What does this service provide?

Who we are

We are a team of specialist nurses who are committed to improving the health outcomes for children and young people who are looked after. We strive to deliver a supportive, informative, and highly effective service to address and meet the health needs of children and young people who are in the care of West Sussex County Council.

What we do

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust have two teams who are responsible for implementing guidance from the government to meet the health needs of children and young people who are in the care of West Sussex County Council.

We do the following:

  • Follow up health recommendations made by the paediatrician at the initial health assessment when a child first becomes looked after.
  • Undertake and oversee nurse-led health assessments. These are bi-annual for children under 5 years old and annually for children aged 5–18 years.
  • Provide all children and young people who are looked after with the contact details of their specialist nurse.
  • Deliver effective health promotion advice and interventions to vulnerable young people.
  • Adopt a holistic, trauma-informed approach to each young person’s needs.
  • Support and advise carers, social workers, and other professionals to improve the health outcomes of looked after children and young people.
  • Provide young people with a summary of their health history as they transition to adulthood.
  • Attend meetings pertinent to the wellbeing of children and young people (strategy discussions, Child We Care For reviews and safeguarding meetings).
  • Proactively engage with residential care home staff and young people in supported living accommodation.
  • Attend the Therapeutic Access Panel (TAP).
  • Maintain oversight of all West Sussex children and young people placed outside of West Sussex to ensure continuity of healthcare.
  • Complete health assessments, upon request, for children and young people placed in West Sussex by other Local Authorities.

How can I access this service?

No referral is necessary to access our service. The team is notified of all children placed in care within West Sussex. This begins the process of health needs evaluation.

The Looked After Children Nurse Specialist Team can be accessed via the following routes:

  • telephone
  • email
  • task via the electronic health record (SystmOne)
  • via other health professionals such as doctors, school nurses, and health visitors

Where can I access this service?

Contact details
Contact details
Telephone: 01273 265 952
Opening hours

Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm (excluding bank holidays).

The Looked After Children Nurse Specialist Team is not an emergency service and does not have an 'out of hours' service.

South East Team (Worthing)
Where to find us
Address: 3rd Floor, Bridge House, Barrington Road, Worthing, BN12 4SE

You can find us using the what3words address snippet below on the what3words website:

navy.powder.heave
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South West Team (Westhampnett)
Where to find us
Address: Westhampnett Child Development Centre, 28–29 Westhampnett Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7HH

You can find us using the what3words address snippet below on the what3words website:

window.mime.raft
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North East Team (Haywards Heath)
Where to find us
Address: Nightingale Primary Care Centre, Butlers Green Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 4BN

You can find us using the what3words address snippet below on the what3words website:

status.teeth.hoot
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