In care

Draft public health guidance from NICE focuses on the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of looked after children. The guidance, which has been developed by NICE and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), is expected to be released in its final form in September. Key recommendations include the need to commission services that are “integrated, preferably on the same site,” provision for the team around the child of a “consultancy service to help consider and work collaboratively on complex cases and situations” and access to specialist services for babies and children under 5 “which offer early and preventive interventions for babies and young children to avoid placement breakdown.” Also, because of the high level of emotional and mental health issues amongst looked after children and young people, there is, throughout the recommendations, a strong focus on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) input. Responses should reach NICE by 16 April 2010.