A guide to leaving care

Your Social Worker or Personal Adviser can: 

• Give information on healthy living.
• Give information on getting help to pay for prescriptions.
• Give information on intimacy and healthy relationships.
• Give information about health drop-in centres.
• Support you to register with a GP.
• Support you to register with a dentist.
• Support you to move from CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) to adult services.
• Give information about counselling services that are available locally.
• If you are a young parent, we will take an interestin your child/ren and support you to access appropriateservices and do the best for them.
• If you want support with drug or alcohol use, your Social Worker or Personal Advisor can provide you with advice, guidance or support in accessing services that are available in your area.

The LAC Nurse will:

• Your nurse will ensure you have a rising 18 health assessment the month before you turn 18, this will include you receiving a summary of your health whilst in care (for example, any birth information we may have) and information on accessing the health records held about you.
• Your nurse will contact you/your Social Worker for an update of your health post 18, just before you turn 19.
• Your nurse is always available to support you with any health queries- call 020 7266 8774 or 020 7266 8862 for more information or to find out the number for your nurse.
• You can use NHS Choices to locate services local to you; your nurse, Social Worker or Personal Advisor can offer support with this too.
• We can support you to access adult mental health services including counselling; attend hospital and community clinic appointments including sexual health services.

Additional help:

• We can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle through advice and support on a range of topics and can support you to attend the local leisure facilities via gym membership.
• Dental Health is important however even with NHS dentists can still be expensive, you can get help if you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months or are still in full time education between the ages of 16-18. The NHS dental health charges change each year, you can view these costs online on the NHS website.
• You are eligible for free eye tests and vouchers towards glasses/contact lenses if you are still in full time education between the ages of 16-18.
• You can get help paying for prescriptions if you are still in full time education between the ages of 16-18.
• You can also get help over 18 if you are on a low income. View the NHS low income scheme for more information or call 0300 330 1343 to apply for help with NHS charges such as prescriptions, dental treatment, vision tests and more.

If you feel that you are struggling with your mental health or are looking for support with your emotional wellbeing there is also the option to discuss your needs with a therapist who works with your Social Worker or Personal Advisor. Should it be something that you want, it may be that you can then meet with a therapist for continued support, or they may refer you to a more suitable service (such as NHS adult mental health or a local counselling service).  If you think something like this would be useful, please discuss it with your social worker/Personal Advisor.  

If you are on a low income or in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Employment and Support, Job Seekers Allowance or Universal Credit you can apply for a Health Credit Certificate [HC2 or HC3] to support free dental care, eye care and prescriptions.

Dental care

You may be eligible for some financial support towards dental checks/treatment if you are:

• Aged 16 to 18 years in full time education.
• Pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months.
• Having treatment as an in-patient or out-patient at an NHS hospital.
• Receiving Income Support, Income Based Employment and Support, or Job Seekers Allowance.
• On a low income and have a Health Credit Certificate (known as HC2 or HC3 certificate).

Eye care

You may also be eligible for free eye tests and vouchers towards glasses/contact lenses if you are:

• Aged 16 to 18 and in full time education.
• Receiving Income Support, Income Based Employment and Support, or Job Seekers Allowance.
• On a low income and have a Health Credit Certificate (known as HC2 or HC3 certificate).

Prescriptions

We can give you advice and support about paying for prescriptions but we are not able to pay for the costs of prescriptions for you to get medication.

You are eligible for free prescriptions if you are:

• Aged 16 to 18 and in full time education.
• Receiving Income Support, Income Based Employment and Support, or Job Seekers Allowance.
• Pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months (you will need an exemption certificate from your GP).
• Receiving treatment in hospital.

Support for people on a low income

If you are on a low income you can apply for a Health Credit Certificate known as HC2 or HC3. This will give you reduced cost, or free dental and eye checks/treatment as well as prescription charges. This is dependent on your income and needs at the time you apply for support. A certificate can last from 6 months to 5 years depending on your circumstances.

To find out more, ask your GP, dentist or optician, or ask your social worker to help you apply.