The Carers Intensive Support Service (CISS) is an NHS team within Older People’s Mental Health, Dementia and Frailty Services. The team works closely with health and care partners across Thurrock to support vulnerable and older carers facing complex caring situations. Personalised support is provided to help carers maintain their wellbeing and continue in their caring role.
How we can help
- We carry out comprehensive carers health and wellbeing checks, looking at physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing.
- Provide personalised support and help carers connect with the right health and care services at the right time.
- Identify carer stress and offer support before carers reach crisis point. This includes support with physical, mental, emotional, social and financial wellbeing.
- Help carers to complete and register Advance Care Plans and emergency or contingency plans.
- Help carers access Talking Therapies for mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
- Support those with physical and mental health conditions to remain well to continue caring.
- Help carers think about their wellbeing by accessing community support to manage caring responsibilities.
- Support to facilitate timely discharge from hospital to own home or most appropriate care facility.
Referral
Please note, we do not accept self referrals.
Any healthcare professional can refer to the team. Referrals must be made by a professional colleague who has direct knowledge of the situation.
Referral criteria
- The carer must live in Thurrock.
- The carer must be aged 65 or over, unless they are caring for someone with dementia.
- The person being cared for must have a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of dementia, frailty, or a mental health condition.
- There must be an increasing risk of carer breakdown, with the understanding that if a crisis is not averted, either the carer or the person being cared for may need hospital treatment or care home placement.