Integrated Child Services for an Asthmatic Child - Essay Example

Integrated child services Student’s name: Instructor’s name: Course Code and Name: Institution: Date assignment is due: Introduction Children care professional bodies offer integrated service to children with special needs and the children who are minorities (Harold & Michael 2001, p. 45). These services are professional in nature and they are directed towards the well-being of all the children. Many of these are towards the pursuing the five every child matter outcomes that help to achieve the objective of equipping the children to be better and satisfied members of the society. The services are also geared towards the integration of these children into the society as normal members who contribute positively to the community well being (Domhnall & Thomas 2007, p. 104). This paper expounds a case of a 6-year-old boy Elliot and who is asthmatic and how integrated services can aid towards helping him. It also focuses on the professional bodies who offer the every child matter outcomes and the national policies that address asthmatic conditions. Scenario Elliot is a 6-year boy who is in year 1 in primary school who has severe asthma attacks which in extreme situations has led him to be hospitalized. He takes inhalers daily as a curative measure. His family is composed of his 35-year-old father James, who is a white British, his 36-year-old mother Louisa whose is an African Caribbean (Christine & Maggie 2003, p. 457). he also has a sister named Serena who is aged 13 years old and a brother Joshua who is 10 years old Carmen who is only 16 months old. Colin who is 37 years old and African –Caribbean is Serena’s birth father and part of Elliot’s family. Elliot’s father smokes cigarette and this could worsen and trigger Elliot’s attacks. His asthma nurse has advised James to quit smoking but he finds it so difficult (Sohei & Ohta 2005, p. 89). Integrated services Asthma home-integrated environment checklist will be provided for Elliot by the integrated healthcare. This will serve to curb the conditions that trigger asthmatic conditions by identification and immediate mitigation of the same (Burns 2001, p. 45). This mainly is geared towards checking the sleeping area of the child (Faith 1998, p. 146). The focus of the integrated home visits is that they provide a chance and an opportunity for the caregiver to give asthma patients the tools they need to manage their disease. The checklist has three sections, which are building information, home interior section, and room interior questions (Sohei& Ohta 2005, p. 89). This checks the patient’s sensitivities to allergens such as dust mites pests and mold. They identify and provide the patient with the triggers for each allergen and the places where they are most likely to be found. An example is molds, which are triggered by wet services, and they grow more when they land on such services. They are mainly found in areas where there is excess moisture such as kitchens basements and bathrooms. Dust mites are triggered by body parts and dropping and they are mainly found in mattresses, beddings, carpets, curtain, and draperies They check on irritants like nitrogen dioxide and smoke. The childcare professionals also provide information about chemical irritants that are found in consumer products, which are scented, and others that are not scented. They also present the triggers for the above and the places where they are most likely to be found. These include the nitrogen dioxide combustion by product that is mainly triggered by nitrogen dioxide, which is an odorless gas that normally irritates the eyes throat and nose and may in turn cause shortness of breath (Christine & Maggie 2003, p. 457). This is found and associated with gas cooking appliances woodstoves and gas and space cookers (Domhnall & Thomas 2007, p. 104). The service after the above analysis also offers the steps for curbing the effects and this will be important information for Elliot. In regard to second hand smoke these includes steps like keeping the home and Elliot’s sleeping area smoke free(Harold & Michael 2001, p. 45). It also provides such instructions like visitors from being prohibited from smoking in the home area. The other step is to ensure the home takes the smoke free magnet that shows that Elliot’s house is a smoke free zone (Faith 1998, p. 67). They also find out if he is affected by warm-blooded pets like cats and dogs. If yes, the steps to possibly be provided are that the pet should be kept outside if it remains in the home but if possible, the pet should entirely be removed form the home. In the question of consumer products, the checklist check by the integrated services providers is if Elliot’s condition is worse when he is around chemicals with strong odors including adhesives, paints, cosmetics, and cleaners. If this is the case, the exposure to such products is reduced to the lowest level. This is done by using such products only when Elliot is absent and if the y still affects him on return alternative products should be sought. Otherwise, the area should be well ventilated and the manufactures instructions followed (Faith 1998, p. 67). The filters in the heating and the cooling system are also checked. If the system uses filters, they are advised to replace them quarterly and to ensure that they have a higher efficiency than the standard filters. The heating system in Elliot’s home is also checked. If the system uses fuel burning appliances like gas furnace and oil then the integrated service providers ensures that the heating system like the chimneys are professionally inspected on an annual basis. The family is also advised to repair promptly the damaged pars and cracks that may be in the heating system. If supplementary heating sources are used, the room is properly ventilated where a fuel-burning appliance is used and other appliances that vent to the outside are considered (Burns 2001, p. 45). They are also advised never to use a gas cooking appliance as an option by the service care providers. In case of using a fireplace the family is advised to ensure always that smoke leaves through the chimney. In case of a wood burning stove the professionals check to ensure that the doors are tight fitting. Further, they are advised to ensure that they always use cured or aged wood and follow the instruction by the manufacturers when to keep the heater properly adjusted. In case of unvented gas or kerosene space heater the manufactures instructions should be followed so that the heater is properly adjusted. The bedding and sleeping arrangements include checking what Elliot sleeps on. His mattress is covered in a dust proof zippered cover that is allergen impermeable. If Elliot sleeps on upholstered furniture like sofa then the furniture is covered with washable sleep covers and vacuum furniture. This includes removing the cushions and vacuuming in all crevices and cracks (Burns 2001, p. 45). The service also ensures Elliot’s bedding is washable, and washed regularly in hot water and dried completely. The pillow should also be covered in a dust prove impermeable cover. The service also ensures that if carpeting is present then it is vacuumed regularly with a vacuum cleaner that has a high efficiency filter (Domhnall & Thomas 2007, p. 104). The floor services are also mopped regularly. Throw rugs are washed regularly in hot water and dried completely. Further the family is advised o always ensure that Elliot is always outside the room when cleaning is taking place (Paul 1994, p. 56).The service care providers also check on the stuffed toys and advise the family to always choose stuffed toys that should frequently be washed in hot water. The number of stuffed toys is also limited in the patients sleeping areas. Drapes are vacuumed regularly curtains are washed regularly and completely dried. The window blinds sills and shades are dried regularly using a damp cloth with warm and soapy water (Faith 1998, p. 67). They also ensure moisture control by advising the family to dry damp items within 48 hours to avoid mold. The water leaks are also fixed and absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles and carpets are replaced. Air conditioners are used to maintain low indoor humidity. (Christine & Maggie 2003, p. 457) Incase of pests like cockroaches and rodent like rats that may trigger Elliot’s condition the integrated care services are cleaned. Poison baits traps and boric acids are used to kill pests. The care providers also advice the family to minimize the use of spays and if they have to use them, they should only limit them to the infested areas. Other hygienic measures that the family may be advised on are to clean all food crumbs or spilled liquids right away. Food is also stored in containers that are sealed and garbage disposed off properly in cans that are fitted with lids daily. The integrated service providers also offer instructions on reducing the exposure to outdoor air pollution. This is especially when the Air Quality Index AQI levels are unhealthy. The care services will ensure hat the physical exertion of Elliot outdoors is limited. The family and Elliot are also taught ion the importance of postponing sports activities to other times. In such seasons, Elliot should reduce the intensity of strenuous activities (Milner 2009, p. 345). The other thing is teaching Elliot and the family on how to use inhalers and how to take on breathing so a so avoid attacks. The services can also offer rehabilitation services to James, Elliot’s father to ensure he understands the dangers of smoking not only to Eliot but also to himself. Every Child Matters Outcomes The five every child matters outcomes are be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve make a positive contribution and achieve an economic well-being. These are universal ambitions for young people and children that serve to provide a framework for measuring how circumstances improve children and young people. ‘Be healthy’ is a phrase that states children should be physically mentally sexually and emotionally fit. Stay safe refers to the objective that children and the young people should feel safe in schools and they should take responsibility of their behavior and develop the appropriate strategy for healing conflicts. It thus means they must stay safe from neglect violence accidental injury and death. They are also safe from bullying and antisocial behavior as well as discrimination. The children must have stability in and out of school. The teachers and the educating bodies are largely responsible for ensuring that all children receive this objective. They can do this by closely monitoring their students including those like Elliot who have special conditions (Domhnall & Thomas 2007, p. 104). This is also necessary for all racial groups in the schools as in many cases students have been affected by discrimination. The youth counseling groups can also take part towards ensuring that they equip all students with the appropriate counsel to avoid them falling in unsafe conditions like engaging in irresponsible behaviors (Harold & Michael 2001, p. 45). Enjoy and achieve. The children and young people should feel part of the school environment and they should be given opportunities to be involved they should achieve stretching national educational standards both at the primary and at the secondary level. Make a positive contribution means children should take active roles in their day-to-day lives to ensure they contribute positively to the society (Faith 1998, p. 67). This means engaging them in decision-making environment work for them. They should as a result choose the positive path of action in every decision they make (Burns 2001, p. 45). Achieving economic well being means they engage in further education and training after leaving school. This also means being ready to live in decent homes and a community that is sustainable having access to material goods and live in household that are not low income. The other people who are involved in ensuring this is achieved are voluntary sector and the community sector, they work in collaboration with government organizations, and public organizations that are geared toward s the five child matter outcomes (Sohei & Ohta 2005, p. 89). Other bodies that may be involved in the stay safe objectives are the childcare professional bodies who know how to handle children with different conditions, skills, and abilities. This is especially important to those kids with special conditions and they constantly need to be taught on how to manage their conditions without feeling discriminated against. Such groups also can identify the strength of the children and help them develop them so that they become more equipped and they contribute positively towards the society (Burns 2001, p. 45). The nursing and care professionals can also form forums for ensuring that they identify special cases in schools and follow up the children up to their families so as ensure that the conditions are managed effectively. The nursing groups can educate the teachers and the [parents of the kids in these categories on how best to care for these special and minority cases so as t ensure they are safe and they are contributing towards the society positively(Christine & Maggie 2003, p. 457). Career counseling groups can also make positive contribution in the various schools to educate the children on how they can identify their career paths. This is especially important in the five every child matters outcomes that help the children to achieve effective economic contribution in the society. Early identification of a child’s gifts talents and interests in career objectives help the child achieve his dreams (Harold & Michael 2001, p. 47). Factors that inhibit working relationships Cultural factors The fact that people come from different backgrounds means that their practices, values, belief systems, and ideas vary. People’s way of thinking and communicating styles and symbols is drawn from the values they draw in their upbringing. The educating groups might encounter problems due t o the cultural influences among the various divides where they may offer their services. As a measure to hinder this they must ensure that, they are appropriately trained to handle their services in a mindset that accepts the cultural diversity that results from globalization (Milner 2009, p. 345). They must ensure they understand the expectation of the children right from the word go to affect them positively. These include learning the beliefs of the different children and incorporating them in teaching them to have a positive impact (Sohei & Ohta 2005, p. 89). .Economic conditions For the various group that help children, economic factors may hinder the intensity of the services that are offered. Every initiative that the groups undertake require finances and this may thus limit the extent to which the groups take active action (Faith 1998, p. 67). The budgets of the various groups may hinder them from being actively involved the year round unless they get sponsors Demographic factors Demographic factors also limit the extent to which the groups can reach out to the various homes and to the various homes. As a result, the working relationships between the students and the professional bodies might not flow with appropriate and expected standards due to demographics (Domhnall & Thomas 2007, p. 104). Policies concerning asthma Conclusion The parents and schools should take the mandate of introducing their children to receiving the most appropriate care to ensure they are able to cope with impossible situations in their lives. Eliot’s condition can be controlled and brought to a minimum existence by exercising meth knowledge that is gained from the integrated services (Milner 2009, p. 345). This will serve to ensure a reduction in the number of attacks he gets and in the severity of the attacks. In turn, he is able to learn his strengths through the Every Child Matters Outcomes and he will become a productive member of the society (Domhnall & Thomas 2007, p. 104). The father’s heath will also be made healthy by following the advice to quit smoking, as this will serve the purpose of helping him and Elliot. Bibliography Burns, S. 2001. Children integration services. Tavistock: London. Christine, B. & Maggie, N. 2003. The practice of caring for Asthma patients. New York: Cengage. Domhnall, M. & Thomas, A., 2007. Evidence based Sports medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Faith , M., 1998. Integration services. Denver: Rowman & Littlefield. Harold, J. & Michael, B., 2001. Control your child’s asthma: a breakthrough program for the treatment and management of childhood asthma. London: Addison-Wesley. Milner, A. 2009. childhood asthma: diagnosis treatment and management Harvard University Press. London: Routledge Paul , L. 1994. Control your child’s asthma. New York: Cengage. Sohei, M. & Ohta, K., 2005. Asthma prevention and management guidelines. New York: Teachers College Press. Read More