The majority of children enter the care system because of abuse and neglect. There are over 3,000 Children in Care living in Surrey & Sussex and many more placed here from other local authorities.
Children in Care and Care Leavers are more likely to experience health and social inequalities due to their past experiences. For example, almost 50% of Children in Care and Care Leavers have a diagnosed mental health disorder and two-thirds have special educational needs. Early identification and timely access to appropriate support are essential to improve health, wellbeing and life chances for Children in Care & Care Leavers (NICE 2021).
A child who has been in the care of the local authority for more than 24 hours is legally known as a Looked After Child. This is often abbreviated to LAC. Nationally children and young people have stated they do not like this. Please help us to help them, by not using the acronym LAC; locally you will hear the terms Children in Care or Children We Care For which they prefer.
Children in Care might be living with foster carers, at home with their parents under the supervision of the Local Authority, in a residential children’s home or other residential settings like schools or a secure unit.
Other children enter care if they have disabilities and receive regular respite exceeding 17 days per placement or 75 days in 12 months. We also have a number of Separated Migrant Children (also known as Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children) living in Sussex and Surrey who enter care if they arrive in the country without a parent or legal guardian.
Children who have been permanently adopted or who are under a special guardianship order are not Children in Care.
The NHS contributes to meeting the health needs of Children In Care in three ways:
- Commissioning effective services
- Delivering through provider organisations
- Through individual practitioners providing coordinated care for each child
Under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act (2026) all NHS bodies including ICB’s and NHS Trusts, have statutory Corporate Parenting responsibilities to consider the needs and outcomes of Children in Care & Care Leavers when designing and delivering their functions.
Care Leavers
A Care Leaver is a young person between the ages of 16-25 who has lived in care for a minimum of 13 weeks since their 14th birthday. There are approximately 2,300 Care Leavers aged 16-25yrs living in Surrey & Sussex.
Care leavers might be living in temporary accommodation, assisted living settings or living independently from the age of 16. Care Leavers have access to Personal Advisors in the local authority to support them with manging money, employment, housing and further education. When they turn 18, they no longer have access to their Children in Care Nurse Specialist Nurse service.
Leaving care can be an extremely vulnerable time for some care leavers as they are expected to manage their lives more independently. There are many local and national initiatives to reduce health and social inequalities for care leavers in addition to the statutory Care Leaver offers provided by the Surrey & Sussex local authorities:
Care leaver offers
Safeguarding children in care and care leavers
Children in Care & Care Leavers remain highly vulnerable to abuse and neglect, even when they are in care or are Care Leavers. Please remain vigilant to signs of abuse and always report concerns in the same way you would for any other child or young person.
Share your views
The Children In Care and Care Leavers Feedback Platform has been designed with care leavers, for care experienced children and adults, foster carers and professionals to share views on health services in Surrey & Sussex.
The feedback has helped to influence and improve accessibility to health services and positively impact health inequalities faced by children in care and care leavers due to their life experiences.
Individuals can leave feedback and see what how we share their views with partners in the ICS to impact the way health services are delivered. The platform has already been shared regionally and nationally; the Sussex Designated Children in Care team have been recognised for their work by NHS England, receiving an NHS Safeguarding Star Award. The feedback platform was also shortlisted and a became a finalist in the 2025 HSJ Digital Awards.
Reducing health inequalities and inequity
The Children in Care and Care Leaver health information website has been co-designed with children in care and care leavers locally, to host health and social care information in one place to make access to useful information more accessible.
The site has been used widely in Sussex since 2024 by Children in Care, Care Leavers, Carers and professionals. It has recently been adapted and is now ready to be expanded to Surrey. If you would like a QR code for the website to share in your department, or more information please contact the Surrey & Sussex Designated Children in Care team.