Romsey And District Information and Support at Home

RADISH

Introduction

Aims of RADISH

• To work together in the local community to make best use of services and resources already available
• To identify gaps in services by mapping the area and continually updating the information available in cooperation with RAIN (Romsey Area Information Network)
• To promote and/or provide activity to fill identified gaps in services
• To consult regularly on the needs of local carers, disabled and older people and respond to the consultation as appropriate and needed.

Members
RADISH has a steering group to direct and support the local activity including members and representatives from some the following supporting organisations:

Age Concern Hampshire
Age Concern Romsey and District
Carers Together Hampshire
DWP Pensions Service
Eastleigh and Test Valley South Primary Care Trust
Hampshire Neighbourcare
Romsey Carers Support Service
Romsey Citizens Advice Bureau
Romsey Disability Forum
Romsey Good Neighbours
STVVTS (Southern Test Valley Voluntary Transport Service)
Romsey Hospital Intermediate Care (Rehabilitation) Team
Social Services
Talking Newspapers
Test Valley Borough Council - Customer Services, Community Development, Housing Benefits
Test Valley Community Services
Testway Housing

There are four main parts to RADISH

Contact, Communication and Support

Home Information, Link and Visiting service

Volunteer Support Network

Advocacy and Befriending Proposals

Main Activities

1. Contact, Communication and Support

• A personal network of support (individual circle of support) should participants become unable to look after themselves or need support when in hospital or when they become less mobile.
• The service will facilitate the scheme/recruit volunteers to support it.
• The Communication part will improve the lives of people isolated in the community by developing a support facility to link people with common concerns in a range of different ways according to need and demands including by telephone, by email and through 'online' links where people are able to contact others in a group at a time to suit them.
• RADISH could also facilitate mutual support through a physical support group if needed and broaden their access to knowledge and information.

2. Home Information, Link and Visiting service

• The Home Information, Link and Visiting service is the core of the initiative, enabling and supporting people to access information and support, both practical and financial when and where they need it.
• It is a free, confidential service for anyone who finds it difficult to get out and about or who is unsure about where to get help either because of age, disability, illness or their caring role.
• It will improve access to, and take up of, benefits and other community support including housing and council tax benefits, by targeting older people, disabled people and carers of all ages who are isolated and hard to reach by providing a mobile information service to help people who are housebound for whatever reason.
• It will liaise with health and social services and include information about benefits available, assisting with simple form filling or contacting and signposting people to relevant services that can offer support e.g. CAB (a partner in the service), Test Valley Housing Benefits Department
• It will also have a one-stop telephone service to information and contacts.
• Volunteers will carry leaflets and forms to complete for benefits applications and will advise on completion as required. This will be supported by TVBC Housing Benefits Scheme which will also provide training/support and some staff visiting to advise on benefits.
• It has the advantage of links to established information and support services such as Carers Together Hampshire, Age Concern Hampshire, Test Valley Community Services, Rural Networks, Village Links, Social Isolation Forum and DWP Pension Service.

3. Volunteer Support Network
The Volunteer Support part of the project will work in cooperation with other local organisations, to promote, facilitate and provide some activities not covered by other organisations such as:

• urgent one off gardening
• odd jobs (such as change a light bulb, clear a path)
• help when necessary from a group of volunteers in an emergency e.g. shopping for essentials, emergency pet walking; collecting an urgent prescription; visiting people who have no relatives when they are in hospital and doing their washing and essential shopping.

It will link to Romsey Good Neighbours (transport to GP surgeries/Hospitals only), Hampshire Neighbourcare (development of additional support in the area) and other community groups to offer a comprehensive support network for carers, disabled and older people in the community and to promote/provide care group activities not covered by other organisations in the area.

4. The Advocacy and Befriending Proposals

• The Advocacy Proposals have arisen from requests for support by carers, disabled and older people when faced with assessments, reviews, case conferences etc.
• They feel vulnerable and threatened by the combined presence of multi-agency professionals and feel their views are not treated as important without someone there to support them.
• This service is being developed currently.
• Some carers/older people who feel under stress have also requested counselling as an outlet.
• Some carers/older people who feel under stress have also requested befriending as an outlet

Romsey & District Carers Forum Registered Charity Number 1079112

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