Children's services

November 2006: Independent review of the long term sustainability of children’s palliative care

We would very much welcome your input and should be grateful if you could take the time to respond to the questions attached to this letter.

9 November 2006: Invitation to bid: DH/DfES health led parenting support demonstration sites

This letter invites PCTs and Local Authorities to make a joint application to become a demonstration site for the DH/DfES health led parenting support programme for at risk families.

31 October 2006: The acutely or critically sick or injured child in the district general hospital - a team response

An inter-collegiate expert working group has considered issues regarding anaesthetic and other services available to children who are critically sick or injured in district general hospitals, and has produced this report.

30 August 2006: Application forms for the hospice funding grants

The application forms for the hospice funding grants announced in May by Patricia Hewitt are now available for download here. Guidance notes for filling in the form are also available here. They should be returned to child_palliative_care@dh.gsi.gov.uk . For more information, call Alcuin Edwards on 020 7972 4380.

18 August 2006

This draft self-assessment tool is based on the PCT ‘fitness for purpose’ programme. It covers strategic commissioning of maternity, children and young people services. It provides a tool to aid best practice in maternity and children’s commissioning. We welcome views particularly on the performance indicators to be included in it.

2 August 2006: Safeguarding Children: Fabricated or Induced Illness questionnaire (ROCR reference 06/001) – Deadline extended until end of September

The Department of Health is undertaking a project to review NHS implementation of the guidance on Safeguard Children in Whom Illness is Induced or Fabricated (2002) within the NHS. As part of the review we are keen to hear the views of all staff working with children, including for example, paediatricians, GPs, nurses (including managers), accident and emergency staff, health visitors and social workers, to find out what can be learnt from your experience and views of the Guidance and any issues it raises. We are interested in your views regardless of whether you have been involved in an actual case of Fabricated or Induced Illness. To ensure as many professionals as possible have an opportunity to participate the deadline has been extended to the end of September. To take part please send an email to MB-Childrens-Health@dh.gsi.gov.uk requesting access to the on-line questionnaire. The survey has been approved by NHS Gateway, Return of Central Records (ROCR) and the Association of Directors of Social Services.

9 June 2006: Child protection competencies defined for all health service staff

In response to the recommendation set out in second Chief Inspectors’ report: Making Safeguarding Everyone’s Business, the RCPCH, RCN, RCM, AMICUS-CPHVA and RCGP, backed by the Department of Health, have launched a framework of skills, competencies and role descriptions to support the safeguarding of children and young people.