Health

Vaccinations for home-educated children

Childhood infections like measles and whooping cough are rising, with outbreaks across the country. Such infections can have a huge impact on your child’s life. They can miss out on learning time because they are unwell, be hospitalised, and even experience life-long complications and disability. If your child isn’t vaccinated, they’re not protected.

It is important for you to take up the offer of the NHS’ free childhood immunisation programme as soon as you are offered it to ensure your child has the best protection. However, if you or your child have missed a vaccine, it is never too late to check if you can catch up. You can check your child’s Red Book to see if they have missed any vaccines or check with their GP if you are unsure. The School aged immunisation service (SAIS) is available for all children of school age, irrespective of their education setting. Home schooled children can attend local SAIS clinics to receive vaccinations, including catching up on any missed vaccinations and the seasonal flu vaccination.

For more information, book vaccinations and download the consent forms, visit the website Cornwall and Devon School Age Immunisation Service , call 01392 342678 or email the team kernowhealthcic.schoolimmsdevon@nhs.net

Learning Disability Annual Health Checks

Did you know that anyone aged 14 or over with a Learning Disability is entitled to a free Annual Health Check at their GP surgery?
People with a learning disability face many health inequalities and die younger than the general population.
The Annual Health check is a full physical check covering all areas of health, including lifestyle advice and screening, questions about mental health and relationships, medication review and offering vaccinations.
Anyone on the Learning Disability Register will be invited every year.
If you or someone you know with a Learning Disability has not been invited, then please check that you are on your GP’s Register by contacting your surgery.
More information can be found on the Mencap advice and support page

DCC Public Health Nursing websites

Health Support for young people and parents/carers

DCC Public Health Nursing has launched websites to provide school age children and their parents/carers with health and wellbeing advice. The websites, developed with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, include evidenced based national content which has been co-designed with parents, carers, children and young people as well as locally written content and information about Devon services.

• Health for Kids provides information for primary school aged children and includes games, videos and quizzes. The site consists of four different worlds: Staying Healthy, Illness, Feelings and Getting Help. Each world is populated with different areas for children to learn about their health.

There is a separate area for grown-ups for in-depth guidance and localised information (www.healthforkids.co.uk/devon)

• Health for Teens provides information and advice for young people, including videos, listicles, quizzes, health information, truths and rumours. There are several different sections ranging from feelings, health, lifestyle, relationships and growing up. There is also a ‘your area’ section which includes information on Devon services and advice from local practitioners (www.healthforteens.co.uk/devon). These services pull through below any related content a young person accesses to facilitate improved awareness and access.

DCC Public Health Support for parents/carers of under 5s

This web page offers support and advice, from trusted health care professionals, every step of the way from pregnancy to five years old.

.• Health for under 5s – offers pre-natal advice and for children up to aged five years old

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Kooth – free, safe and anonymous online support – an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop.
Young Devon – provides face-to-face counselling support and can be accessed directly by young people aged 11-18 years.
Public Health Nursing – can provide support for mental health and wellbeing.
Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) – provide more specialist support.

Accessing health information and support

Devon Public Health Nursing Service (school nursing and health visiting) – the service is available to anyone living in Devon as well as those children attending a Local Authority maintained educational setting.

Text a school nurse service

Did you know, if you are aged 11-19 and live in Devon you can contact your school nurse for confidential advice and support for advice on things like relationships, bullying, mental health, self-harm, drugs or alcohol via text on 07520 631722

It’s quick and easy, anonymous, and non-judgemental and a school nurse will respond within 24 hours (between the hours of Mon – Fri 9 – 5, excluding bank holidays).
You can also find lots of information about different subjects and health needs and where you can get support if you need it via their website www.healthforteens.co.uk/devon/

School Nursing service for parents/carers and primary aged children

Parents/carers can contact the public health nursing team (health visitors and school nurses) for confidential advice and support by sending a text to 07520 631721.
They also have a website www.healthforkids.co.uk/devon/ that’s split into a kids zone and a parent’s zone with information about a range of health and wellbeing needs and sources of support if you need it:

mental health
child development
sleep routines
toileting
and more

Text a health visitor free of charge on 07520 631 721.

Children and Family Health Devon

Specialist health services include:

Learning Disability Team.
Speech and Language Therapy.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
Occupational Therapy.
Community Children’s Nursing Service.
Autism Spectrum Assessment Service.
Specialist Children’s Assessment Centres.
Specialist School Nurses.
Children in Care Service.
Palliative Care Service.
Devon’s Family Information Service for Children with Additional Needs.

See the Children and Family Health Devon website for more information and to access referral forms.

Routine health checks

Please remember it is usually recommended that your child has a check-up at the optician every 1-2 years and every six months at the dentist. If you do not have an NHS dentist and are having problems finding one then please call 0333 006 3300.

If your child is asthmatic they should also have an annual review with the practice nurse at your GP surgery.

Other useful links

Parental Minds

Parental Minds have developed a number of directories for families using an i-THRIVE framework. The current directories link to mental health, self harm, safety planning and children not attending school. They also offer a range of support services for parents

‘I’m worried about my child’s eating habits’

Parent support from Action For Children.

Everyone has different eating habits. But if you’re worried about your child’s relationship with food or their body, it might be worth looking for some support.

If your child’s eating habits negatively affect their everyday life, they may have an eating disorder. This is when someone uses food to cope with certain situations or feelings. Teenagers between 13 and 17 are most at risk, but anyone can have an eating disorder.

It can be helpful to know the signs and what to do if you’re worried about your child.

Beat – the UK’s eating disorder charity

Beat has a wide range of information on their website. They also have a helpline and their new video-based Peer Support Service – Solace.

Family Ties – free parental conflict programme for parents

As part of their work supporting children in families, the Anna Freud Centre has developed Family Ties Online Help, a programme for parents, together or separated, who want to reduce the impact of parental conflict and/or communication difficulties on their children.

Family Ties is an online 10-week intervention aimed at parents who want to work together more effectively as co-parents to support the wellbeing of their children. They accept referrals directly from parents or through professionals, social workers or GPs.

At the moment, they have a small number of free places available on this programme. Places will be offered on a first come first served process. For more information, or to make a referral, email familyties@annafreud.org.