13 January 2021

Check in & Chat has a team of trained volunteers to telephone carers for up to one hour per week for eight weeks to reduce the health-harming impacts of loneliness and isolation, provide informal support and encourage networking with community resources. Volunteer ‘Chatters’ will confirm who they are and why they are calling. 

This service is for unpaid carers (family and friends) who are looking after CNWL patients.

Carers can access this service by 

  • Contacting us directly by using the form below (You must be connected to CNWL ie a carer of a CNWL patient)
  • CNWL staff making a referral for a carer on their behalf. 

You will be allocated one of our friendly, trained ‘Chatters’ who will:

  • Call and introduce themselves, explain more about Check In & Chat and get to know you
  • Call you at an agreed time every week for eight weeks to see how you are, what support you need and provide a listening ear (it’s not a clinical service)
  • Work with you to identify what support you can access that will benefit you, such as  signposting to services and information
  • Maintain a record of each of your chats, ensuring your referring CNWL service remains in the loop with how you are getting on. 

We have resources to help you to create networks in your community, signpost you to carer resources and support your mental health and emotional wellbeing. 

Over Christmas check in and chat one patient said  "When you call it’s like you’re here in my living room."

 

Check in & Chat operates between Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. We provide a weekly chat over 8 weeks at an agreed time, where your allocated Chatter will call you. They are unable to receive calls outside of these times. If you feel you may need something more/different to this, your chatter can help you find additional support that might be helpful for you.

If you think you may benefit from accessing Check in & Chat or you are a CNWL staff member and know of a carer who may need more support, please complete this referral form and send to cnwl.check-inandchat@nhs.net

CNWL’s Chief Nurse Maria O’Brien said: “A check in and chat call can make all the difference to someone who is lonely at this time and is a positive step to engage with someone who may have little or no contact with others.

“We are concerned that a consequence of self-isolating may lead to issues with confidence, self-esteem, and loneliness so through this service we hope to identify any practical support a person may require.”