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.
  • Support you to register at health services and/or access mental health services.
  • Support with substance use and sexual health
  • 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 Leaving Care Team can accompany you to medical appointments if required.

GPs

GP

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 up to the age of 25, who currently pays for their prescriptions and is registered with a GP in Oldham, can now get an annual free prescriptions card.

If you identify a young person who could benefit from the prescription certificate, please ask or support them to complete the form and forward it onto the safeguarding team at Oldham locality ICB

Dentist and Opticians

If you are receiving benefits, then you will have access to free dental health care and opticians.

Northern Care Alliance

The Specialist Children Looked After health team will provide Care leaver health summaries to all those residing in Oldham leaving care or moving over to adult services at 18 years old.

The health summary will provide you with details about your health history and immunisations and will help you communicate any health problems with others in the future.

For any further health support and advice please email: 

Specialist Maternity Services (Romes Team)

The Romes team provide specialist midwifery support to young people who become pregnant before their 18th birthday (sometimes older depending on individual circumstances).

To see if this service can support you your GP, current midwife or any other health care professional should refer you via the Romes inbox (Romes@nca.nhs.uk).

If the enhanced Romes service is not suitable you will still have access to appropriate maternity care and services via your GP.

If you are struggling with mental health or want support and advice around drug or alcohol use, there are specialist support services you can turn to in the local community.

Pennine Care Foundation Trust (PCFT)

Provide mental health support services in Oldham for adults with depression, anxiety, personality disorder, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and more.

You can self-refer to talking therapies, but for more information on other services and support available and how to access these please visit the website Pennine Care Foundation Trust.

Neurodiversity Assessments

If you feel you require a neurodiversity assessment for Autism or ADHD then please speak with your GP who can make a referral if appropriate. You can also ask your GP about any alternative routes to an assessment such as right to choose.

Early Break

Support 13 – 19 year-olds (up to 25 years old if you have a special educational need and/or are a care leaver) with all aspects of drug and alcohol use through counselling, support and treatment services.

You can self-refer or find out more using the following details:

Turning Point

Supports people 18 years old + and provides a drug and alcohol service across Rochdale and Oldham.  They offer a medically assisted recovery programme to support with addiction issues and access to detoxification and rehabilitation programmes.

You can self-refer using the following details:

Meeting Your Needs Oldham (MYNO)

Offers free confidential sexual health and substance use support including free contraception, pregnancy checks, sexual health screening, drop in clinics and 1:1 support sessions up to age 25.

  • You can access MYNO support in person, online, by phone (01706 202 444) or complete a self referral.
  • Drop in to a free and confidential MYNO sexual health clinic - held every Wednesday from 1 pm–5 pm at our Oldham base (Please check website for any changes to day, time or place)
  • For more information visit the Meeting Your Needs Oldham web page via the Early Break Website.

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