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Care Leavers Local Offer - Health and Happiness

Looking after your physical, mental and emotional health is important. The Care Leavers Team can help you access the right health and wellbeing services and activities to support your needs.

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Health and wellbeing

Personal advisers can support care leavers with anything related to health and wellbeing. They will also have information about the health professionals already involved in your care.

After leaving care, you will use the same health services as any other adult. This includes registering with a GP.

If you have an additional health condition and regularly see a specialist, they will help you transition to adult health services when you turn 18.

If you are receiving support from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), your worker will support you to access adult mental health services, if needed.

Health needs and health history

If Nottinghamshire County Council was the responsible authority while you were in care, you will receive a summary of your health needs and medical history in a document called Important Health Information. If you were in the care of a different local authority, they will provide this document instead.

Information from your last annual health assessment and your Leaving Care Review will be used to help shape your Pathway Plan. This plan includes the steps you can take to manage your physical, mental and emotional health after leaving care.

Local health services and support

There are a range of health and well-being services available to support you. These include both physical and mental health services, along with details on how to contact them.

Your personal adviser can help you access any of these services if needed.

Use the sections below to explore the support available.

Emotional and mental health

It is normal to experience changes in mood and behaviour, especially during times of stress or emotional upset. If these changes continue and begin to affect your daily life, there is support available. If you’re unsure what service you might need or want help accessing it, your personal adviser can support you.

Wellbeing workers can help with emotional and mental health and signpost you to adult services if needed. Some of the services available are listed below:

Psychological therapy services

Psychological therapy (also called talking therapy) provides assessment and treatment for emotional wellbeing, including concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma and phobias.

You can refer yourself directly to one of the following services:

If you're registered with a GP in Mid-Nottinghamshire, use Insight Healthcare. If your GP is in South Nottinghamshire or Bassetlaw, you can choose any of the above services.

Kooth counselling

Kooth is an online counselling service for young people aged up to 25. It provides safe, confidential, and free advice and support from qualified counsellors.

Visit the Kooth website.

Your GP

Your GP can offer support for your mental health and refer you to specialist adult mental health services if needed.

You Know Your Mind

You Know Your Mind is a project designed to give you more choice and control over how you manage your mental health. Your personal adviser can talk you through this and refer you into the project if it’s a good fit.

Let’s Live Well in Rushcliffe

If you live in Rushcliffe, this programme helps you connect with local groups and activities to support your wellbeing. You’ll also work with a Health Coach to create a plan based on what matters to you.

Telepphone: 07909 890 699

Email: LLWiR@nottshc.nhs.uk

If you have a disability

If you have a disability, your social worker will usually begin working with you around the age of 16 (although it may be later) to explore the best housing and support options for when you leave care.

If appropriate, you’ll be introduced to a new worker when you turn 18. They will look at whether you can receive ongoing support from Adult Social Care. If you do qualify, a financial assessment will take place to see if you need to contribute towards the cost of this support.

Even if you receive support from Adult Social Care, the Care Leaver Offer still applies to you.

If you don’t need support from Adult Social Care now but may in the future, you can contact Nottinghamshire County Council for advice.

Nottinghamshire County Council Customer Service Centre

Telephone: 0300 500 80 80

Healthcare charges

If you are under 19 and in full-time education, or if you are on a low income, receiving benefits, a lone parent, or have a disability or long-term illness, you are likely to be exempt from many NHS charges.

You may need to apply for discounts or exemptions through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

In some cases, your personal adviser may be able to help with additional healthcare costs that aren’t covered by the scheme. Speak to them for more information.

Other support available

Your personal adviser can support you to:

  • Register with a local GP, dentist and other health services (such as an optician) when you move home
  • Attend hospital, GP or other health appointments
  • Access drug and alcohol support
  • Register for a C-Card to access free contraception

Let your personal adviser know if you'd like help with any of the above.

Contraception and sexual health

Using the right contraception helps avoid unplanned pregnancies. You can get advice and contraception from your GP, your local sexual health service, and some pharmacies. Contraception is free on the NHS.

C-Card

The C-Card scheme is a free condom and sexual health advice service for young people aged up to 25. You can get condoms, lubricants and advice on sex, STIs and relationships.

Visit the C-Card Nottinghamshire website for more information.

Sexual health services

Sexual health services in Nottinghamshire are free and confidential. The service you use will depend on where you live:

Sexual Health Services Nottingham

Visit the Sexual Health Services Nottinghamshire website

Health for teens

Health for Teens provides information on health and wellbeing for teenagers. Topics include sexual health, sexuality, relationships, drugs and alcohol, feelings, and lifestyle. You may find some of the information useful.

Visit the Health for Teens website

Smoking

Stopping smoking has long-term health benefits. For support to stop smoking, contact Smokefreelife:

Text: QUIT to 66777

Telephone: 0800 246 5343 or 0115 772 2515

Visit the Smokefreelife website

Healthy eating and healthy weight

Part of staying healthy is eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise and being a healthy weight. If you have concerns about your weight, you can get support from Change Point Nottinghamshire by calling 0333 005 0092 or visiting EveryoneHealth.

Drugs and alcohol

Taking drugs and drinking alcohol can have serious consequences, and the effects vary from person to person. If you are worried about your own drug or alcohol use, you can get support.

New Directions Nottingham

New Directions Nottinghamshire is the local service that provides confidential advice and support for young people and adults.

Telephone: 0115 896 0798
Email: notts@cgl.org.uk

You can also find more information from:

Doctors

You may meet different kinds of doctors during your life:

  • GPs (General Practitioners) look after the health of people in the local area and help with a wide range of health problems.
  • Consultants are specialists in particular areas of illness such as allergies, eyesight, or mental health.
  • Doctors in Accident and Emergency (A&E) treat people with urgent or life-threatening conditions.

To find a GP near where you live, go to NHS Choices and click on ‘Find a GP’. Once you have found a surgery, visit them and ask to register. You will need:

  • Your NHS number (this is in your Important Health Information document)
  • Some identification (ID)
  • The name and address of your last GP (also in your Important Health Information)

The GP surgery may not know you are a care leaver, so it’s helpful to tell them. Your personal adviser can support you with registering if needed.

If you are given medicine, you will get a prescription to take to a pharmacy. You may not need to pay for prescriptions if you are a student or receiving benefits. To get free prescriptions, you may need to complete an exemption form – your GP surgery or pharmacy can help with this, or your personal adviser can.

If you are not exempt, you will need to pay when collecting the medicine.

Pharmacy

Pharmacies are trained to help with many common health problems and minor injuries, including coughs and colds, aches and pains and skin rashes. They can give advice and ‘over the counter’ medicines or treatments, which you pay for. If you are given a prescription for medication by the doctor, you can take this to any pharmacy and they will dispense (supply) your medication. You can find a pharmacy near to where you live, by going to www.nhs.uk.

NHS 111

NHS 111 is a 24/7 confidential telephone helpline that can help you with concerns about your health. You can find out more at NHS111.

If you need health care outside of normal working hours (which are Monday to Friday daytimes) you should dial 111 to contact your local NHS Out of Hours health service. The staff at 111 will help you get the care you need. If you need help now, but it’s not an emergency, call 111. If it’s an emergency, always call 999.

Dentist

To find a dentist near to where you live, visit NHS Choices and click ‘Find a dentist’. Phone or visit the dentist you have chosen and ask to register as an NHS patient. Under the NHS, you might have to pay for some check-ups and treatments. If you’re not sure, your personal adviser will be able to help you.

Opticians

You can go to a local, high street optician and have an NHS eye test. They are free up to the age of 19 if you are in full time education. After that, you may have to pay for sight tests and glasses, if you need them. Ask your personal adviser, as they will be able to help you with this and looking into whether you are entitled to any help with charges. You may have to apply for discounts or exemptions from charges through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Let's Live Well in Ruschliffe

If you live in Rushcliffe, this programme will help you to connect to local groups, activities and places to help you improve your wellbeing. You will also be supported by a Health Coach who will discuss an action plan that focuses on what matters to you. You can contact LLWiR via telephone or email.

Telephone: 07909 890 699

Email: LLWiR@nottshc.nhs.uk

NHS Choices

NHSChoices (opens in new tab) is a website aimed at everyone. By searching NHS choices you can find information on everything from the common cold and sickness to symptoms of sexually transmitted infections, information about contraception, and help to identify the symptoms of depression.

Free Leisure Facilities

Nottinghamshire care leavers aged 18 to 25 years old can access a free annual membership to a local leisure centre. This is offered in partnership with the seven Nottinghamshire district councils. The membership is renewed each year until your 25th birthday and includes free access to any Nottinghamshire district council-run leisure centre within your local authority area.

You will be able to use gym and swimming facilities, as well as attend classes included in the standard membership package, during both peak and off-peak times.

If you live in Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, or Rushcliffe and you identify as a Nottinghamshire care leaver, speak to your personal adviser for more information.

If you are aged 21 to 24 and would like to access this offer, contact the 21Plus Team

Telephone: 0115 8044154

Email 21Plus@nottscc.gov.uk

Last updated: 30 March 2026