Childrens Services and a number of voluntary organisations work with families where a member is HIV positive to deal with any immediate problems, and to help the family plan for the long term care of children. For further information, contact your local childrens Social Care office.
Voluntary Groups
Barnardo's Positive Options
Barnardo's Planning Scheme offers parents who are HIV positive or living with other life threatening illnesses the opportunity to plan for their children's future care, exploring options such as fostering, care by friends and relatives or adoption and giving high priority to the wishes of the child.
Children with AIDS Charity is an organisation that assists children and their families to lead as near normal a life as possible.
A Guidance document on Children in need and Blood-Borne Viruses: HIV and Hepatitis can also be found and downloaded from the Department of Health website.
The guidance covers:
- the legislative framework;
- modes of transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C;
- preventing blood-borne virus transmission;
- testing for blood-borne viruses;
- useful sources of information and advice.
It is intended that the document will assist local authority Childrens Services departments, Health Authorities, NHS and Primary Care Trusts and other local service providers in promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children in need in relation to blood-borne viruses.
The emphasis within this guidance is on ensuring that the particular circumstances of children and their families at risk of or affected by blood-borne viruses are addressed sensitively and positively. The aim is to encourage professionals involved with children and their families to work in partnership with them sharing information and sharing the implications for them.
