Health and care information and advice

Healthy eating is about making choices about the foods you eat. Even though foods like sweets and chocolate and fried food taste good, eating lots of these is not good for your health.

Eating lots of unhealthy food can make you put on too much weight, which is not good for your body. You can become ill and feel unhappy about your body.

Healthy eating means choosing foods that are healthy most of the time. It does not mean you can never eat unhealthy foods - you can eat them, but not every day. Choose healthy foods you like, eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water.

You can find out more about healthy eating from the NHS live well website,

 Did you know that you can have an annual health check at your doctors if you are aged 14 or over?

This check up gives you the chance to get used to visiting the doctors or ask any questions you have about your health. The doctor will offer you a physical check and will talk to you about your emotions, well-being, lifestyle and diet. They will also talk to you about any medications that you take and check that any health conditions you have are well managed.

You do not have to feel ill or unwell to have an annual health check.

You can find out more about annual health checks on the NHS website.           

Mencap have also made a helpful video about what happens during an annual check-up

You can also find out more about having good health on the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) website

It is important to look after your mouth and teeth as well as your general health. This is often called your 'oral or dental health’   

Brushing your teeth twice a day (last thing at night before you go to bed and on one other occasion) with fluoride toothpaste and having regular check-ups with a dentist can help to keep your teeth healthy.

You can find out more about keeping your teeth health on the NHS live well website.

Mencap have also made a helpful video about what happens at the dentist          

Did you know that if you cannot go to the dentist because of a disability or medical condition, you could ask to be referred to the specialist dental service? This service is usually provided in the community and can include hospitals, specialist health centres, mobile clinics and home visits. You can find out more information about this on the NHS website.

As well as your physical health, it is important to look after your emotional or mental health.

You can ask for support from your current school or college. They are able to access different resources and services to help them offer you the support that you need.

If you need more support than your school or setting can provide, there are some other more specialist services available in Leicestershire such as:

CAMHS

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Is a specialist service for children and young people under 18 and their families and it is part of the NHS.

They have specially trained staff that can help when problems with mental health are stopping you getting on with daily life.

Referrals are made by your local GP. You can find out more about this service by visiting the CAMHS website.

Young Minds 

Young Minds is a national mental health charity that provides up to date information about mental health for young people.

They can help you to explore and understand different emotional states and mental health conditions, as well as learn more about possible supports and treatments.

You can find out more by visiting the Young Minds website. 

Rethink Mental Illness 

Rethink mental illness work to improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness. They offer support groups and services and expert information to help those suffering from mental illness to have a good quality of life.

You can find out more about this service by visiting the Rethink Mental Illness website.               

NHS Services  

The NHS can provide you with information and support on a range of mental health conditions.

They also offer a service known as IAPT, which stands for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies. These run-in local communities and cities and can offer a range of service such as talking therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, and guided self-help.

Your doctor (GP) can refer you to IAPT, or you could self-refer.

You can find out more by visiting the NHS mental health support pages: 

What is a personal budget?

A personal budget is a pot of money which can be used to help support you with social care, health or educational needs. It's based on an assessment of what help is needed, which is included as part of the Educational, Health and Care Plan. The amount you get can change as your needs change. It gives you more choice about what the money is spent on and the support that you get. You and your family can look after this money (known as direct payments), or the Leicestershire County Council or another agreed organisation/ service could do this for you.

If Leicestershire County Council do not agree to you having a personal budget, they must tell you why they have made this decision.

A personal budget can be made up of any of the following 3 areas:

Education

Your school has funding given to them for providing the special educational support you may need. Normally, only young people with the most severe and complex learning support needs will have their own personal education budget.

Personal Social care budget

A personal care budget may be made available if you need additional support at home and when out and about in the local and wider community.

This may include:

• help in the home

• support to access social activities

• support to access  short break services

Personal Health budget

A personal health budget may be available on its own or in addition to the other 2 budgets. The Leicestershire County Council personal health budget page has more information on this matter.

The Kids website has information about personal budgets and they have made a video about personal budgets that you might find helpful.

You can also find out more about personal budgets and direct payments on the Leicestershire local offer website.

How you get the money?

You can get the money as a:

• Direct payment

• managed budget – where we hold the money and buy your care for you

• third-party direct payment to a friend or relative or an organisation that runs a payment service

• third-party direct payment to a care provider such as a home care agency – this is called a ‘provider managed account’

• mix of direct payment, managed budget and third-party direct payment

Personal budgets for disabled children and young people

Most moves (transitions) from child social care services to adult social care service take place at 18, but some can take place from age 17.

If you have a social worker, they will talk to you about this and help to make a plan for the move.

If you have an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) It might be helpful to ask your social worker to come to your next review.

If you are likely to have some social care needs when you turn 18, you should be offered a transitions assessment. This is to get the right care and support plan in place for you.

For more information about this you can Leicestershire County Council adult social services or
Call: 0116 305 0004 

A young carer is a young person, under the age of 18, who provides care for another family member because they have a physical illness, disability, mental health condition or a drug or alcohol problem.

On the Leicestershire County Council  website there is further help, advice and support for young carers