Support Services

Health & Social Services

Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Provides both health and social care services for people in Somerset with mental health problems.

For patients and carers this means they should have access to all the services they need from a single team in one location. The Partnership accepts referrals from GP's, or individuals can contact local teams for help.

Your local community Mental Health Team can provide information about:

In-patient services
NHS community services
Day services
Residential care
Respite care
Access to social workers
Access to carers’ assessment
Drug and alcohol services

Further information about Community Mental Health Teams can be obtained from the Somerset Partnership headquarters - tel 01278 720200.

Web site: www.sompar.nhs.uk

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

( Somerset Partnership)

Offers information, advice and support and responds to concerns, suggestions or questions from patients, their families and carers; helping them to sort out problems.

Call 01278 720222

GP Surgeries

Your family doctor will provide a practice leaflet listing the services available at the surgery. These can include:

District Nurse
Practice Nurse
Health Visitor
Specialist services e.g. Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPNS) and Link Workers
Carers Support Worker

Other Useful Numbers

Care First - counselling for carers

Care First Counselling Helpline 0800 174319

Emergency Social Work Team (out of hours): 01458 253241

Help in Crisis

Emergency support for carers

You may be able to use the service if you:
• need to be confined to bed at home or admitted to hospital due to illness or accident
• are in a state of exhaustion and need immediate rest and sleep
• are in an emotional or physical state of distress and immediate relief is vital to your mental or physical well-being
• are needed in a family crisis.
The Service is only available for these situations and is free

Between 8.30am and 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, for single sessions of four or eight hours please contact:

Somerset Direct tel: 0845 345 9133
Signposts tel: 0800 317 220

For help outside of these hours, contact:

Emergency Duty Team: Tel: 01458 253241

NHS Direct 0845 4647

24-hour telephone advice line staffed by nurses.

Samaritans

Samaritans are there 24/7 to give emotional support to people who are experiencing all kinds of feelings of emotional distress or despair.

Being listened to in confidence, without fear of being judged, can be a huge relief. Our volunteers don’t offer advice, because what works for one person might not work for you, but they do give you time to talk at anytime.

You can call 08457 90 90 90, email jo@samaritans.org or visit your local branch in Yeovil or Taunton. You don’t need an appointment. http://www.samaritans.org and follow the link ‘talk to someone’ and ‘find my local branch’

Poster/leaflet link another poster link

SIGNPOSTS : Tel/Text 0800 317220 Freephone

Health and Community Care information line

Sitting Service

This service is available on a regular or on an occasional basis on any day of the week between 8.00am and 11.00pm. Sessions may last from two hours up to a maximum of eight hours each day.

To find out more about the sitting service download the information sheet or please contact:
Somerset Direct tel: 0845 345 9133
Signposts tel: 0800 317 220

Information

SOMERSET DIRECT :

Community Services 0845 345 9133

Information and advice for older people and other adults