Children in care
The Children In Care (CIC) Health Team provides health support for all children and young people that are placed in the care of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council) and Dorset Council.
Our aim is to help children and young people with their physical and emotional health needs and promote healthy lifestyle choices.
Initial health assessment
When a child or young person comes into care, we are notified, along with University Hospitals Dorset, by the child’s social worker.
University Hospitals Dorset will arrange an initial health assessment (IHA) with one of the community paediatricians in Dr Lachlan’s team who hold clinics in Poole and Dorchester. The child or young person will be accompanied to this assessment by their carer.
When the doctor has completed the assessment they will draw up an initial health plan for the child or young person. This will inform the health and social care team of any identified health needs and a treatment plan.
The health recommendations from this will be sent to the carer and the young person if applicable.
Every child in care has a CiC nurse.
You can contact the team on 01305 361127 or at dhc.dorsetcichealth@nhs.net.
The continuing role of the team and review health assessments
Review health assessments (RHAs) are carried out regularly once a child or young person has had their IHA. If the child is aged under five, we will arrange for the named health visitor to complete an RHA every six months.
All other children or young people will receive an annual RHA by one of the nurses in our team. This can be a home visit, timed after school hours to meet the child and their carer to assess and identify any health needs and agree a plan to follow up as appropriate. It can also be in a clinic or by virtual means. We can refer to allied health professionals and teams such as; Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, Paediatric Care, Substance Use Services, School Health Team or GP services.
The CIC Health Team also provides training to multi-agency team members and health workshops for Children In Care.
Meet the team
Clare Billings is the named nurse and service lead for CiC Dorset. She is a registered nurse and school nurse.
BCP team
Emily Garner, team lead, is a Specialist Nurse for CiC and is a registered nurse and school nurse.
Abi Clark, care leavers nurse
Ahmed Abdulrahman, emotional health and wellbeing practitioner
April Johnson, specialist CiC nurse
Michelle Widdicombe, specialist CiC nurse
Jade Anderson, specialist CiC nurse
Becky Webb, specialist CiC nurse
Alice Jewitt, specialist CiC nurse
Lizzie Clarke, specialist CiC nurse (additional bank work)
Dorset team
Hayley Matthews, team lead, is a specialist nurse for CiC and is a registered nurse
Abi Clark, care leavers nurse
Carrie Briggs, emotional health and wellbeing practitioner for CiC
Carla McGrath specialist CiC nurse
Tiff Whiteford specialist CiC nurse
Felicity Ash, team nurse
Tash Collins specialist CiC nurse
Our locations
Bournemouth Chirstchurch and Poole Children In Care Health Team
CYPSC
14a Commercial Road
Poole
Dorset BH14 0JW
Dorset Children In Care Health Team
Forston Clinic
Herrison Road
Charlton Down
Dorchester
Dorset DT2 9TB