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Healthy Child Programme: final report

3.3.3. Social Context

Following the consultation the project team recommend the following headings and definitions are used to record details about the child’s social context:

Social context
Family and household
Household(s) composition Details of others living in the same household(s) and their relationship with the child.
Other significant individuals People deemed as key by family and/or healthcare professionals in the child’s life that do not live in the same home(s).
Household(s) environment Factors in the household(s) which impact the child’s health and wellbeing, to include smoking in the home, alcohol/substance use etc.
Mother’s educational status The highest educational qualification attained by the child’s mother.
Accommodation status An indication of the type of accommodation where the child lives. This should be based on the main or permanent residence.
Mother's employment status The employment status and occupation of the mother.
Father's employment status The employment status and occupation of the father.
Household social services support Whether or not any household member had/has social services support.
Personal
Lifestyle The record of lifestyle choices made by the child which are pertinent to his or her health and well-being, e.g., the record of the physical activity level, pets, hobbies, sexual habits etc.
Smoking Latest or current smoking status of the child.
Alcohol intake Latest or current alcohol consumption record of the child.
Drug/substance use Record of any drug/substance use by the child.
Social circumstances The record of the child’s social background, network and personal circumstances, e.g., housing, religious, ethnic/spiritual needs and social concerns.

Standards are currently being developed by the University of Birmingham, University Hospital Birmingham and the Royal College of Physician’s Health Informatics Unit for recording the consumption of alcohol and tobacco. Once completed they could provide structured content under these headings.

Page last updated: 31 March 2026