Date of Learning: 07/05/ 2025

Time: 9:30 – 16:30

Title of learning activity: Child Assessment.

Health promotion for babies, children and young people (BCYP)

Diary of Learning activity

(itemise learning activity and reflect on the main points of learning from each. You should identify for each entry the relevant KSB)

Reflection on Learning Activity (include model of reflection e.g. Driscoll or Gibbs):

Assessment – the act of judging or deciding the amount of value of, or progress in a child’s development, to understand their strengths and needs and to plan appropriate support or interventions.

Child assessment helps professionals and caregivers ensure that a child is developing in a healthy and age-appropriate way across areas like physical development, communication, learning, and social-emotional skills.

Different types of assessment:

1.Clinical

2. Social and Emotional

3. Physical development

4. Environmental

5. Family

6. Mental Health Assessment

Assessment Process:

Rapport = Good Communication Skills / consider:

Verbal + non- verbal environment

Interpreters required open and closed questions and clarification of understanding.

Physical Assessment – observation:

–          Skin – birth marks

–          Bruises

–          Rashes

–          Mongolian Blue Spot

–          Consent

–          Gillick Competence (children involves in their medical process or care under age 16)

–          Fraser Guidelines (are a set of legal criteria used in the UK to determine whether a child under 16 can consent to medical treatment (including advice about contraception) without parental knowledge or consent.

PEWS – Paediatric Early Warning System, calculates the following vital signs:

–          HR

–          Respiratory Rate

–          Oxygen Requirements

–          Saturation, above 93 %

–          Concern

–          Consciousness Level

–          BP/ CRT – capillary refill time / Temperature/ skin colour

PEWS provides score and a trend which is early quantifiable as a red flag.

Purpose of PEWS is to facilitate better communication between staff.

Identifying current Public Health concerns affecting babies, children and young people (BCYP) several key issues are consistently highlighted by UK health authorities like the NHS, Public Health England (now UKHSA), and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID):

1 Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

 2. Obesity and Physical Inactivity

3. Safeguarding and Child Protection

 4. Access to Health Services

 5. Vaccination and Preventable Diseases

 6. Substance Use and Risk Behaviour’s (Teens)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood (ages 0–17), such as experiencing or witnessing violence, abuse, neglect, or growing up in a household with mental illness, substance abuse, or incarceration. These experiences are linked to long-term negative outcomes, including the development of risky behaviours in adolescence and adulthood.

Chronic stress from ACEs can alter brain development, especially in areas involved in impulse control, emotional regulation, and decision-making. This makes individuals more susceptible to engaging in high-risk behaviours.

 Risky Behaviour’s Associated with ACEs:

 Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. For BCYP, these factors are particularly influential as they shape development, access to care, and long-term health trajectories.

 SDOH affecting BCYP:

1. Economic Stability, children in low-income households are at higher risk of malnutrition, stress, and limited access to healthcare. Unstable employment can lead to housing and food insecurity. Food insecurity affects physical and cognitive development

2. Education Access and Quality, high-quality early education supports brain development and long-term success. Parents’ educational levels influence health literacy and engagement with healthcare services. Safe, inclusive, and supportive school settings promote mental and physical well-being.

3. Healthcare Access and Quality, timely immunizations, developmental checks, and treatment of illnesses are essential. Uninsured or underinsured families often delay care. Language barriers and cultural misunderstanding can reduce quality of care.

4. Neighbourhood and Built Environment, overcrowded or unsafe housing contributes to injury, stress, and illness. Pollutants, lead, and mold disproportionately affect children in deprived areas. Parks and community centres encourage physical activity and social interaction.

5. Social and Community Context, stable and nurturing family environments are protective against many health risks. Trauma, neglect, or abuse can cause long-term physical and mental health issues. Racism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination harm health and access to services.

6. Digital Access (Emerging SDOH) is important for education, health information, and telehealth, especially post-pandemic.

In 2025, the UK government has introduced several public health policies targeting (BCYP) to address emerging health challenges and promote well-being.

1. Revised Childhood Immunisation Schedule,effective July 1, 2025, the UK is implementing significant changes to the childhood immunisation schedule.

2. Online Safety Act 2023, The Online Safety Act 2023 establishes a duty of care for online platforms to protect children from harmful content.

3. Tobacco and Vapes Bill, tobacco and Vapes Bill introduces measures to reduce smoking and vaping among young people. It will be illegal to sell tobacco products to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009

4. Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced in 2025, this bill focuses on safeguarding and supporting children’s welfare and education.

The role of the Nursing Assistant (NA) in supporting families is crucial and multifaceted. While their primary focus is on patient care, NAs also play an important role in helping families navigate the emotional and practical aspects of a loved one’s care.

KSBs addressed:

K12: Understand the importance of early years and childhood experiences and the possible impact on life choices, mental, physical and behavioural health and well-being

K13: Understand the contribution of social influences, health literacy, individual circumstances, behaviours and lifestyle choices to mental, physical and behavioural health outcomes

S16: Promote health and prevent ill health by understanding the evidence base for immunisation, vaccination and herd immunity

S14: Promote preventive health behaviours and provide information to support people to make informed choices to improve their mental, physical, behavioural health and wellbeing

S20: Recognise people at risk of abuse, self-harm and/or suicidal ideation and the situations that may put them and others at risk