Young people are registered with the local GP surgery, dental team and optician by their Key Worker in the Care Service and all necessary health needs are then organised and supported by our SIS (Health) team. The SIS (Health) practitioners are there to support, educate and assist in ensuring the health and well being needs of young people are met on an individual basis. We believe it is necessary for our young people to gain awareness of topics that are important in the world today.

Within our Secure Campus, an Initial Health Assessment is completed within 72 hours of arrival. This is followed by referrals to a dentist and optician and a medical assessment by a GP. In the Rossie complex, we have a purpose built medical room which is available for GP & medical consultations, admission health assessments, nursing consultations, dental services and optical services.

Young people in the Residential Campus are encouraged to attend clinics within the local community, so that staff can support young people in gaining confidence and independence as they transition into adulthood and independent living.

Our health team work in collaboration with community based health and medical professionals, to meet individual health and medical needs of every young person admitted to Rossie.

Our health team aims to provide every young person with appropriate care and treatment that will benefit them. We put our young people first, working with and around them and with their interests at the heart of what we do. We are flexible and sensitive to their needs and understand that treatment and health plans simply cannot be ‘one size fits all’. No young person is the same, and their experiences differ from the next.

During their time with us, we nurture, develop and encourage our young people to look after themselves – now, and after they leave us. We cannot guarantee our young people will continue to attend routine dental and medical check-ups – so we do our best to educate them while they are hear about the importance of self care and the longer term benefits. We also support them in registering with a local doctor and dentist after they move on from us.

Once the young person arrives at Rossie, the Nurse will assess their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. We will also look at areas such as family life, medical history, lifestyle choices, behaviour, and previous dental and optical screenings. We cover as many areas as possible to ensure we have a full picture of the young person’s health needs. Once we have received all of this information, we develop a health plan.

Nurse Clinic

Our Health Care Support Worker carries out routine screenings, including a monthly review of young people’s growth and general well being. This includes education on eating a well balanced diet, promoting regular physical exercise and maintaining good dental hygiene.

The GP

We register all new young people with a local medical practice (Annat Bank Medical Practice). Our GP also assist with the admission processes completing an Admission Medical Assessment within seven days of admission in our purpose built medical room. After this assessment the GP is available on a weekly basis for medical and health review consultations.

The Dentist

As part of the admission health assessment, all young people are referred to a Dentist from a NHS Community Dental Team. A dental check up for young people in secure care will be offered within 14 days of admission and organised by our SIS (Health) team. The assessment and follow up appointments are attended in our medical room with support from our Health Care Support Worker and offer a full range of dental treatments including fillings and root canal treatment.

Immunisations 

Some of our young people may have missed vital immunisations throughout their childhood. Our visiting GP and Nurse run an immunisation clinic on a regular basis.

Sexual Health 

Young people have an option of attending a specialist young people’s Sexual Health Clinic within the local area. Our Health Care Assistant or Nurse will provide extra specialist support if requested.

Chronic and long term conditions

If any of our young people suffer from chronic or long term conditions such as asthma, epilepsy or diabetes, we ensure that the young person has access to any specialist care they require. We ensure that they receive relevant support and continuity in individualised care for managing any conditions they may have.

This firstly keeps all staff and the young person well informed and up to date with why they are prescribed medication, including what to expect in relation to common side effects.

This profile also gives information about home remedies, which is specific over the counter medicines a young person can have in the event of minor illness and it directs staff on what a young person may have in relation to their age and any underlying health or medical issue.