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Parents and Carers information

What would happen if your child attended our clinics?

All of the OPTIONS young peoples clinics offer a confidential service; young people (male and female) including those under 16 can attend without anyone else knowing, this includes friends, parents, teachers, carers and doctors.
 
Confidentiality is very important to young people, if they thought we were going to tell others they wouldn’t feel safe to attend and may not get the help they need.
 
Health Care Professionals, e.g. nurses, doctors, have a duty of confidentiality to all clients regardless of age.
 
There are exceptional circumstances under which confidentiality should be breached i.e when a nurse or doctor would have to inform someone else such as if they feel the young person is “at risk of significant harm”
 
Significant harm is defined in Section 31 Children Act 1989 as follows:
 “…is the child suffering or likely to suffer significant harm i.e. ill treatment, impaired health and impaired development , in the form of physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect.”
 
Under the Children Act 1989 health care professionals have a duty to act upon their concerns about young people.
 
When a young person attends at our clinic, 3 members of OPTIONS staff have contacts with the young person. OPTIONS is a team of young peoples development workers, a young peoples nurse and a doctor who all of which have a great deal of experience working with and supporting young people.
 
At the first visit, the young person is seen by a young peoples development worker. Their role is to talk about the OPTIONS service and what we provide, confidentiality and to find out why the young person has attended. They will check whether they aren’t being pressured to have sex and if they are happy and consenting in a relationship. The importance of choice and saying no is also discussed. The young person will the see the appropriate health professional for contraception and or testing for sexually transmitted infections at certain clincs. Safer sex will always be discussed if necessary.
 
OPTIONS see young people under 16 in clinics. To ensure a young person under 16 is not at risk, health care professionals will assess their competence by using the Fraser guidelines. The Fraser guidelines came about after a case in 1985 where a girl under the age of 16 was given contraception without her mothers consent. (The Gillick case.) These guidelines give guidance about treatment (including contraception) for people under the age of 16, who are able to fully understand what is proposed and its implications, and are competent to consent to medical treatment regardless of age.

The Fraser Guidelines

  • The young person understands the potential risks and benefits of the treatment and advice given and the nature of the examination that might be required.
  • The value of parental support must be discussed. Health professionals must encourage young people to inform parents or an appropriate legal guardian of the consultation BUT the health professional must respect their confidentiality.
  • The health professional should assess whether the young person’s physical or mental health, or both, are likely to suffer if the young person does not receive advice or supplies
  • The health professional should take into account whether the young person is likely to have sexual intercourse without contraception.
 
We always at OPTIONS encourage young people to talk to their parents/guardians if safe to do so. We also check for wider support such as older siblings or grandparents.
 
Most people are well aware of the age of consent being 16 for hetero and homosexual relationships in the UK. In 2004 the sexual offences act came into account.
The act includes a number of offences that criminalise sexual activity between under 18’s and under 16’s.
Health professionals or other professionals working with young people, for example teachers, youth workers or anybody acting by protecting or supporting a young person including friends and family, will not be committing an offence if they are
 
(a)    Protecting the child from sexually transmitted infection, or
(b)    Protecting the physical safety of the child, or
(c)     Preventing the child from becoming pregnant, or
(d)    Promoting the child’s emotional well-being by the giving of advice
 
All under 16’s are seen with a proforma that ensures the young person has been assessed and if any child protection issues are raised, they are acted upon and followed up. We have clear child protection guidelines and the young person would be supported and informed at all times if these needed to be followed.
It is important young people feel safe and be able to return if need be for further advice and support.
OPTIONS also refer on to other organisations that may be helpful for the young person such as alcohol/drug misuse or any other matter concerning a young person.

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