Residents, professionals and partner organisations are being encouraged to have their say on how Rutland and Leicestershire County Councils support children and young people to be healthy.

An eight-week consultation is seeking views on the proposed changes to the Healthy Child Programme in both areas. The Healthy Child Programme provides a service for children and families to improve their physical and mental health. It is available for children and young people aged 0-19 (in the 0-10 and 11+ age groups) and for young people up to age 25 who have SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) or who have left care at 18 years.

This consultation is an opportunity for residents – specifically young people and their families – to share their views, as well as prospective parents, professionals and members of organisations working with children and families. Help the Councils shape the future of the service by visiting www.rutland.gov.uk/healthy-child-consultation to learn more about the proposals, and to complete an online survey.

For anyone without access to the internet, paper copies of the questionnaire are available on request by calling 0116 305 1644. The closing date to complete the consultation survey is Thursday 16 September 2021.

This survey is seeking views on six high-impact areas that the Government wants local authorities to focus on for the 0-10 age group, as well as some additional priorities for Rutland and Leicestershire. These new local priorities were identified during May and June this year, when the County Councils engaged with local communities and professionals to get feedback on the current Healthy Child Programme and how it could be improved. Although there will be no significant changes for the 0-10 age group because many services in this area are statutory, the Councils are asking for feedback on proposed new ways of working in delivering these services.

There are also six priority areas, again set by the Government, to consider for the 11+ age group, plus other local priorities that the Councils have identified through their earlier engagement and analysis. Changes include more targeted services for those aged 11 and above, to ensure appropriate, timely services are available to them in supporting healthy lifestyles, healthy relationships, physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing, promoting self-care, reducing risk-taking, and improving health inequalities.

The proposed changes to the Healthy Child Programme are intended to better meet the needs of children and young people, improve integration with children's and families' services, be able to meet differing needs across the county, and make sure that families, children and young people can access services in the ways they would like.

Dawn Godfrey, Director for Children's Services at Rutland County Council, said: "We are committed to improving the physical and mental health and wellbeing of our children and young people. Having the right support at the right time is crucial and, by supporting families and carers, we can have a positive impact on those children and young people. This is why we're ambitious for our 0-19 service. Our vision is to create an accessible, universal and targeted service to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities within Rutland communities. I would encourage everyone who might use these services in the future to share their views with us now."

The final closing date for the consultation on the Healthy Child Programme is 17 September 2021.