Information for providers

Wellbeing

We appreciate Covid-19 has brought additional challenges to the social care workforce and those who provide care to our residents keeping them safe and well. There is a range of support available to support your mental wellbeing and for all levels of concerns, big or small:

• Kingston Care Wellbeing Champions - local social care professionals dedicated to supporting colleagues with their mental health, either within the workplace or outside. They have received additional training funded by Kingston Council so they’re suitably prepared for conversations about mental health and equipped to provide the support social care colleagues may need. The Wellbeing Champions are: Teresa Smith E. teresa@thefircrofttrust.org  T. 07598 910797 and Tanya Williams of Alzheimer's Society - contact at E. Tanya.Williams@alzheimers.org.uk  T. 07484 089446
• Finding it difficult to cope? - Social care staff who may be struggling to cope and need help can send a text message with ‘FRONTLINE’ to 85258 to start a conversation. This service is offered by Shout and is free on all major mobile networks
• Skills For Care Wellbeing resource finder - quick and easy tool to help our social care workforce quickly find trusted resources to support their own or others wellbeing.
• A set of short relaxation recordings have been developed exclusively for our Kingston care workforce and can be listened to whenever needed. Their aim is to aid rest and relaxation and cover a range of themes from inner strength to releasing difficult emotions.
• The Every Mind Matters platform has been continuously updated to support people during the COVID-19 outbreak and has a COVID-19 hub that includes tips and support on how to deal with change, cope with money worries and job uncertainty and how to look after your mental wellbeing while staying at home. It also includes practical tips and videos from experts on dealing with stress and anxiety, boosting your mood, sleeping better and what you can do to help others – including advice for parents and for children and young people. 
• The Samaritans - confidential staff support line is open for all social care staff who might be feeling increasingly stressed, anxious or overwhelmed. Call 0800 069 6222 (7am to 11pm, 7 days a week)
• Hospice UK’s bereavement and trauma line is open for all social care staff. This offers a safe space to talk to a professional if you have experienced bereavement, trauma or anxiety. Call 0300 131 7000 (7am to 11pm, 7 days a week)
• 24 hour debt advice line 0800 808 5700 - Thrive LDN are working with Debt Free London to provide advice or support 24 hours a day. Calls are free. Or visit their website.
• Bereavement - Support after sudden bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic from various organisations, such as Sudden for people bereaved suddenly by suicide, COVID-19, or other causes, providing emotional support, and address urgent practical needs. Call 0800 2600 400, 10am-4pm Monday-Friday or email help@sudden.org.
• For further local support and resources you may find the below websites helpful:
• Adult Mental Wellbeing - MIND mental health charity
• MIND in Kingston 
• Kingston Care Learning Hub - The Royal Borough of Kingston and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) joint initiative to offer a rapid guidance, digital learning and development programme aimed at adult care provider staff and the voluntary sector within the borough. The Kingston Care Learning Hub, will offer a range of accessible resources to support managers and frontline care workers in topics such as infection control use of technology and digital solutions, and keeping people safe.