Help and support from local charities


Community Partnerships

Kingston Hospital is proud to work with voluntary sector partners in the community to help all of our patients, staff and carers to access and navigate the wide-ranging services and support that are available across the communities we serve.

We work with local charities to ensure our patients, staff and carers have access to community-based services at the right time in their patient journey, regardless of whether that care is received in hospital, home or community. We are working with the following partners to help some of our most vulnerable patients to get well, go home and recover well through the Winter season 2022.

Staywell

Staywell are a local charity supporting older people over 65+ living alone or with another vulnerable person in the London Borough of Kingston. Kingston Hospital welcomes x2 Hospital Coordinators, Klaire and Shaheena from Staywell who work alongside patients to help ensure a smooth discharge home from hospital through Help@Home. Eligible patients are currently entitled to receive 6hrs of Staywell’s complimentary support across a range of services in hospital and back home in the community.  

The Staywell Home from Hospital Service for Winter 2022 will support residents of Kingston upon Thames (65 years+) to return from hospital more quickly, removing practical barriers that will reduce time taken for discharge

What can we help with?

  • Holistic assessment, supporting clients and their informal carers to prepare for the return to home
  • Preparing the home for discharge / change in functional ability
  • Key safe installations
  • Micro-environment set-up
  • Awaiting equipment deliveries
  • Shopping, prescriptions, light meal preparation
  • Help with appointments
  • Help arranging transport
  • Follow-up support after discharge and access to other Staywell services e.g. Help at Home, Handyperson, social prescribing, social activities to improve and maintain wellbeing, Information & Advice, including welfare benefit checks and applications

How to refer

Criteria: Borough of Kingston upon Thames resident, aged 65+, living alone or with another vulnerable person.

Referrals can be made via our Home from Hospital Coordinators:

Contact us:

Phone: 020 8942 8256 (ask for Hospital Team)

Email: hospital.team@staywellservices.org.uk

Web: www.staywellservices.org.uk

Charity no. 299988

Nightingale

Nightingale Service: Age UK Richmond

A free, short-term service for those leaving hospital or who have become unwell in the community.

How to access the service

Criteria: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames resident, aged 65+, living alone or with another vulnerable person. We are here for people who have no family or friends who can assist.
Referrals from a Health or Social Care professional preferred.

What can we help with?

– Preparing the home for discharge / change in functional ability
– Keysafe installations
– Micro-environment set up
– Awaiting equipment deliveries
– Shopping & prescriptions
– Help with appointments
– Help arranging transport
– Access to other Age UK Richmond services and other wider voluntary and community services including: Welfare Benefit checks, social activities to improve and maintain wellbeing
– Information & Advice

How to make a referral

To make a referral please complete a referral form available on the Age UK Richmond Website

Age UK Richmond | Nightingale Service – Home from Hospital Support

Email your completed referral form to nightingale@ageukrichmond.org.uk or call 020 8876 2449 for more information

Kingston Carers’ Network

Kingston Carers’ Network (KCN) provide independent information, support and advocacy to carers of all ages, including young carers, for people living in, or caring for someone who lives in, the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

Support can be accessed in-person, virtually or via their Carers’ Support Platform which is home to a wealth of information on local and national services aimed at supporting carers.

KCN’s comprehensive advice and advocacy service covers a huge range of issues including benefits, community care, NHS continuing car, housing adaptations, employment rights and power of attorney/deputyship.

KCN also offer a thriving Wellbeing Service encouraging carers to enjoy a life outside of their caring role in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Carers can benefit from social activities, trips, counselling and support groups.

Find out more, or register at www.kingstoncarers.org.uk or by calling 020 3031 2757 or emailing admin@kingstoncarers.org.uk

Kingston Adult Social Care

Carers in Kingston can also access support from Adult Social Care online or by calling 020 8547 5005.

As a carer, you are entitled to an assessment of your own needs. This may be carried out by RBK or by Kingston Carers’ Network as a trusted partner. You can find out more online.

You can also visit Connected Kingston to find out more about other local activities and organisations.

Richmond Carers Centre

Kingston Hospital are working with community partners such as Richmond Carers Centre and Kingston Carers Centre to ensure that carers are better supported during their loved one’s journey in hospital, and beyond.

What to expect when you’re coming into hospital as an unpaid carer:

  • A warm welcome by ward staff
  • Provision of a Carer’s Passport which will allow you to visit outside of normal hours, be involved in your loved one’s care and have access to drinks and other benefits during your stay. Click here for more information
  • Involvement in your loved one’s discharge plan
  • Access to support and information during their hospital stay and beyond

Do you or your loved one live in the Richmond borough? Get in touch to find out more information about help and support available to you:

Contact Laura Greene, Head of Volunteering and Community Partnerships on laura.greene2@nhs.net

Or Ellie from Richmond Carers Centre on support@richmondcarers.org or by calling the Carers Support Line on 020 8867 2380.

Richmond Carers Centre can support carers living in or caring for someone living in the Richmond borough. Our team of Adult Carer Support workers can provide a listening ear and help in navigating local services. You do not have to be registered with us to call our support line 020 8867 2380.

Once registered with Richmond Carers Service, carers can access:

  • Workshops for carers
  • Regular groups and activities such as coffee mornings, walks round Kew gardens, creative sessions such as art, pottery and poetry etc.
  • Breaks and leisure events such as theatre trips
  • A grants programme to allow you to get a break from your caring role
  • Wellbeing services including counselling

For more information on Richmond Carers Centre services and how to register click here.

Richmond Adult Social Care

The council is committed to supporting you in your caring role and has dedicated adult social care teams that can help you get the advice, guidance and support you need.

  • Find information about local support available for carers here.
  • Find information about a Carer’s Emergency Card and how you can apply for one here.
  • Find out more information a Carer’s Assessment and how get one here
  • For a guide on health and social care support available in Richmond click here.

Contact information for Richmond Adult Social Care:

Find out more.

Crossroads Care Richmond  

Referrals for an inpatient: please ask your nurse or doctor to refer you to via the Kingston Transfer of Care Hub

Find out more www.crossroadscarerk.org, and contact us, by emailing info@crossroadscarerk.org.uk or calling 020 8943 9421

Crossroads Careis a local non-profit regulated (Care Quality Commission; CQC) service, providing high-quality, personalised home and community respite care and support services to Carers and the people they care for, of all ages and disability, including behavioural, emotional and/or medical needs – often those most vulnerable, at-risk, and socially isolated, living with dementia and/or multiple health conditions, usually chronic in nature.

Having held the Carers Emergency Respite Service for the London Borough of Richmond for over 15 years, Crossroads Care is now working with Kingston Hospital, to ensure better outcomes for Carers and the people they care for, by facilitating a smooth and timely discharge from hospital, once they are medically optimised. Crossroads Care Carers Emergency Hospital Discharge Respite Service will support across a range of services in hospital and back home in the community, for Richmond Carers and/or the person they care for, helping to overcome some of the barriers, challenges and issues preventing a safe, effective and timely discharge, including 

  • Holistic risk assessment – within the hospital and home environment 
  • Supporting Carers/cared-for to prepare for returning home
  • Transport 
  • Preparing the home for discharge
  • Liaising with necessary community services (e.g., Occupational Therapy)
  • Awaiting equipment deliveries
  • Up to 48 hours 1:1 home support, from our senior and experienced care support workers 
  • Shopping, collecting prescriptions, light meal preparation

Access to other Crossroads Care core provisions 

  • Respite Care/Support. access to our charitable, match-funded and/or private direct 1:1 support respite breaks 
  • Specialist Groups/Advice. access to ourmonthly sessions and regular discreet/interpersonal support and professional advice to manage personal and unfamiliar tasks
  • Community Projects. direct referrals into our outreach projects. These meetups help to develop friendships and support networks;
  • Signposting (information/advice). ensuring Carers are aware of and able to access (local and national) services and relevant information


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