Care leavers

7. Health and wellbeing

We will help you get the support you need around your physical and mental health by offering:

  • A Health Summary for you when you leave care, which will include your health history
  • Contributions towards the costs of prescriptions, in order to ensure necessary health needs are met, including prescriptions for glasses and hearing aids
  • Support for you to register at health services and/or access mental health services
  • Advice and information about healthy living
  • Additional support if you are a young parent
  • Ongoing support beyond your 18th birthday, and involving Adult Social Care if this is needed

A member of the After Care Team can accompany you to medical appointments if required.

GPs

If you are not already registered, your PA will support you to register with a GP and will help you to attend health appointments.

Any Care Leaver registered at a GP in Oldham, will have a priority to gain an immediate appointment.

Any Care Leaver up to the age of 25, who currently pays for their prescriptions and lives in Oldham, can now get an annual free prescriptions card.

If you have identified a young person who could benefit from the prescription certificate, please could you ask them to complete the form/ support them in completing it and sharing it to the safeguarding team at Oldham locality ICB on

The page information for professionals includes criteria for the prescription certificate and can be shared with the teams.

Dentist and Opticians

Free contraception, pregnancy checks and check-ups are available alongside a drop in.

There is also advice that can be accessed from the Looked After Nurses, available from:

There is a dedicated under-19 Midwife for young people who are looked after and care leavers. Your PA can help you to access this.

Mental Health Support

Drug and Alcohol Support Oldham. offers a range of specialist substance misuse services:

  • Turning Point – 0300 55 0234
  • OASIS at Positive Steps – 0161 621 9600
  • ADS (Addiction Dependency Solutions) – 0161 624 9595

Oldham substance misuse is a single, integrated drug and alcohol recovery service for adults.
Email: ROARreferrals@turningpoint.co.uk

Useful websites and numbers

  • FRANK (friendly, confidential drugs advice) Phone: 0300 123 6600 / SMS to 82111
  • Kooth Online support and advice for young people Phone: 07930 532 639
  • QWell Free, safe and anonymous mental health wellbeing support for adults across the UK
  • Samaritans Phone: 116 123 (free) 0330 094 5717 (local call charges apply)
  • NSPCC/Childline Phone: 0800 1111
  • Greater Manchester Mental Health Crisis Care Phone: 0800 953 0285
  • Papyrus – Suicide Prevention Phone: 0800 068 4141
  • Mind Oldham Phone: 0161 330 9223 – drop-in sessions available