Health & Social Care Services in Skye & Lochalsh
Access Panel
The Access Panel is one of fifty Access Panels in Scotland which are constantly being developed and consists entirely of volunteers, several of whom have a range of expertise in a variety of fields, including qualification as an Access Auditor.
We recognize and value diversity in our membership; in our community; and it is our duty, and the duty of others, to ensure that equality of opportunity be given to every participant in our community. This would enable their knowledge, opinion, skill and experience to be heard, valued and taken into account.
We provide a contact point with Highland Council on access issues, review planning and building warrant applications, undertake access audits, access surveys and provide a lobbying and watchdog role within the community.
The aim is to improve accessibility for all sections of the community to the built environment, open spaces and to services. We are also required to consider, how we can promote equality, whether in relation to our role advising on planning applications, ensuring meeting are held in accessible venues, lobbying, etc.
A key essential element to enable a fulfilment of these objectives has been to establish a close working relationship with relevant bodies, such as Highland Council, NHS highland and various other agencies. Over the years, this co-operation has proved to be very successful in resolving numerous issues.
The Access Panel aims to work with people by listening, discussing ideas, offering advice, giving appropriate information and promoting good practice. The Panel endeavours to monitor all matters of business it deems to require remedial action. Membership of the Access Panel is open to any interested person in the wider community.
When the Equality Act came into force in October 2010, it brought together, strengthened and extended existing anti-discrimination laws. Equal Opportunities are about ensuring that all members of society are given a fair and equal opportunity to participate and treating people equally is not the same as treating everyone the same.
We welcome communication from anyone who wishes to highlight an access issue we may be unaware of, or who wants advice in order to improve accessibility, or to know more about the work of the Access Panel generally.
Contact Details Access Panel c/o Joan Turkington Tir-Nan-Og, 11 Ose, Struan, Isle of Skye IV56 8FJ
Tel: 01470 572385 Email: enquiries@access-panel.org.uk
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Advocacy Highland
Advocacy Highland helps people to speak up, speak out and be heard.
Advocacy is standing up for a person, sticking with them and being on their side.
Advocacy Highland works with people who have mental health problems, including dementia; those with learning disabilities, older people and children so that they are listened to and respected, involved in making decisions about their care and treatment and are able to contribute to and participate in society.
These groups of people are among the most vulnerable, and advocacy aims to redress the balance between service providers and those receiving the services by working alongside a person, enabling them to gain access to information, explore and understand their options and to make their views and wishes heard.
Advocacy Highland also speaks on behalf of people who are unable to do so for themselves, upholding their rights.
People can refer themselves or anyone else can refer them with their permission.
Trained advocates can then meet the person at e.g. a café or drop-in centre or at the person’s home if they are unable to meet elsewhere.
The advocate takes time to get to know the person, to understand their issues and concerns, then works with the person to take the issue forward in a way that helps the person take control of the situation.
This might be done by e.g. helping them to prepare personal statements about how they would like to be looked after, going along with them to meetings, or by helping them to access support and advice services.
The service is free and confidential, and is independent of the statutory services.
Contact Details Advocacy Highland Third Floor 33 Academy Street Inverness IV1 1JN
Skye & Lochalsh Area Co-ordinator Phone:Mobile: 07717730865; e-mail: judy@advocacy-highland.org.uk or our main office Phone:01463 233460; Website: www.advocacy-highland.org.uk; Email: info@advocacy-highland.org.uk
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Alzheimer Scotland, Skye and Lochalsh Services
Alzheimer Scotland provides:
- Information and advice for people with early onset of dementia.
- Day care in Portree and Dornie whereby:
- services offer social contact in a warm and welcoming environment with a wide range of activities, tailored to the particular interests and preferences of those attending
- Activities are as diverse as the interests of those attending
- With the involvement of the person with dementia, and carer where appropriate, a Care Programme is put together for each person, tailored to his or her individual abilities, interests and preferences.
- Home support whereby:
- Alzheimer Scotland provides support to people with dementia living in the community
- Alzheimer Scotland puts together a personal support plan reflecting the individual needs, preferences and abilities of the person with the full involvement of the Service User and Carer where appropriate. This focuses on maximising strengths, maintaining social links and social skills and continued enjoyment of activities and pursuits. This could include encouragement & assistance with personal care, prompting & encouragement to self medicate safely, support to do everyday tasks such as cooking or shopping and help with leisure activities.
The Portree Day Opportunities Club meets on Wednesdays, 10.30 am to 3.30 pm.
The Portree Day Care Group meets on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10.30 am to 3.30 pm.
The Dornie Day Care Group meets Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10.30am to 3.30pm.
The Care at home/housing support service is delivered by a team of highly trained and experienced Staff. The service is delivered in the individual’s own home or in the community.
Contact Details Alzheimer Scotland Skye and Lochalsh Services Tigh na Drochaid Bridge Road Portree Isle of Skye IV51 9ER
Phone/fax: 01478 613450 Website: http://www.alzscot.org/pages/regions/skye.htm E-mail: SkyeServices@alzscot.org
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Befrienders Highland
Befrienders Highland offers safe supported friendship through trained volunteers to people who have experience of mental ill health across the Highlands. Befriending provides safe, reliable, 1-1 friendly contact that brings companionship, interest and fun and helps to build a person’s confidence. The Distance Befriending service of Befrienders Highland provides friendship to people living in isolated areas through having someone to chat to about ordinary things, someone unrelated to mental health services and who is there as a friend, pure and simple. The service is free to any adult (+ 18 years) who lives anywhere in the Highland region who has experienced mental ill health and feels isolated or lonely. Our volunteer Befrienders are ordinary friendly people who have been carefully selected and trained to ensure acceptance, reliability, safety and confidentiality within the relationship. Volunteers with the distance befriending service offer their friendship by telephone, letter or e-mail. People are carefully matched for gender, age, interests and compatibility before they are introduced. The friendship is regularly supported by the staff to ensure that both people are at ease and are enjoying their relationship.
Referrals for the service can be made by:
1) Self referral – just give us a call
2) Family or friends (with the person’s permission)
3) Health professionals, social work services, support workers and voluntary organisations can all refer.
For information and an informal chat please just get in touch.
Contact Details Befrienders Highland 19 Church Street Inverness IV1 1DY
Phone: 01463 235675 Email: distance@befriendershighland.org.uk Website:www.befriendershighland.org.uk
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British Red Cross (West Highland District)
We are a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We enable vulnerable people at home and overseas to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help people recover and move on with their lives.
Every year we respond to hundreds of emergencies – such as transport accidents, floods and fires – and have a special role to play in supporting the emergency services. Whatever the incident, from a minor traffic accident to a mass evacuation, we are ready to respond.
We also provide valuable person centred support to vulnerable people. Our services include: care at home, loans of medical equipment, transport assistance and therapeutic care. This service can be particularly valuable following a stay in hospital or to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.
Contact Details
Anne Eadie, Services Manager(West Highland District) Plockton Road Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DA
Phone:01599 530 150 Email: AEadie@redcross.org.uk Website: www.redcross.org.uk
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Care and Repair Services
The Care and Repair Service offers advice, support and practical assistance to people who are older or have a disability. The service aims to help those clients to repair, adapt or improve their homes in order that they can remain at home in comfort in their own community.
Owner occupiers, tenants of private landlords and crofting tenants living in the Skye & Lochalsh area who are over 60 years of age or have a disability are eligible for the service. You must also have occupied the property for a minimum of two years.
Care and Repair can help in a variety of ways with a wide range of housing issues, for example:-
• Leaking Roofs/Gutters • Dry rot/dampness • Poor insulation/heating advice • Re-wiring • Lead pipe replacement • Disabled adaptations • Advice on grants (and other sources of funding) • Advice on alternative housing options
How does the service operate?
On your invitation, we will arrange to visit you at home to discuss what works you may need carried out to repair, adapt or improve your home. We can:-
• Organise surveys or drawings if required • Help you estimate the costs involved • Advise you on ways of raising the money • Help you find suitable builders to do the work • Help you fill in forms for grants and loans • Put you in touch with other agencies who may be able to help • Organise the works through to completion • Help you cope with any disruption while works are being carried out
Contact Details Care and Repair Services Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association Morrison House Bayfield Portree IV51 9EW
Phone: 01478 612 035 Fax: 01478 613 377 Website: www.lsha.co.uk E-mail: info@LSHA.co.uk
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CHSS Volunteer Stroke Service
This service is provided by Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland Community Services.
Volunteer Stroke Service offers support to those who have had a stroke with particular focus on those with communication difficulties. The service is run by staff and aided by trained volunteers.
There are weekly groups in Portree & Kyleakin that provide a welcoming and stimulating environment, enabling service users to build up their confidence after their stroke. The VSS supports and promotes communication and encourages social interaction. One to one outreach support can be provided in certain circumstances for short periods, dependent on the service users needs, this service is reviewed quarterly to ensure the service user is benefitting.
The Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland Advice line offers a direct link to confidential, professional advice from trained nurses.
Contact Details
Third Floor Rosebery House 9 Haymarket Terrace Edinburgh EH12 5EZ
Telephone: 0131 225 6963 (Edinburgh Office); Advice line: 0845 077 6000 Website: www.chss.org.uk Email: irene.kay@chss.org.uk or admin@chss.org.uk
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Citizens Advice Bureau
The Scottish CAB service aims to ensure that individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, or of the services available to them, or through an inability to express their need effectively.
The CAB Service is independent and provides free, confidential and impartial advice to everybody regardless of race, sex, age, disability or sexuality.
The service offers general advice on all issues, including access to benefits. The service also offers specialist advice on debt and welfare rights.
Skye and Lochalsh CAB can work with clients in a number of languages, as interpretation services are available.
CAB offers a drop-in service. Home visits are available by arrangement.
Open hours Portree: Monday 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 4.30pm Tuesday 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 4.30pm Wednesday 10am - 1pm only Thursday 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 4.30pm Friday 10am - 1pm only Saturday/Sunday closed
Open hours Kyle Outreach Centre, Kyle Medical Centre, Station Road, Kyle: Wednesday 10am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm - 4pm
There is a touch screen information point in the foyer of the Portree Library.
Contact Details Citizens Advice Bureau The Green Portree Isle of Skye IV51 9BT
Phone: 01478 612 032; CAB Direct: 0808 801 0804
Website: www.cas.org.uk E-mail: adviser@skyecab.casonline.org.uk
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CLIC Sargent
CLIC Sargent offers a package of support to children and teenagers with cancer up to the age of 24 and their families in the Highlands and Islands and all over Scotland and the UK. CLIC Sargent has nurses, social workers, play specialists and youth workers. CLIC Sargent eases access to government money and can offer financial support through care grants. It offers free self-catering accommodation close to key treatment centres. CLIC Sargent has a holiday house at Prestwick and can offer other holiday accommodation. CLIC Sargent campaigns on behalf of families. The Child Cancer Helpline is a free, anonymous and confidential telephone service. There is a nurse and social worker based at Raigmore Hospital, and a clinic is held there every Wednesday. Typically care is shared between Raigmore and the main treatment centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. CLIC Sargent in Scotland is supported by a number of local fundraising groups, or branches, including one in Inverness.
Contact Details
Room 9 Volunteering Highland The Gateway 1a Millburn Road Inverness IV2 3PX
Phone: 01463 713080 Email: peter.logie@clicsargent.org.uk Website: www.clicsargent.org.uk Free Child Cancer Helpline: 0800 197 0068
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Connecting Carers
Connecting Carers provides information, support and training courses for adult and young carers, who provide physical or emotional support, due to frailty, physical or mental illness, addiction, disorder or disability and are not paid for providing that care or support. This service has been provided by Connecting Carers across the Highlands since 1995 and is part of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers’ UK network of carers’ centres.
Information on welfare benefits, health and community care services in the Highland area, grants and other support for carers is provided by post, telephone or email, via the website or in person when we attend or provide information days, carers groups/events, etc. We provide a confidential, listening ear and a Carers Information & Support Pack based on substantial knowledge from working with carers in Highland. Carers can join the Highland Carers Network, to receive quarterly bulletins and invitations to attend courses provided for carers on a variety of topics, such as relaxation methods, planning for the future, navigating the system, moving with confidence. We also provide information and advice on carers’ issues to health and social care professionals in statutory, voluntary and independent sectors, including training on carer awareness and carer support plans.
Contact Details
Connecting Carers Highland House 20 Longman Road Inverness IV1 1RY
Phone: 01463 723561 E-mail: carers@hccf.org.uk Website www.hccf.org.uk
Contact a Family (Highlands)
Contact a Family offers information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with any disability or additional need.
Services include:
- A freephone helpline (0808 808 3555) which is available Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm
- Free publications and guides for parents on a range of issues eg financial benefits, supporting siblings and transition to adult services
- Website: www.cafamily.org.uk
- Linking to local and national support groups
- A linking service for families of children with rare conditions: www.makingcontact.org
- Awareness raising and campaigning
Contact Details Contact a Family Scotland Craigmillar Social Enterprise & Arts Centre 11/9 Harewood Road Edinburgh EH16 4NT
phone: 0131 659 2930
Free Helpline: 0808 808 3555
Website: www.cafamily.org.uk
Email: scotland.office@cafamily.org.uk
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Counselling Care Skye and Lochalsh
Counselling Care Skye and Lochalsh (formerly known as National Counselling Service Skye & Lochalsh) runs a service for adults and also for children and young people.
Adult Service Counselling Care Skye and Lochalsh offers a professional and confidential counselling service, with qualified, volunteer counsellors. Counselling Care Skye and Lochalsh is a Christian counselling service and is available to anyone in need regardless of religion, faith, gender, sexual orientation or financial circumstances Counselling is not about giving advice and does not necessarily provide quick and easy answers. Counselling is based on listening and enabling you to make sense of the difficulties you may be experiencing. This may include:
- Bereavement or loss
- Anxiety or stress
- Depression
- Anger management
- Emotional, physical or sexual abuse, past or present
- Feelings of hurt, rejection or neglect
- Marriage / relationship difficulties
- Vague feelings of unease
- Poor self image / low self esteem
- Family breakdown
- Wish for change
Counselling provides an opportunity to talk in confidence with a person outside your situation. It allows space for you to explore thoughts and feelings and, most importantly, allows time for you to concentrate on your needs. You can access the service directly or professionals and other agencies can refer clients to the service. You can contact the service by phone [24 hour answer-phone] or you can contact us by letter or email. A counsellor will meet you for an initial session and if you and the counsellor think that the service would be helpful to you, you will be offered an initial series of six sessions, lasting 50-60 minutes. You may be seen at Kyle or in Portree. No fee is charged but Counselling Care (NCS) is a charity and relies on donations from clients and friends to continue the service. We therefore ask clients to make a contribution in keeping with their income.
Contact Details Counselling Care Skye and Lochalsh Lochalsh Health Centre Station Road Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8AE
Phone: 01599 530930 - 24 hour answerphone.
Jean Gillies- Children and young people service 07881 981519 mail: jean.ncs@aol.co.uk
Eileen Burnham- Adult Services 07766811099 mail : eileen.ncs@aol.co.uk
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Crossroads Care – Skye and Lochalsh
The main purpose of Crossroads Care – Skye and Lochalsh is to provide respite care/short breaks for the carers of people of all ages, including children, who have a disability or condition that means that they need the care of another person. Crossroads aims to provide a break from caring whenever the carer requires it. The carers can be of any age, including young carers.
Contact Details Crossroads Care – Skye and Lochalsh Tigh Lisigarry Bridge Road Portree IV51 9ER
Phone: 01478 612399 Email: crossroadscaresl@btopenworld.com
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Deaf Action Highland Communication Support Service
Deaf Action offers a range of communication support for Deaf and hard of hearing people in the Highland region. It can provide BSL/English Interpreters, Lip speakers, Note Takers both electronic and manual and can provide Deafblind Interpreters as well. It has interpreters working within Deaf Action but also work with a pool of freelance interpreters. All interpreters are SASLI registered. It can also deliver training on “How to work with sign language interpreters”.
Communication Support is provided throughout the Highlands, and interpreters etc travel extensively. They travel to the venue of wherever the communication support is needed. They will cover any job e.g. health appointments, housing, education, work related, meetings, funerals etc.
All staff at Deaf action can communicate in British Sign Language (BSL).
Contact Details
Deaf Action Head Office 49 Albany Street Edinburgh EH1 3QY
Phone: 0800 014 1401 SMS ONLY: 07797800064 Website: www.deafaction.org Email: bookings@deafaction.org
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Dion Skye
Provide Christian support and counsel to people suffering from alcohol addiction.
Contact Details
Dr James Finlayson 7 Gedintailor The Braes PORTREE IV51 9NJ Phone: 01478 650417 Email: johnfinlayson@doctors.net.uk
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Family First
Family First is a voluntary service supporting families with at least one child under 4 years of age. Each area is managed by a Co-ordinator who works with a dedicated team of volunteers who work to meet the identified needs of families locally.
Family First support is offered in the following ways:
- Through a flexible home visiting service which is tailored to the needs of each family. Families can ask for support themselves or referrals can be made through Health Visitors, Midwives or other agencies such as CVS, Working for Families and Social Services.
- Through groups that aim to provide a safe and stimulating environment where both parents/carers and children attending will feel comfortable and secure. Adults get the opportunity to support one another and discuss topics that are important to them and children get an opportunity to play.
Groups meet:
- Toddle-In Broadford out of school club Monday 10–2. Broadford, Church of Scotland Hall, (opposite the Police House).
- Toddle-In Portree, Church of Scotland Hall, York Drive, Wednesday 10-12 noon.
Volunteers are parents themselves or have parenting experience and understand the stress and demands of bringing up young children. All volunteers have enhanced disclosures and are trained locally giving them insight to all aspects of the service.
The volunteer’s ability to offer friendship, practical help and support enables families to cope with the pressure they may be facing. Volunteers assist the Co-ordinator with the groups or can be matched with families or both! - depending upon the time they have to commit to volunteering. Family First is registered by the care commission.
Contact Details
The Green Portree IV51 9BT Phone: 01478 613154 Mobile: 07778 438 455
Email: familyfirstskye2@gmail.com
Broadford E-mail: familyfirstskye@gmail.com
Family Support Manager Care and Learning Alliance Dochfour Drive Inverness IV49 9AN
Phone: 01463 703033 Mobile: 07834 458 984 E-mail: info@careandlearningalliance.co.uk
Web-site: www.careandlearningalliance.co.uk/Family-Support.asp
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