Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has been working hard to gain funding for free prescriptions for care leavers.
Introduction
There are seven principles of Corporate Parenting, but of most significance to this report are the following;
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To act in the best interests, and promote the physical and mental health and well-being, of children in care or care leavers.
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To take into account the wishes and feelings of those children and young people.
As Relevant Partners, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) are compelled by the Children and Social work act (HMG, 2017) to be guided by these principles during their decision making.
There is wide recognition that care leavers have faced many challenges in their lives and are likely to need much more support than other young people in making the transition to adulthood. Relevant Partners should play their part as part of a wider corporate parenting family (DE, 2018). The Department for Education therefore introduced a ‘care leaver covenant’ that enabling organisations to make commitments to care leavers within the spirit of the corporate parenting principles in a way that is most appropriate to them.
Nationally, regionally and locally Care Leavers tell us that free prescriptions would make a significant difference to their lives (ADCS Care Leaver Covenant, 2022).
The challenges
There has always been recognition of the additional struggles young people leaving care face around inequalities, including financial constraints as they move into independent living. However, the cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated the situation. Care Leavers often find themselves in situations where they cannot afford prescriptions and lack the financial support of a parent or significant other to help with this.
Care leavers who are accessing apprenticeships or employment receive cost of prescription charges which currently costs £9.35 an item. Many do not have access to funds from extended family to support them with daily living costs and therefore prescription costs are an extra burden.
The following cohorts of young people are not exempt from prescription charges:
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Young People in work/apprenticeships.
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Young People with an income of over £15,276.
The solution
A business case was presented to the ICB to fund free prescriptions; and with the support of the Corporate Parenting Board this it was approved on the 1 April 2023.
The joint work with our care leavers and FIYA ( how they articulated their need and the importance of this) and the ongoing support form Corporate Parenting Board enabled this achievement.
One of our care leavers presented the importance and impact of free prescriptions to NHSE along with the Designated Dr for Children in Care.
The impact
For care leavers who have chronic health conditions and do not meet the national eligibility criteria, a prepaid prescription certificate would have a significant impact on their finances and ability to meet their own health needs. Overall, the potential cost benefits outweigh the financial expenditure.
How is the new approach being sustained?
Training has been delivered to P.A’s to ensure the awareness of free prescriptions.
This will be continued and embedded into practice. It is now part of the final health assessment where nurses introduce the Care Leavers Health Passport and final health summary.
A leaflet has been produced and shared with GP’s to ensure the profile is maintained.
Lessons learned
Lessons learnt were to continue to listen to our children and young people and pursue their needs to ensure better outcomes, and to never give up.