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WQ.421/2023
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND EDUCATION BY DEPUTY L.V. FELTHAM OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2023 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 30th OCTOBER 2023
Question
“Will the Minister outline what support her Department has in place for the families of children that are diagnosed with chronic health conditions or terminal illnesses?”
Answer
The Children and Families Hub offers a single point of contact and referral to ensure children and families get the right help at the right time so that children are appropriately supported, safeguarded and protected. In addition to responding to referrals from professionals, parents/carers of children with chronic health conditions and life limiting illnesses can call the Children and Families Hub for advice, support and signposting.
The Children and Families Hub Service also offers direct family work and Family Partnership Workers complete early help child and family assessments and act as the Lead Worker, co-ordinating the team around the child and family when needed to develop a single early help plan. This can involve off-island health care and community and voluntary sector partners. For children with life limiting illnesses, support is delivered as part of the Palliative Care Pathway in partnership with Family Nursing and Home Care. Currently the Service is working with 16 children and their families on the Palliative Care Pathway and several children with chronic health conditions.
When greater needs are identified, a social work child and family assessment is undertaken, and the Social Worker will act as the Lead Worker. Assessment will consider support needs including provision of overnight short breaks and home care support.
Requests for mental health support for children are reviewed by the CAMHS Senior Practitioner in the Children and Families Hub to put in place an appropriate response.
CAMHS have a range of psychological and therapeutic support for children and families with chronic health issues or life limiting illnesses. Following the recent period of significant investment and positive recruitment, CAMHS now has three Consultant Clinical Psychologists, five Clinical Psychologists, three Assistant Psychologists, and a wide range of therapeutic staff.
For this specific area CAMHS has a new Paediatric Consultant Clinical Psychologist starting in November 2023 who will lead on the care and treatment support delivered to children and families with chronic health conditions or terminal illnesses.