A child is ‘looked after’ if they are in the care of a local authority for more than 24 hours.

We are responsible for making sure that the statutory health assessments for Looked after children are completed and their health needs assessed. This includes children and young people who are under the care of Oxfordshire County Council placed both within Oxfordshire and in other counties.

Our designated and specialist nurses provide training, professional support and advice to health and social care staff, care providers, and foster carers about the health needs of looked after children.

There are weekly clinics where looked-after children are seen by specialist doctors for their initial health assessment. The specialist nurses may undertake review health assessments for children and young people who are not attending school, are beyond statutory school age or placed out of area. Sometimes children are seen by the Phoenix Team, if in their best interest.

We may also complete health assessments for children placed in Oxfordshire from another county.

We provide health support to Oxfordshire’s Residential Edge of Care Service. Each home has a link nurse who is a member of the Phoenix Team. They are available to provide advice and support to staff as well as direct work with the young people. This may include completing a review of their health needs and contributing to care planning.

We can deliver training and provide case consultation to the REOC service as well as health colleagues. We liaise with the REOC therapeutic team and those involved in the child’s care.

We provide health input to children and young people who are working with the Youth Justice Service that are subject to a court order. We coordinate and deliver health needs assessments for children and young people serving a court order, and provide professional support and health advice to Youth Justice Service staff, parents, and carers.

The Kingfisher team brings together Thames Valley Police, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Children’s Social Care, to support children and young people who are at risk of or who are being sexually exploited.

The Named Nurse for child sexual exploitation works as part of the Kingfisher team. The specialist nurses hold a caseload of children working with Kingfisher and work alongside the team. Both the Named Nurse Kingfisher and Specialist Nurses are overseen by the Phoenix Team Operational Manager.