Looking after HIV: Considering the needs of HIV positive looked after children

The Children and Young People HIV Network has just published a document which reports the findings of research which it has undertaken over the past year into the experiences of looked after children who are HIV positive:

Looking after HIV: Considering the needs of HIV positive looked after children
Amanda Ely (2008). London NCB.

This research considered how the needs of these children are understood and responded to by the professionals involved with their care as looked after children.

A number of cases were considered in the research, reflecting HIV positive children and young people looked after in foster care placements and residential children’s homes, and included the experiences of unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC). Through the case examples areas of professional awareness and understanding about HIV, policy and practice guidance, and consideration of risks of harm to young people, including risks of onward transmission of HIV, were explored.

The practitioners and young people interviewed offered many of the recommendations, these include training and awareness; the need for policy and practice changes, especially on confidentiality and information sharing, and the responsibility of the looked after children’s sector to de-stigmatise HIV and that all discriminatory practice to be dealt with accordingly.

To receive a copy of this document please email: hiv@ncb.org.uk sending full postal address. The document is free of charge, although for large orders we may request postal costs to be covered.