COVID Vaccinations for 5-11s
The NHS is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations to all children aged 5-11, in line with the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). As well as protecting children against serious COVID infection and Long COVID, this will reduce the risk of children passing on the infection to others.
The practice is currently not offering vaccinations for this age group, unless they are within one of the at-risk groups who will be invited, but you can book an appointment at a convenient community or pharmacy vaccination centre. Please book online at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine or by calling 119, free of charge.
For further information on COVID-19 vaccinations for 5-11s please visit the NHS Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group website.
NHS Better Health Food Scanner
Research shows that nearly 28% of pupils in Reception are overweight or obese, rising to over 40% of pupils in Year 6. The NHS Food Scanner app is a handy health hack making it easier for families to find healthier food and drink options.
The new Scan, Swipe, Swap activities toolkit uses the excitement of the app to encourage young people to explore what’s in their food and make healthier choices. Engaging AR technology brings food labels to life as your pupils scan their way to healthier swaps.
Click here to download your toolkit today and start helping your pupils to make smart food choices.
KOOTH
KOOTH is an award-winning counselling service for young people. It is a free, anonymous, confidential website where young people can go for help. Please visit www.KOOTH.com.
They are here to provide you with mental health counselling, advice, activities, articles, even podcasts and much more. A young person can sign themselves up anonymously on the website with no criteria to meet and no waiting lists. There is also a live chat messenger option between 12pm – 10pm on weekdays and 6pm-10pm on weekends.
A digital guide for dealing with loneliness can be viewed or downloaded below. Information is also available on the NHS Choices website http://www.nhs.uk.
Contraception and Sexual Health Clinic
Youth Advice Drop In Sessions are held at Church View Health Centre every Thursday 2.30-5.00pm.
Please phone 01924 327586 for confidential advice or visit http://www.spectrumhealth.org.uk/services/cash/cash-clinics-0.
If you are aged between 13 and 25 you can get free condoms through the local C-Card (condom-card) scheme. The scheme is offered at lots of different locations across Wakefield to make it easy for you to get condoms when you need them.
Once you have registered with the scheme, you can get them from anywhere where you see the C-Card symbol as well as from your local CaSH and GUM clinic.
Please visit https://wfact-ccard.org.uk/c-card.html for more details.
Teenage Confidentiality Policy
The Practice recognises that the principles of confidentiality apply equally to all patients, irrespective of age. The Practice will ensure that its staff recognise that all patients under 18 are entitled to the same level of confidentiality as all other patients, including being respectful of any request to withhold information from their parents or guardians and take necessary steps to ensure that this right of confidentiality is not inadvertently breached.
NHS England Youth Forum
The NHS Constitution puts patients at the heart of what we do. Listening to children and young people is vital and one way of doing this is the NHS Youth Forum, which provides information to young people and allows them to voice their opinion. Details about confidentiality can also be found on their website – https://www.england.nhs.uk/participation/get-involved/how/forums/nhs-youth-forum/ or read this leaflet about youth rights in healthcare.
Childline
Childline is a confidential service for children and young people up to the age of nineteen. You can contact a Childline counsellor about anything, by telephoning 0800 1111 or by visiting their website https://www.childline.org.uk/.
Mental Health
NightOwls provides confidential support to children and young people struggling with their mental health. Whether you’re feeling lonely, feel like you can’t go on living or are just wanting someone to talk to, NightOwls are available to listen between 8 pm and 8 am.
Frank
FRANK helps you find out everything you might want to know about drugs (and some stuff you don’t). For friendly, confidential advice, Talk to FRANK. http://www.talktofrank.com/.
Beat
Beat provides helplines, online support and a network of UK-wide self-help groups to help adults and young people in the UK beat their eating disorders. https://www.b-eat.co.uk/.
Star Bereavement
Star Bereavement service is a small charity providing support around bereavement and loss. It works with children and young people aged 4-19 years in the Wakefield area. http://www.starwakefield.org.uk/.
Change Grow Live
Wakefield Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service for under 18s provides free, friendly and confidential support if you or someone else is worried about your drug and/or alcohol use. Tel 01924 371579 or visit their website –http://www.changegrowlive.org/content/wakefield-young-peoples-drug-alcohol-service.