NHS Children's Winter Illness information
https://hertsvalleysccg.nhs.uk/download_file/view_inline/6047
HertsHelp: COVID 19 Information and Advice
· The principle contact point for support and signposting is HertsHelp, on 0300 123 4044 or by email at info@hertshelp.net.
· HertsHelp will deliver a crisis intervention service for people in crisis to include food, energy costs and other essentials for those who are in ongoing crisis or who have come into crisis as a result of COVID 19.
· HertsHelp continue to remain open 7 days a week, from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 10am-6pm over the weekend.
· HertsHelp can make referrals to:
o The Hospital and Community Navigation Service (HCNS) which aims to improve health and wellbeing by supporting those vulnerable service users in their own homes and in moving from hospital to home, using Community Navigators and Link
Workers and the HCNS Pathway which is built into the overall social prescription pathway.
o Volunteer support (including shopping, medication collection, befriending, dog walking) via the Community Help Hertfordshire (CHH) service model under which all the Hertfordshire CVS organisations have come together to provide a unified response to support people in need. This network will also act as a support and co-ordinator for smaller but important community groups including mutual aid groups, foodbanks and good neighbour schemes, assisting with organisational development and fund raising.
o HERT (Hertfordshire Economic Recovery Team) partnership where HCC’s Money Advice Unit (MAU) and Citizens Advice Hertfordshire (CAH) have come together to enhance the finance, welfare benefits and debt management advice already available in Hertfordshire to vulnerable residents who have been most affected by the COVID-19 crisis, to aid their financial recovery and embed future financial security and literacy, complementing the work done by financial inclusion workers in District and Borough Housing teams, especially regarding complex cases.
o Wider support, including:
§ Winter welfare checks and hot meals via HILS.
§ Supporting the BAME community and Rural Support Networks via CDA Herts.
§ Support to the Gypsy and Traveller community via GATE.
§ Befriending and ‘Keeping in Touch’ calls via Carers in Herts for unpaid carers, Age UK and Mind in Mid Herts.
§ Hertswise dementia support and the Advocacy service.
Meals on Wheels/Emergency Food Parcels
· Community Meals are provided by Herts Independent Living Service (HILs), the office is open every day between 8am-3pm, 365 days a year.
· Herts Community meals can provide long or short-term support to qualifying residents, as well as supporting people who have been discharged from hospital with short term meals or supporting residents who require longer term assistance due to ongoing conditions.
· Meals are delivered hot and ready to eat between 11:30am and 2:30pm. For urgent meal requests, please call 0330 2000 103 to speak to an operational team member.
· Residents can additionally order breakfast and tea packs, which are delivered at the same time as a hot meal and can only be ordered if you are having a hot meal.
· Emergency on call manager can be contacted on 01462 887181. Please be advised that this number shouldn’t be used for new referrals.
Specialist Benefits & Debt Advice
· Citizens Advice Bureaux in each district are available with differing opening hours. They can all be contacted on 03444 111 444.
· Free, independent advice is available 365 days a year from 8am-7pm with Age UK’s National Advice line on 0800 169 2081
Mental Health
· For advice with mental health Mind in Mid Herts services are open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and closed over the weekends, accessible via 03303 208100.
· Herts Mind Network services are open as normal via 0844 477 2212.
· Hertfordshire Partnership Trust’s Single Point of Access (SPA) Mental Health Helpline is open to Herts residents of all ages, including service users, carers, GPs and other professionals 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The team can provide advice and support for Herts residents who are experiencing a mental health crisis, need some mental health support or just want to talk on Freephone 0800 6444 101
Samaritans
· Helpline number is 116 123 – 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Between the 3 branches (South West Herts, Ware and Hitchin).
Herts Sunflower / Domestic Abuse
· Support is available at https://www.hertssunflower.org/ a ‘one stop’ shop of information about services and support available for victims, friends and families of victims, professionals and perpetrators of domestic abuse.
· Call 0808 8088 088 Mon-Fri 9am– 9pm, Sat-Sun 9am–4pm.
Carers
· Carers in Herts are open on weekdays 9am - 5.30pm. Zoom drop-in sessions for carers, currently scheduled until January 15th – further information is available here: https://www.carersinherts.org.uk/news/item/430-carers-can-enjoy-conversation-over-a-cuppa-in-our-new-online-sessions
· Links for the drop-ins and a range of other support can be obtained by calling Carers in Herts on 01992 58 6969.