Last updated:
22nd June 2026
Health and wellbeing support for care leavers
Get health services, advice and wellbeing support
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.
Personal Advisor (PA) support
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 health services and support 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. For more information, see the UK Government website.
- 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
“My PA has been so helpful with everything especially support with appointments.”
- Sam, Care Leaver
Your health summary
- When you turn 17 (or just before your 18th birthday), you’ll be given your final Review Health Assessment (RHA).
- If you come into care after you turn 17, you’ll have an initial health assessment.
These assessments are a relaxed, supportive chat with a nurse, where you can go over your health and ask anything that’s on your mind.
These chats helps give a clear picture of your health and any support you might need. You’ll be given a copy, which will also be used as your Care Leaver Health Summary.
This is a useful document that brings together important information about your health, including:
- Your health history
- Any current health conditions
- Details of services that could support you with your health
- Other helpful information as you become more independent
Health support (NHS)
The NHS can help you stay healthy and get support when you need it — from seeing a GP to getting mental health help.
If you’ve been in care, you may be able to get free prescriptions, dental care and eye tests up to age 25.
Go to the NHS England website for more information.
Support near you
Because you live in Wokingham, you can get local support from Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
They can help with:
- Feeling anxious, low or stressed
- Talking to someone (therapy or counselling)
- Extra support if you need more help
Visit the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust website for more information.
