Health is not just about your body, it is also about your mind. Pathways are here to support you with both. Your PA will work with you to think about the support you need and how this will look. Some of the things we can offer you include:
Health registrations and appointments
We can support you to:
- Find and register with a GP and dentist.
- Make phone calls for you or with you about your health.
- Get to appointments.
- Attend appointments with you.
- Practice the skills you will need as an adult to manage your health.
- Make referrals to wellbeing or mental health services.
We know health appointments can cause worry or anxiety. So, even if all you need is some encouragement, we will be there for you.
Care leaver health drop in clinic
Do you have a health need or worry that is not an emergency? Are you also nervous about going to your GP? We have two nurses that offer monthly drop-in sessions for care leavers up to the age of 25.
These are held at the Orange Box in a private room. They are run by the same nurses each month, so you can get to know them.
They can offer advice and help to get you the support you need. Most of all, they offer a friendly and familiar face when you are worried about your health.
To access the drop-in all you need to do is speak with your PA.
Access to leisure facilities
As a care leaver aged up to 25 years old, you can access:
- free swimming;
- fitness classes;
- and gyms across all Calderdale run leisure facilities..
For a list of venues and services, see: Sport and fitness.
Health passports
We can provide you with a 'health passport', which details your personal/family health history. This will also include details of services available for you to access. This is really useful if you have or intend to move GPs.
Dentists
In West Yorkshire there is an agreement across many dentists to offer care leavers access to flexible dental appointments.
If you need treatment, we can help you access this. You do not need to live in Calderdale or be registered with a dentist.
Drama therapy group
We have worked to think of ways to support your well-being and help you with the bigger feelings. Those that can sometimes be felt when you start to move into the adult world. In partnership with the CAMHS and the NHS we have created this group for care leavers. We hope it will support you to make sense of the changes that happen in your life. This is a weekly group run by a drama therapist and supported by a Pathways Advisor and a therapeutic worker.
Are you feeling lonely, disconnected or struggling a bit to make sense of the world around you? Speak with your PA and they can discuss the group with you in more detail.
Walk and talk group
Our physical health is as important as our emotional wellbeing so why not do both together. It can be easy in the modern world to spend lots of time indoors on our own. Sometimes everyone just needs a walk and a talk.
- We meet monthly and the group is open to all care leavers and pathways advisors.
- We pick a different walk each time and head out into the countryside for a few hours.
We clear our heads, walk, talk and laugh a lot. Everyone feels a little lighter by the end. We sometimes have guest walkers from other services too, so you can get to know them informally.
Your pathways advisor can give you the details or you can ring the duty phone number for details.
Key services in health and wellbeing
Health services
- Our member GP practices (NHS).
- Calderdale Royal Hospital (NHS).
- Sexual Health Calderdale and Huddersfield (NHS).
Mental health services in Calderdale
- Phone NHS 111 (select the mental health option). This is a 24 hour and confidential service to help adults in a mental health crisis.
- Mental health services.
- Where to get urgent help for mental health (NHS).
- Invictus wellbeing.
- Unmasked Mental Health.
- Mind.