At a time of crisis please use the following options:
- contact your GP
- attend your local Accident & Emergency (A&E) department
- telephone Emergency Services on 999
- telephone the CNWL Single Point of Access (SPA) team on 0800 0234 650
- telephone The Samaritans on 116123 (free number)
Check in & Chat is a safe and confidential over-the-phone listening service for CNWL carer’s to help fight off feelings of loneliness of isolation.
Who is a Carer
A carer is anyone, who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid. The person they care for access CNWL services.
Am I a carer? Please read our “Information for carers” page to check.
If you are a carer, you can self-refer in the following ways by
- filling in our self-referral form
- calling us on 020 7685 5957
- emailing us at cnwl.check-inandchat@nhs.net
This is a very informal service, we are not a crisis team and we do not offer counselling or therapy.
If we feel that telephone befriending is not right for you, we may signpost you to more appropriate services.
Being a carer can feel lonely. You might be surrounded by friends and family who want to do what they can to support you, but still feel alone, misunderstood and unsupported.
Check in & Chat is a free, supportive, non-judgemental telephone service for carers.
The service is Trust- wide which means we operate in any of the boroughs and areas that CNWL covers.
You can use our service if you are:
- Carers that are not (current) service users themselves
- Carers of CNWL service users that are continuing to access services at time of referral and/ or for the foreseeable future
- Carers of CNWL service users who have been discharged from a CNWL service in the last 6 months
- Over 18 years old.
What to expect?
Check in & Chat is a service delivered by compassionate, trained volunteers who understand caregiving challenges. While not offering counselling, mentoring or solutions, the service provides a supportive, non-judgmental space for quality conversation.
Trained volunteer chatters will call you weekly for between 4 and 8 weeks, at a time that works for you and the chatter. Each call lasts up to an hour, allowing you to build a connection with the same person. Our Chatter is available to chat, provide advice, and guide you to local events and groups which may be of benefit.
Maintaining your confidentiality is very important to us. All our assessments begin with a discussion about confidentiality. It is your decision about the information you disclose to us.
In line with NHS guidelines, we sometimes need to share limited information with other professionals involved in your care. Before disclosing information to others, we would always try to discuss with you the details of the information we are sharing and the reasons for needing to do this.
Statement of inclusivity
We are committed to providing comprehensive care for all, regardless or their race, gender, sexual orientation or identity. We acknowledge the need for diversity and equity in healthcare and are actively aiming to create a safe, welcoming and non-discriminatory environment for every person who seeks our services.
We welcome your feedback and accountability as we strive to provide the highest standard of care for everyone. Thank you.
How can I become a Chatter?
CNWL Chatters are friendly, trained volunteers passionate about supporting others. Occasionally, the opportunity to apply for the role of Chatter will be open to local community members. A role description is available for those interested in learning more.
We are not looking for Chatters at the moment, but if you are interested in this role, please email cnwl.volunteer@nhs.net expressing your interest and we will be in touch when the role becomes available.
Resources
Hear from our carers
Thank you for listening. You’ve helped me see I can make time for myself.
All I can say, it has really uplifted me. Really appreciate the service, I found out about it exactly when I needed it and it gave me the clarity and the support moving forwards.
If I hadn't had Check in & Chat to support me and provide a warm, friendly ear, I don't know who I could have turned to. I would have ended up really poorly with my mental health and unable to care for my loved ones
CNWL Volunteers are on LinkedIn
Follow for regular updates, news, career opportunities and staff stories on the CNWL Volunteer LinkedIn page.
Check in & Chat is Helpforce Champions ‘People’s Choice Award Winner’