Teenage healthcare: ‘Parent/Carer Check-In’

At Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), we know how important your role is in helping your child to manage their condition. As they grow older and begin their healthcare transition, we want to empower them to become more confident in understanding and managing their own health- and we want to support you too.

Healthcare transition is a gradual process that usually begins around age 12–13. Over several years, we work together to help young people build the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to manage their health and care more independently.

The goal is for them to feel ready to take the lead by the time they move to adult services, often around age 18. This doesn’t mean letting go entirely- many young people continue to rely on their parents and carers well into adulthood. Transition is about shifting the balance gradually, with the right support along the way.

To support this journey, we’ve developed the ‘Parent/Carer Check-In’ and the ‘Young Person Check-In’.

The ‘Parent/Carer Check-In’ is a short questionnaire we’ll give you when you check in to clinic if your child is aged 12 or over. It’s your opportunity to reflect on how your child’s healthcare is changing, what’s going well, and any questions or concerns you might want to bring up with the team during today’s appointment.

The ‘Parent/Carer Check-In’ aims to help you to think about:

• How involved your child is in their healthcare.
• What areas feel clear or unclear to you.
• What you might want more support with.
• Any questions you want to raise during the appointment.

Many families find the ‘Check-In’ helpful to reflect, and use it to guide their conversations with the healthcare team.

The ‘Check-In’ isn’t just about your child’s condition- it’s about supporting your child as a whole person. The ‘Check-In’ aims to help open up conversations about their wellbeing, confidence, emotional needs, and any challenges they may be facing- in school, relationships, or daily life.

Your child will receive their own Check-In. This helps them start thinking about their health, building confidence to speak up, and practicing asking questions- all part of the transition journey.

Wherever possible, we encourage young people to complete their ‘Check-In’ independently. However, if your child needs support, you or a member of the outpatient team can assist them.

If your child is not able to complete the ‘Check-In’ meaningfully, you can decide that it isn’t appropriate for them at this time. That’s absolutely fine- it may not be suitable for everyone, and we trust your judgment as their parent or carer.

At the end of the appointment, please leave your completed forms with the healthcare team or at reception. If you'd like to keep a copy for yourself, you're welcome to take a photo before handing it in.

· Visit our adolescent hub on the GOSH website: Adolescent hub

· Or ask your healthcare team for more information.

If you’d like more information about healthcare transition or support for your family, we’re here to help.

Email the Healthcare Transition Team: healthcaretransition@gosh.nhs.uk

Written by: Healthcare Transition Team

Reference number: 0925PAF0030

Last reviewed: September 2025