Child We Care For
A child is legally ‘looked after’ if they are in the care of the local authority for more than 24 hours. In Oxfordshire the term ‘Child We Care For’ is used instead of ‘looked after child.’ A CWCF may be living with friends or family members, with a foster parent, in a residential home or school or on their own in supported housing.
Our responsibilities
We are responsible for making sure that the child or young person has their health needs reviewed by qualified health professionals. There is a lot of research to suggest that some CWCF may not have received all the usual routine healthcare that help keep a child healthy such as immunisations or dental care and there may be missed medical appointments.
Having a health review means that this can all be looked at and a plan made to fill in the gaps. Because the health of CWCF is felt to be so important, it has been made into law that all CWCF should be offered a first health assessment with a medical doctor when they enter the care of the local authority. If a child remains looked after by the local authority, they continue to have health checks with a nurse or doctor every year if aged over 5, and twice a year, if under 5.
If a CWCF does not live in Oxfordshire, we will work with the health teams in other areas to ensure that a health appointment is offered. If we are asked, we will also arrange the health reviews for CWCF living in Oxfordshire from other areas.
Helpful links and advice
There is a lot of information available to support health and wellbeing and it can be confusing to know which websites to look at.
The Phoenix Team have collated some suggestions which we hope will support you to achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Page last reviewed: 30 January, 2023