Purpose
The Health Passport is a key document that supports children and young people in understanding, managing, and taking pride in their own health. This procedure ensures that supervising social workers (SSWs), foster carers, and support services work collaboratively to maintain accurate and up-to-date health information for every child. It promotes children’s participation, ownership, and empowerment in their own healthcare, in line with trauma-informed and child-centred practice.
Distribution and Introduction
Support Services will send out a copy of the Health Passport alongside the Children’s Guide to every new child placed.
- SSWs should sensitively introduce the Health Passport to both the child and the foster carer, explaining its purpose as a personal health record that belongs to the child and travels with them.
- Where appropriate, SSWs should help the child understand how this tool can support their wellbeing and sense of continuity, particularly if they move placements.
Supervising Social Worker (SSW) Responsibilities
SSWs MUST see the child’s Health Passport during each supervision visit and discuss the child’s health needs in a supportive and age-appropriate way. The Health Passport should be reviewed collaboratively with the foster carer and, where suitable, with the child or young person. There is a prompt on the supervision template as a reminder.
- SSWs should approach discussions about health with curiosity and compassion, recognising that some children may have past experiences of neglect or inconsistent healthcare.
- The tone and language used during health discussions should empower children and reduce anxiety, particularly for those who may associate medical care with distressing experiences.
If the Foster Carer does not have the Health Passport available or it has been misplaced, this must be discussed and noted in a supportive and non-punitive manner.
- If the Passport has been lost, a new one must be requested immediately.
- SSWs should then work with the foster carer to ensure that information is backfilled in a timely and accurate way before the next visit.
The maintenance of the Health Passport must be reviewed and discussed during the household annual review, reinforcing the importance of consistent health care and record-keeping.
Using the Health Passport as a Tool for Engagement
The Health Passport is not only a record but a conversation tool for promoting health awareness and confidence.
- SSWs should use the information within the Health Passport to monitor health appointments and progress, and as a springboard for positive discussions with children about healthy living.
- SSWs should encourage foster carers to use it as a way to help children feel proud of their health achievements and routines, celebrating progress such as attending check-ups or learning new self-care habits.
The child’s SSW should be given access to the Health Passport or NHS “Red Book” during visits.
- Foster carers should record health appointments in both their daily recordings and the Health Passport. This duplication ensures continuity — the Health Passport travels with the child, while the agency retains records for safeguarding and accountability.
- If a placement ends unexpectedly, the SSW must ensure the Health Passport is safely transferred to the Local Authority Social Worker (LASW), maintaining respect and confidentiality around the child’s health information.
Children Under Five Years
- The Positive Aspirations Group Health Passport does not replace the NHS “Red Book” for pre-school children.
- Foster Carers must continue to maintain and update the NHS “Red Book” for all pre-school children.
- If the “Red Book” is unavailable, relevant information should be requested from the child’s SSW, LASW, or parents during the Placement Planning Meeting (PPM). In these cases, the Positive Aspirations Health Passport should be used to record and monitor the child’s health.
- SSWs should use the information in the NHS “Red Book” or Health Passport to monitor the child’s health and appointments, taking care to reassure foster carers and parents that this is part of supporting consistent care rather than an audit.
Children Aged Five to Eleven Years
- At age five, the NHS “Red Book” is typically no longer used. At this point, all relevant information should, wherever possible, be transferred into the Positive Aspirations Health Passport.
- If the “Red Book” is not accessible, the SSW or foster carer should request relevant information from the LASW or, where appropriate, from parents during the PPM.
- As children approach age eleven, they should be gently encouraged to take small, age-appropriate responsibilities for their Health Passport, supported by their foster carer. This helps to build a sense of control, routine, and understanding about health and wellbeing.
Young People Aged Eleven and Over
- From age eleven onwards, young people should be encouraged and supported to take greater ownership of maintaining their Health Passport according to their ability and comfort level.
- This shared responsibility should always be guided — the foster carer remains accountable for ensuring that the Health Passport is up to date.
- Young people should be supported to decide how and when they wish to share information from the Passport with their SSW. If a young person feels embarrassed or private about certain appointments, the foster carer should pass on relevant information discreetly, maintaining respect for the young person’s dignity and confidentiality.
Trauma-Informed Principles in Practice
- Empowerment: The Health Passport process encourages children to have voice, choice, and ownership over their health journey.
- Safety: Health discussions are conducted in a calm, private, and predictable way that fosters psychological safety.
- Trustworthiness and Transparency: SSWs explain why health information is recorded and who can access it.
- Collaboration: Foster carers, SSWs, and the child’s network share responsibility for maintaining health continuity.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Recognise and respect diverse beliefs, traditions, and understandings of health and wellbeing.
