Health and wellbeing: support for care leavers

We care about you, your health, and how you’re feeling, and we want you to have support that works for you, whenever you need it.

Your Personal Advisor (PA) is Here for You

Think of your Personal Advisor (PA) as your go-to person, someone you can chat to, ask questions, or lean on when you need a little extra help. They’ll listen, support you one‑to‑one, and help you find the right services without any fuss.

Here’s how your PA can help:

• Healthy living and healthy eating advice
• Registering with a GP, dentist, or optician
• Accessing mental health support and counselling services
• Moving on from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to equivalent adult services
• Information about local health drop-in centres
• Accessing sexual health advice, guidance, contraception, and sexual health clinics
• LGBTQIA+ matters, and will support you to understand where you are, and help you access any support groups or organisations in your area.
• Referral to local drug and alcohol services.
• Free prescriptions: You might be entitled to a pre-payment certificate for prescriptions. This certificate means you won’t need to pay for items prescribed by your doctor (GP) for between 3-12 months. Your PA can help you check if you are entitled to this, and help you apply for the certificate.
• Stop smoking: We can help you get free stop smoking aids like patches and gum, and you can speak to an advisor via SmokeFreeLife Berkshire.

Support with appointments

If sorting out health appointments feels overwhelming, don’t worry. Your PA can help book a new doctor or dentist for you, or be there if you want someone to tag along to your appointment.

If you’re under 18, we’ll also help you:

• Go to regular GP, dentist, and optician appointments
• Get glasses if you need them

Your health summary

When you turn 17, or sometime before your 18th birthday, you’ll receive your Health Summary. It’s a small booklet, but it packs a lot of useful information, including:

• Your health history
• Any current medical conditions
• Your immunisation record
• Other details that may be useful as you become more independent

If you come into care after turning 17, your initial health assessment will give a clearer picture of your health needs.

Before you turn 18, we’ll also offer you a final health review with a nurse. It’s a relaxed, supportive chat where you can go over your Health Summary and ask anything that’s on your mind.