Health support for young adults with SEND

Becoming a young adult usually means lots of changes are happening all at once, and you’re having to make big decisions about your future.

This can be quite stressful, and you may be feeling worried or anxious, so it’s really important that you look after your mental health as well as your physical health.

Mental health advice

There’s lots of information available to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing:

• Our Health for Teens website has loads of advice about feelings, including topics like anxiety, exam stress, resilience and much more – they can also put you in touch with local specialist support services if needed.
• Young Minds website is full of advice and information to give young people the tools to look after their mental health.
• Kooth is an online forum that young people can join to get advice support.

Getting mental health support in Devon

If you’re aged 11 to 19 and are worried about your health and wellbeing, Devon’s school nurses are here to help you with a wide range of issues such as emotional health, relationships, self-harm, bullying, alcohol, healthy eating, drugs and smoking and more.

Text your school nurse on 07520 631722

Our adult social care website has more information about the mental health support available for young adults.

Young people often start to experiment drinking alcohol as they start to grow up, and some will try taking illegal drugs as well.

It’s really important to know how alcohol and drugs affect your body, and to recognise if any substance use is becoming a problem.

Drugs and alcohol support in Devon

• Our Health for Teens website has lots of information and advice if you’re looking for help with either drugs or alcohol.
• Our adult social care website also contains information and advice about alcohol and drug support.

School nurses

If you’re aged 11 to 19 and are worried about your health and wellbeing, Devon’s school nurses are here to help you with a wide range of issues such as emotional health, relationships, self-harm, bullying, alcohol, healthy eating, drugs and smoking and more.

Text your school nurse on 07520 631722

Y-Smart

The team at Y-Smart support young people up to the age of 18, who have issues around substance use. Young people can be referred for support by a professional, or they can refer themselves for help.

Relationships and sex are a normal part of life, and may be something you start to think about or experience as you’re growing up.

Young adults with SEND may be more vulnerable to being exploited or abused, so it’s really important to understand what a healthy relationship is. It’s also important to know about sexual health and contraception.

• Our Health for Teens website has lots of articles about all different aspects of relationships.
• The Devon Sexual Health website has lots of advice, including about sexual health and contraception.

School nurses

If you’re aged 11 to 19 and are worried about your health and wellbeing, Devon’s school nurses are here to help you with a wide range of issues such as emotional health, relationships, self-harm, bullying, alcohol, healthy eating, drugs and smoking and more.

Text your school nurse on 07520 631722

The main providers of health services for children, young people and young adults in the area are NHS Foundation Trusts, Community Hospitals and Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD).

We work closely with NHS Devon and our Public Health team to understand the needs of our population, including:

• what services are most valuable in meeting needs
• what can be done to make health services more effective and accessible
• how to identify the gaps in services

Health action plans

If you have a learning disability, a health action plan should be created with you.

Annual health checks

From the age of 14, people who have a learning disability, and who are on the GP’s learning disability register, can have a free annual health check.

This is an important opportunity to discuss your physical and mental health with your GP and build relationships to help ensure your future good health. You do not have to be ill to have an annual health check, they are to help you stay well. Please read this letter for more information about annual health checks for young people with a learning disability.

People with learning disabilities are ten times more likely to have a significant sight problem and so you should make sure that you get your eyes tested regularly. Please read this leaflet for information about getting your eyes checked.

Learning disability service

The learning disability service can provide support for people aged 18+ with a learning disability when they see their GP, use primary care services, or when they have to go to hospital.

Some people (aged 18 and over) with learning disabilities and very complex health problems may qualify for Continuing Health Care (CHC). Find out more about the Continuing Health Care Learning Disability Commissioning Team who carry out CHC assessments

Depending on your circumstances one option for your care and health package from the NHS could be a personal health budget.

Who can have a personal health budget?

If you are under 18 and meet children’s continuing healthcare criteria, you can request a personal health budget for appropriate elements of your healthcare. Instead of the Commissioning Team purchasing a service, funding will be made directly available through your parents.

If you are over 18 and you have a disability or complex medical problem, you might qualify for free NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) which could be in the form of a personal health budget; the eligibility criteria are different so you will need a different assessment.

What’s it for?

The aim of a personal health budget is that children, young people, young adults and their parents or carers have greater choice, flexibility and control over the healthcare they receive.

How do I get one?

If you think you may be eligible for a personal health budget, you can discuss this with someone who already provides your healthcare, such as a nurse or physiotherapist.

You can find out more about personal health budgets on the NHS website.