes, e.g. providing relevant educational materials (see also Section 7, Resources to Support Health Promotion Activity).
Information/advice will be given to the child in a variety of formal and informal ways based on assessed need and will include opportunistic work, responding immediately to questions and addressing issues as they arise.
Ethnic origin, cultural background and religion must be considered when planning or reviewing work in relation to health promotion
The creation of a healthy living environment will be a priority, giving consideration to the health impact of the physical and social environment.
The wider needs of young people leaving the care system are recognised as a major priority and will be responded to accordingly.

4. Dissemination

A summary of the Health Promotion Policy must be made available to parents and carers when a child is first Looked After.
The policy will be disseminated to each Team Manager (who will be asked to brief other staff) and made available to all, including parents, on request from the Team Manager.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation

Staff should ensure that they review their own health promotion work and seek feedback from children themselves. Policy and practice will be monitored by the Team Manager. In addition partner agencies will be expected to contribute to monitoring and evaluation.

6. Key Elements for Inclusion in Health Promotion Activity

6.1 Information

The Children, Young People and Families Directorate is committed to disseminating accurate and honest information, which in turn can empower children to make informed choices.

Counselling skills used by a residential social worker or foster carer can help a child to explore and consider their particular situation and enable them to access their knowledge and make an informed decision with their support. If a child needs medical/specialist help, it is more appropriate to refer them or let them know how they may access a health and/or advisory service or other health professional.

This policy supports the giving of accurate information, or the referral to the appropriate agency, on any health issues to all looked after children. It is recommended that a minimum of two staff (one male, one female) from each residential unit receive training in counselling skills.

Appropriate information on the following interrelated topics will be provided for looked after children by their carers or the most appropriate person:

a. Mental Health and Emotional Well-being

Seeking to provide a framework for developing personal resilience, reducing stigma and strengthening communities (ref. National Service Framework: Mental Health Promotion) in relation to:

Relationships, friendships, self esteem
Feelings, understanding, expressing emotion
Understanding mental health problems - depression, stress, suicide, anxiety phobias
Bereavement and loss, understanding and dealing with loss
Communication skills - listening, assertiveness, informed decision making

b. Physical Health

Seeking to provide a framework for personal care covering the following:

Lifestyle issues - diet and physical activity
Personal hygiene
Body changes - development, puberty, reproduction, pregnancy, childbirth
Sexuality and sexual health
Substance misuse - alcohol, tobacco illegal drugs
Safety issues including accidents, personal safety, sun safety

c. Social Health

Seeking to provide a framework for developing personal resilience covering the following:

Life skills including personal values and understanding those of others
Relationships, friendships, self esteem
Feelings, understanding, expressing emotion
Sexuality and sexual health
Substance misuse - alcohol, tobacco illegal drugs

6.2 Skills

Children will be encouraged and supported to develop the following skills:

Communication - listening and talking to others
Negotiating with authority - GP's, Health Visitors, Practice nurses
Assertiveness
Decision making
Anger management

6.3 Values and Attitudes

Children will be encouraged to consider the effects of their attitudes on their health behaviour and on how they relate to others.

7. Resources to Support Health Promotion Activity

Oxfordshire Health Promotion resources including easy to read leaflets and booklets, videos, teaching packs and samples will be used. Oxfordshire Health Promotion will provide the bulk of these materials on loan and will offer advice and support on how to make use of all resources.

All resources should be checked by an identified key worker for appropriateness against these criteria:

Is it likely to appeal to the child?
Is it consistent to the Health Promotion Policy aims?
Do you feel comfortable using the material?
Do you think it is appropriate to the needs of young people in terms of
Language
Attitude and values
Culture
Age and gender
Ability
Does it patronise or respect children?
Does it convey a positive image of looked after children?
Is there an undue bias in the resource?
Does it avoid racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of stereotyping?

8. Young People Leaving the Care System

This health promotion framework will contribute to an overall strategy for young people leaving care through facilitating the acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes which will help young people to live independently in the wider community.

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