In Home Support referrer guide

In Home Support referrer guide

In Home Support: Companionship support aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people receiving support by assisting the person to engage in social activities, hobbies and pastimes in their home.  

All support activities must be completed by 8pm, please don’t request support after this time. 

In Home Support includes the following activity: 

To make a referral, call 0808 196 3382 or make a referral online[2].

Page last reviewed: 05 June 2024


Companionship Visit

Volunteers support people by assisting them to take part in social activities, hobbies and pastimes. Examples of the support volunteers can give to people includes helping them to do some baking, assisting them with using technology to keep in contact with others, or offering companionship to individuals with limited social interaction. Companionship volunteers will support people to participate in activities but will not be able to complete activities on behalf of the person requiring support.  

The volunteer support for this activity is available either as a one-off or once a week for a maximum of 6 weeks and will take place in the person’s home. 

This is available for professional referrals only in the following locations:

  • Birmingham
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
  • Kirklees.

Who is eligible for this support?

This may be:

  • people that need assistance to engage in social activities, hobbies and past times in their home.

This support is not suitable for:

  • people requiring support to go outside of the home
  • if the home environment is known to be unsafe i.e. hoarding behaviours, infestation, dangerous animals etc.

Please ensure you have also read the programme referral criteria[3] and that the person meets this criteria before making a referral. 

Acceptable activities – to be completed together

  • Baking
  • Gardening support with the person e.g. planting bulbs together
  • Arts and crafts
  • Reading
  • Games
  • Support to use technology e.g. placing an online grocery order or setting up an email address
  • Support to maintain relationships by helping them to connect via phone or online with friends and family.

Activities that are not acceptable

  • Gardening for the person e.g. doing things for the person such as mowing lawns, cutting trees, heavy lifting
  • Cleaning
  • Making meals
  • Personal care e.g. supporting people to the toilet, getting dressed, feeding, hairstyling etc

Page last reviewed: 12 August 2024


Referral form guidance

Links

  • [1] /guides/referrer-guide-in-home-support/companionship-visit
  • [2] https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHSreferral
  • [3] /i-am-a-professional-referrer/referral-criteria
  • [4] /guides/making-a-referral-for-someone-else