Summary
They provide information about what needs to be done, when and by whom.
They are essential documents for children and young people who have medical conditions which change or where there is a high risk that emergency intervention could be needed. They are also helpful when medical conditions are long-term and complex.
The Department of Education recommends an IHCP for any child or young person that has a recognised or diagnosed medical condition.
IHCPs contain information and guidance from specialist health care professionals. They help school staff understand the child’s health condition – and what to do to meet the child’s health needs in school.
Who needs an IHCP?
Some autistic children and young people have lifelong medical conditions that need health support and/or medication when they are in school or college:
Conditions commonly seen in education settings – and where an IHCP could be needed:
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Epilepsy
- Eczema
- Eating Disorders
- Gastrointestinal disorders – including constipation
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
An IHCP can also provide information about emotional health needs.
What is an IHCP for?
An IHCP is for any child or young person with a medical condition. It is a central information point for everyone that needs to support the child’s medical needs in school.
It ensures these needs are suitably and safely met, so that the child has full access to education – including school trips and physical education. It ensures their health needs do not negatively impact on their ability to access learning.
It documents details about what school staff need to do to make sure the child’s medical needs are met during the school day. It includes information about medication and what to do in an emergency.
IHCPs also record what steps school can take to support a child / young person to safely manage their own health needs.
An IHCP might be needed when a child with physical or emotional health needs returns to school following a period of alternative provision, such as home schooling or education in a hospital school. The IHCP should identify the support the child needs to be able to return to school.
How are IHCPs written?
An IHCP can be written and used as soon as a child’s medical needs have been identified. A child does not have to wait for a formal diagnosis before schools provide them with support.
School nurses often take the lead on writing an IHCP – but it is the responsibility of the child’s school to finalise it and make sure it is used.
Information for the IHCP can be from: –
- the child / young person and their parent/carer
- medical professionals
- school nurse
- care navigators
Information for the IHCP can be taken from medical letters, reports, action plans, instructions on what to do in an emergency, lists of triggers or symptoms.
It is important that an IHCP expresses the views of the child / young person and their parents or carers.
IHCPs should be reviewed annually – and when there are any significant changes to health care needs.
The format of IHCPs may vary so schools can choose whichever is best for the specific needs of each child/young person.
IHCPs should be easily accessible for all staff who need to use them.
However, everyone using an IHCP should make sure that people who do not need to use it, cannot see it. This ensures this private information about a child / young person is kept confidential.
Role of parents/ carers
Parents and carers should:
- provide the school with up-to-date information about their child’s / young person’s medical needs
- tell the school about any changes to the child’s health and / or health needs, so that these can be recorded in the IHCP
- attend IHCP review meetings
- carry out any action they have agreed, such as:
- providing medicines and equipment
- ensuring they or another nominated adult are always contactable
Role of children/young people
Children/young people with medical conditions often have the most knowledge and understanding about their own health care needs. They should be fully involved in discussions about their medical support needs and contribute as much as possible to their IHCP.
They must also make sure they follow the advice in their IHCP.
Friends of children / young people with medical conditions are often sensitive to the health care needs of their friends and can provide them with valuable support.
Children/ young people with Special Educational Needs/Disabilities (SEND)
Some children may have learning differences and difficulties, often described as ‘special educational needs’ (SEN).
Information about a child’s SEN is often documented in an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). An EHCP will describe a child’s learning differences and difficulties, plus explain what support or adjustments the child needs, to help them learn as well as possible. However not all children with SEN qualify for an EHCP.
Some children may have both SEN and a medical condition. Many of these children will have both an EHCP and an IHCP.
EHCPs and IHCPs are both separate documents.
However, if a child has an EHCP and an IHCP, some information can be recorded in both documents.
For example, sections C and G of an EHCP is where information is recorded about ‘health needs and provision’.
When a child has SEN but does not have an EHCP, information about learning needs should always be recorded in their IHCP.
Click here for more information about SEN and EHCPs
Some children with health conditions need health care from several health care services. This can mean lots of appointments and information to remember, which can be complicated and sometimes confusing. Parents / carers may wish to ask for support from the Care Navigation Service who can help with this.
If there are concerns about a child’s health care in school
If a parent or carer has any concerns about their child’s health care in school, as documented in the IHCP, they should raise this with school as soon as possible. School and parents / carers should work together to reach a quick and safe solution. If there have been changes to a child’s health condition and / or needs, school may need to carry out an early review of the IHCP. School and parents / carers should discuss this with any health care professionals involved with the child.
If parents / carers continue to have concerns about how a school is managing a child’s health needs, they should follow the school’s complaints policy (available on the school’s website). If an agreement cannot be reached, parents / carers can raise a concern with the Department for Education (DfE). For more information, click here
If parents / carers continue to have concerns about how health care professionals are supporting their child / young person’s health care, they should contact patient services, to raise a formal complaint:
Leicestershire Partnership Trust patient advice and liaison service (PALS)
| LPT.pals@nhs.net | |
| Phone | 0116 295 0830 |
University Hospital Leicester patient information and liaison service (PILS)
| pils.complaints.compliments@uhl-tr.nhs.uk | |
| Phone | 08081 788337 |
