Carers worried about the impact of Coronavirus

Southend Carers is Virtually Open

Page updated on 19/05/2020

Southend Carers are working and look forward to hearing from you.

We encourage you to email us at info@southendcarers.co.uk . You can call us on 01702 393933 and leave a message on our answerphone, including your name and telephone number, and we will call you back.

Southend Carers office is currently not open to visitors as the SAVS building is closed due to Coronavirus health and safety measures.

Information for unpaid carers and professionals can be found on our website www.southendcarers.co.uk, Carers e-handbook, and updates posted on our Facebook page and Twitter page.

Counselling and Emotional support

Face-to-face Counselling at Southend Carers has been suspended until further notice, we are continuing to support carers through our Telephone Support Service, with a focus on the isolated, elderly and vulnerable.

If you are feeling in need of immediate psychological support, please call Southend Carers on 01702 393933 and leave a message with your contact details and a member of our team will contact you.

Samaritans are available 24/7 call 116 123 for free. See their website: https://www.samaritans.org/  The Silverline is a free, confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people call 0800 4 70 80 90, website: https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/

Face-to-face Counselling and Peer Support Groups for carers have also been suspended at our partner charity TrustLinks. Counselling and Listening Support continues via telephone and Skype.  Some groups are being held virtually using Zoom or providing peer support on the telephone.

If you are an unpaid carer and would like to receive Telephone Support from Southend Carers, or Telephone Counselling, Listening Support and virtual Peer Support Groups from Trust Links, please email info@southendcarers.co.uk. Or call 01702 393933 and leave a message, we will call you back.

Young Carers

We are continuing to support Young Carers by providing craft activities, listening support and information via our Young Carers Facebook Group. Young carers must be registered with us to join the group. Email YoungCarers@southend.gov.uk, or call us on 01702 393933 leave a message and we will call you back – or visit our webpage for young carers for more information https://www.southendcarers.co.uk/services-for-carers/young-carers/

Bookable Respite

Bookable Respite is available for unpaid adult carers who are caring for another adult.  A break for a few hours in the daytime can be provided for an emergency, a hospital or GP appointment, urgent food shopping, medicine collection or similar reason within the Government’s rules on social distancing.

Bookable Respite is provided by SPDNS Homecare CIC. Their carers are all wearing gloves, aprons and masks, and socially distancing in homes as much as they can. You must be registered with Southend Carers to make a booking; Email info@southendcarers.co.uk or call 01702 393933 and leave a message, we will call you back.  

One week’s notice is usually required for the first booking. Subsequent bookings usually require at least three days’ notice. This is not a regular or weekly service.

Advocacy

If you require Southend Carers to make a referral on your behalf to our partner charities Citizens Advice Southend (CAS) or South Essex Advocacy Services (SEAS) contact us by email info@southendcarers.co.uk Or telephone 01702 393933 and leave a message, we will call you back.

Citizens Advice Southend can help with Employment, Benefits, Debt, Housing, Immigration or Universal Credit. You can call CAS directly on 01702 456352 or 01702 456354. They are closed to the public but will call you back as soon as possible.

South Essex Advocacy Services can help with advocacy including some form filling and talking to professionals. South Essex Advocacy Services (SEAS) will consider each referral case by case and offer telephone support for the majority of cases. If there is no other alternative, they will provide face-to-face provision, but only in exceptional circumstances. You can call SEAS on 01702 340566 or email advocacy@southessexadvocacy.org.

We will endeavour to keep you up to date as the situation changes. 

Be safe and look after yourself. 

Southend Carers