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4.8.2 General Practitioners, Dentists and Opticians

Contents

  1. Notifications and Registrations with GP’s, Dentists and Opticians
  2. Appointments with GP’s, Dentists and Opticians 


1. Notifications and Registration with GP’s, Dentists and Opticians

Immediately after a child is placed, the social worker must undertake the following notifications/arrangements:

  1. Notify the Health Authority (in which the child is living) of the child’s placement.
  2. Arrange a Health Care Assessment

    See Health Care Assessments and Health Care Plans Procedure
  3. Ensure that the child is registered with a GP, Optician and Dentist; preferably retaining registration with a practitioner known to the child. The social worker should liaise with the provider/carer to make these arrangements.

2. Appointments with GP’s, Dentists, Opticians

If children appear to require or request it, appointments should be made for them to see their GP or other medical practitioners as appropriate.

When appointments are made, account should be taken of the child’s wishes, for example, to see a practitioner of a preferred gender. Also, appointments should preferably be made which do not disrupt the child’s education.

Parents and the child’s social worker should, if possible, be consulted before making appointments; but they must be informed of the outcome.

Details of appointments must be recorded on the child’s Chronology. See Chronologies and Family History Guidance.

End