SCIE/NICE recommendations on looked after children: Promoting the quality of life of looked-after children and young people

SCIE Guide 40

Published: October 2010

This is NICE and SCIE’s formal guidance on improving the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of looked-after children and young people.

• Key recommendations in the guidance include… Open

  • The need for health, education and social care professionals to collaborate more effectively to collect, monitor and share information and ensure that all of the information follows the child if they move. 
  • The need to develop and deliver services based on accurate, early assessment and intervention including referrals to specialist help.
  • Universal and specialist training for professionals, primary carers (improved entry level and advanced training), social workers and independent reviewing officers (improved specialist training to support educational stability and achievement).

  SCIE and NICE say that, in order for looked after children and young people to develop and maximise their potential, mental health services should be sensitive to their needs, there should be improved access to further and higher education, and placements need to be more stable.

• Influences on the quality of life of looked-after children and young people Open

  

  Note that health and social care services include dedicated services to promote the mental health and emotional wellbeing of looked-after children and young people, and to support young people in the transition to independence. Services should be designed to address the needs of children and young people with particular needs, including those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, unaccompanied asylum seekers and those with disabilities.

  The quick reference guide to this guidance gives an overview of the topics covered, and will help different professional groups identify which recommendations are relevant for them. The quick reference guide is available from www.nice.org.uk/guidance/PH28/QuickRefGuide.

Recommendations for practice

• Strategic leadership
• Audit and inspection
• Care planning, placements and review
• Professional collaboration
• Promoting mental health
• Placements
• Sibling placements and contact
• Supporting babies and young children
• Health assessments
• Personal quality of life
• Diversity
• Supporting foster and residential care
• Care provided by family and friends
• Improving education
• Preparing for independence
• Training for professionals