Screening tools
Please note that some screening tools are produced under copyright and that local areas adopting tools should ensure they meet the requirements around reproduction and use.
Child development
CoramBAAF are not currently recommending a specific screening tool for use during health assessments
Children under 5 should already be accessing universal services and early years provision
However it may be useful for practitioners on occasion to use a screening tool/approach at a health assessment appointment. For example for a child that has missed all previous routine screening
Local community paediatric pathways may determine which tools are used.
In some areas there is a specific speech, language and communication screening tool in use.
There are lots of different developmental screening and evaluation tools (e.g. Ages and stages, Global scales for early development, Schedule of Growing Skills, Griffiths, Bayley). If a child requires a comprehensive developmental evaluation they would be referred from the health assessment to an appropriate paediatric service.
Resources
Healthy child programme schedule of interventions
Developmental Station | MRCPCH Clinical Exam Revision
Exploitation
Child safeguarding boards may have an agreed exploitation tool for multiagency use.
Relationships and sexual health
The health team should be aware of locally agreed pathways, resources and support for children and young people which enable them to access sexual health services.
Some areas may use tools such as the Brook Traffic Light Tool
Emotional wellbeing and mental health
The SDQ is the most widely used tool in the UK as it was introduced as a statutory requirement some years ago. Originally the SDQ was designed involving tri-partite completion. (ie completed by the carer a teacher and the child/young person).
The SDQ is of most value if it has been completed in advance of a review health assessment and is available to the practitioner for reference.
There are no screening tools validated specifically for use at the initial health assessment.
Substance Misuse
Some areas use one of the tools originally developed in America, the CRAFFT or Screening to Brief Intervention (S2BI) tool. The local pathway should identify whether a brief screening tool could be used in a health assessment if the practitioner feels further exploration is appropriate.