|
Information
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The information on
these pages was correct at the time of publication, to the best of our
knowledge (April 2006).
We cannot
accept any responsibility for changes made
since that time.
The information on these pages is up-dated on a
regular basis.
Please contact the relevant agency
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| Emergency
Numbers: |
Medway Area |
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Fire
Police
Ambulance |
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999 In an emergency, do not hesitate to call
the appropriate service. |
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Gas |
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0800 111 999 (24 Hour) |
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Electricity |
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0800 783 886 (24 Hour) |
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Water |
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0845 603 2603 (8:00am - 8:00pm) |
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Council Services |
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016364 304 400 - (Out of Hours) |
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Samaritans |
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01634 730 981 - Number for Medway Towns /
0845 790 909 090 National Number |
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How
do people become family carers? - Through a person they care about: |
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Becoming ill |
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Being born with a disability |
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Getting old |
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Having an accident |
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Having problems with their mental health |
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Having drug or alcohol addiction problems |
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| This is usually: |
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Unexpected |
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Unpredictable |
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Stressful |
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Tiring |
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Time consuming |
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Expensive |
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| It may mean: |
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A change of role and relationships |
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Feelings of Isolation |
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A restricted lifestyle |
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The need to learn new skills |
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Losing sight of their own needs |
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| Who are the
Carers? |
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Husbands and Wives |
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Sons and Daughters |
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Neighbours |
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Mother’s and Father’s |
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Friends |
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| Why do they Care? |
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Love |
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Duty |
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It’s their responsibility |
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Because they want to |
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Black
and Minority Ethnic Community |
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Listed
below, are all the addresses of voluntary groups who offer help and support specifically to the ethnic community. |
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Mental Health Helpline
This help line covers Kent and East Sussex,
and operates between 6.00 p.m.
and midnight.
Tel 0345 697590 All calls are charged at the local rate. |
Community Interpreting Service
All interpreters are impartial, professional, confidential and
linguistically skilled. The service has a pool of interpreters who
live and work in the community.
There
is a charge for the service. The
cost is £31.00 per hour plus expenses.
There is no charge to GP’s in Medway.
If you require an interpreter, telephone social services on 01634
331303/331348 during
normal office hours.
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Welcome Day Centre
Harjinder Bansel (Chief Officer)
44/46
High Street,
Chatham,
Kent.
ME4 4DS
Tel: 01634 844639
Fax: 01634 828212
Promotes the welfare of all elders, who are unable to access the main line
services due to cultural sensitivity, language and other barriers.
The organisation serves as a combined drop-in, Day Care and
resource Centre, and is open to all, irrespective of their colour, creed,
race, religion or political standing.
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Advocacy Partnerships, Medway and Swale
Medway Business Centre,
17 New Road Avenue,
Chatham,
Kent.
ME4 6BA
Tel: 01634 830101
This
organisation offers independent advocacy to individuals who have mental
health problems aged over 18. The
also advocate for the long term needs of people from minority ethnic communities. People can be seen at the main office, or at home, by
appointment only.
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Medway Adult Education Service
Outreach Workers,
Adult Education Centre,
Green Street,
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 5TJ
Tel: 01634 338400
An
adult education based project, offering outreach, education and guidance
to minority ethnic residents. No
charge for this service.
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Chinese Women's Group
Based at the Adult Education Centre
Eastgate,
Rochester.
Tel: 01634 338400
Medway Race Equality Council
2nd Floor
Municipal Buildings, Canterbury Street,
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 5LA
Tel: 01634 333880
Racial Equality councils to
develop a culture of fairness in employment.
Medway Equality Council telephone No. 01634 333880 |
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Medway Action Against Racial Attacks (MAARA)
Azhar Mahmood
Medway Council
Civic Centre
Strood
Rochester
Kent.
Tel: 01634 338156 / 338169
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Social Services, Medway Council
Community Service Development Officer.
Tel: 01634 331369
Home APNA CHAR Residential
The Manager
1 Kingswood Road,
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 1EA
Tel: 01634 850445
Small
home for ethnic minority people with mental health difficulties.
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Ethnic Minority Counselling Service
C/O
Medway Racial Equality Council
Municipal Buildings,
Canterbury Street
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 5LA
Tel: 01634 333880
This
service was set up to address the needs for counselling for minority
ethnic people in relation to cultural and language differences.
The Service is currently managed by Medway Racial Equality Council.
The Counsellors are qualified to Diploma level, and are fully aware
of trans-cultural issues. The counselling offered is generic. |
Ethnic Minority Carers Forum,
Maya Banga.
The Princess Royal Trust
Medway Carers Centre
3 Canterbury Street
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 5TP
Tel: 01634 577340
This is a
group for family carers from the ethnic minority communities and is working as a
project at the Medway Carers Centre. |
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Children
with Special Needs |
Many parents when
faced with the diagnosis of the Special Needs their child has been found
to have, will be confused and desperate as to why this has happened, how
do they get help, and where to go to get that help. Your child will need
various assessments to monitor his or her needs, and these will be on
going. It will be important to have a Social Services Assessment, as your
Social Worker will then be able to draw up a care plan for you child.
Listed below are some of the agencies who may be of
help with the ‘how’ and ‘where’. |
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Medway and North Kent Portage Service. |
OAASIS |
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Portage is a home visiting service for pre-school children who
have special needs. Parents
can refer their own child, or they can be referred by a
Paediatrician,
Health Visitor, Doctor or any other appropriate professional.
For further help and advice contact:-
Portage Co-ordinator,
Compass Centre,
Chatham, Kent.
Tel: 01634 881194 |
(Office
for Advice, Assistance,
Support
and Information
on Special Needs).
Oasis provides information on various learning difficulties,
advice on the difficult
aspects of assessment and statementing, and training for
parents.
For more information contact:-
Hesley Group Southern Office,
Brock House,
Grigg Lane,
Brockenhurst,
Hants.
SO42 7RE.
Tel: 01590 624484 |
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Mencap |
Contact
A Family |
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Information and support for Carers of children with
learning difficulties.
123
Golden Lane,
London,
EC1Y 0RT
Tel: 0171 454 0454 |
Puts you in touch with other families in your area for support.
For more information.
209-211 City Road
London
EC1V 1JN
Tel: 020 7068 8700
Fax: 020 7608 8701
Helpline: 0808 808 3555 or Textphone 0808 808 3556
Freephone for parents and families (10am-4pm Mon-Fri)
Email: info@cafamily.org.uk
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| Home-Start Medway |
Sanderson Child
Development Centre, |
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Support, friendship and practical help to families under
stress, with at least one child under the age of five years.
Drop in Centres, run a parent and toddler group.
Sue Hockley (Admin co-ordinator)
46 Green Street
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 1XA
Tel: 01634 570717 |
A
Centre that offers multi-disciplinary assessment for children from
birth up to 19 years of age.
The team sees children who may have a delay in their
development, a disability or some other special need.
Medway Maritime Hospital,
Windmill Road,
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 5NY
Tel: 01634 825190 |
| The Challenging
Behaviour Foundation |
|
Provides an
effective information service for people with severe learning
difficulties and challenging behaviour.
32 Twydall Lane
Gillingham
Kent
Tel:01634 3022007
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Counselling
Services |
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Counselling Service
(Medway Towns) |
Cruise Bereavement Care,
Medway Branch |
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First Floor,
The Whitehouse,
Chatham,
Kent.
ME4 4SL
Tel 01634 828484
Funded
counselling service to residents of the Medway Towns only.
Phone for appointment |
Tel: 01634 818080
Support,
advice and counselling service to the bereaved.
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Samaritans
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KCK (Kent Council For Addiction) |
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9am - 10pm for callers
Priory Road,
Strood,
Rochester,
Kent.
ME2 2EG
Tel: 01634 730981
Offers
emotional support for people from every walk of life, age or creed.
Available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
9:00am - 10:00pm no appointment needed.
National Telephone Number: 08457 909090 |
Dan House,
44 East Street
Faversham,
Kent.
CT1 3RX
Tel: 01795 590635
Support
to those who suffer from addiction, or those who live with a sufferer.
Centres across the country.
Wide range of services offered.
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Baby Bereavement Support
Group (Swale and Medway) |
Equinox
(Victoria Centre) |
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1 Marsh Lane,
Cliffe,
Rochester,
Kent.
ME3 7UQ
One-to-one
support. Information and
support to other close relatives.
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Victoria Centre,
23-25 Victoria Street,
Rochester,
Kent.
ME3 7UQ
Tel: 01634 831999
Information
and advice about alcohol and its effects.
Confidential individual counselling sessions. Residential support.
Drop in Tuesday's 12 - 1pm |
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St. Philip and St. James' Church Community Office |
The
Information Shop for Young People, |
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Community Office and Church Hall,
King George Road,
Chatham,
Kent.
ME5 0TZ
Tel: 01634 681671
Support
with D.S.S form filling, relating many of the practical and personal
problems with spiritual needs in a holistic ministry.
Monday - Friday 9.30 - 12 noon (during school terms) |
Upbury Manor Site,
Marlborough Road,
Gillingham,
Kent.
Tel: 01634 811900
Free-Phone for Young People Only
0500 991999
Provides
information, advice and counselling to young people aged 10-25 on all
types of problems or queries.
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Compassionate Friends |
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15 Dean Road
Strood
Rochester
Kent
ME2 3QH
Tel: 01634 718299
Counselling to bereaved families following the death of a child |
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Further
Information |
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The Information here is only
a basic guide. There is a
lot more information available about the needs of the person for whom
you are caring; specialist help which may be available; holidays for
family carers and the people they care for; private care agencies and other
topics relating to caring.
If you would like more
information on any of these topics, or helpful books and leaflets, you
should contact one of the following:
The Medway Carers Centre
3 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent. ME7 5TP, Tel: 01634
577340.
The Carers Centre
- Website:
www.medwaycarerscentre.org.uk
Carers
UK
– for anybody with a
caring responsibility.
20/25 Glasshouse Yard, London
EC1A 4JS Tel: Carers-Line: 0345 573369.
Free Phone Carersline : 0808 808 7777
Princess
Royal Trust for Carers – London Office 142 Minories, London EC3N
1NB Tel: 0207 480 7788.
N.H.S
DIRECT Tel: 0845 4647 (24 hour helpline)
Information
Shop for Young People - Upbury Manor School, Marlborough Road,
Gillingham, Kent. Tel:
01634 852341
H.I.V.
AIDS
Both the health service and social
services provide a range of services locally.
For more information contact your local Social Services Office (see
Medway Social Services).
The National AIDS Help-lines
are: Free AIDS literature 0800 567123
Confidential discussion 0800
567123. Drugs & Solvent
Abuse 0800 776600.
Callers can ring both the
above numbers, free of charge – 24 hours a day, from any part of the
country.
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Health
Provision in the Medway Towns |
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Medway
N.H.S TRUST provides Health Services in
Medway. The following
information provides a guide to the services available and where to go for
advice and assistance.
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Medway
N.H.S. Trust Headquarters |
West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust |
Medway Hospital,
Windmill Road,
Gillingham,
Kent
ME7 5NY
Tel: 01634 830000 |
35 Kings Hill Avenue,
Kings Hill,
West Malling, Kent,
ME19 4AX
Phone: 01732 520400
Fax: 01732 520401
Email: adrian.lowther@icc.wkentmht.nhs.uk |
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Medway
N.H.S. Trust (Learning Disability Team) |
Respite
Care & Residential Units |
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Residence 13
Medway Maritime Hospital,
Windmill Road,
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 5NY
Tel: 01634 830000 |
(Residential Unit for adults with learning disabilities)
The Ridgeway
20
The Ridgeway,
Chatham,
Kent.
ME4 6PD
Tel:
01634 826783 |
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Preston Skreens (Respite unit for children 0 -19 years)
402 Minster Road,
Isle of Sheppy
Kent.
ME12 3NZ
Tel: 01795 874865 |
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Special Needs Nurseries |
Special Needs Nurseries |
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Woodlands Road,
Gillingham.
Tel: 01634 582273
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Parkwood Health Centre,
Long Catlis Road,
Parkwood,
Rainham,
Kent.
ME8 9PR
Tel: 01634 234400 |
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| Admirals
Nurses Services |
Continuing Care
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Thames Gateway NHS Trust,
Southlands Assessment Unit,
Rook Lane,
Bobbing,
Sittingbourne,
Kent.
Tel:01795 845019
Special nursing service for family carers of people with Dementia
Offering advice & support to the family carers of people with dementia.. |
Equipment and Funding
Keystone Centre
Gun Lane
Strood
Kent
ME2 4UL
Tel: 01634 295577
Fax: 01634 725466 |
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| Twilight
Nursing Services |
Opticians |
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Hawthorne Road Clinic
Tel: 01634 294654
Twilight (From 7 -11pm) and Night (from 10pm) sitting
service. Both of these services require a referral from Care
Manager/District Nurse. |
List of Domiciliary Opticians are available from the Centre.
N.H.S. Direct
Health Service 24 Hour Help-Line. Tel: 0845 4647
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk |
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| Care Direct |
Crossroads Care
Attendant Scheme |
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This site can be accessed via the Department of Health website.
www.doh.gov.uk/caredirect/links
Tel: 0800 444 000 |
(Gillingham, Rainham & Chatham)
Lennox Wood Old People's Home
Petham Green
Twydall
Gillingham
Kent
Tel: 01634 379131 |
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| Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme
(Rochester) |
Day Care Centres |
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The Day Centre,
Shaws Wood,
Mill Road,
Strood, Rochester,
Kent.
ME2 3BU
Tel: 01634 716238 |
Robert Browning Day Hospital,
Medway Maritime Hospital,
A Block
Windmill Road,
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 5EY
Tel: 01634 830000 |
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Walter Brice Day
Centre |
Occupational
Therapy & Deaf Services |
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Main Road,
Tilley Close
Hoo St. Werburgh,
Rochester,
Kent.
ME3 9AE
Tel: 01634 253611 |
Disability Services,
Pembroke
Compass Centre,
Chatham Maritime,
Chatham,
Kent.
ME4 4YH
Duty Telephone Number: 01634 331262 (10am - 1pm Monday to Friday).
Voicemail for out of hours contact. |
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| Adult Physiotherapy
Services (Outpatients Department) |
Dental Services
(Emergency Treatment) |
|
Medway Maritime Hospital,
Windmill Road,
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 5EY
Tel: 01634 830000 |
Medway Maritime Hospital,
Windmill Road,
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 5EY
Tel: 01634 830000 |
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| Demelza House
Children's Hospital |
Peter Simon Diabetes
Centre |
|
Rook Lane,
Bobbing,
Sittingbourne,
Kent.
ME9 8DZ
Tel: 01795 845200 |
Lynsey Shepherd
Residence 9
Medway Maritime Hospital
Windmill Road
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 5EY
TeL 01634 830000 |
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Breast Cancer
Support Group |
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Barbara Peachey
Medway N.H.S. Trust,
Medway Maritime Hospital,
Windmill Road,
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 5EY
Tel: 01634 830000 |
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Complaints
- If you would like to complain about any hospital or GP Service then
contact:- |
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Patient Advice & Liaison Service within the hospital
Kent Primary Care Agency |
Medway Primary Care
Trust |
11 Station Road
Maidstone
Kent
Tel: 01622 655000 |
35 Kings Hill Avenue,
Kings Hill,
West Malling, Kent,
ME19 4AX
Phone: 01732 520400
Fax: 01732 520401
Email: adrian.lowther@icc.wkentmht.nhs.uk |
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Primary Care Psychology and Counselling Service |
Community Brain
Injury Team (CBIT) |
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Psychology
Department
St. Barts Hospital
Rochester
Kent
ME1 1DS
Tel: 01634 810972/3
This service offers brief therapy for general psychological problems for
people aged 16 & above, with problems that can be addressed within 6 - 8
weeks.
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Disablement Services Centre
Medway Maritime Hospital,
Windmill Road,
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 5YX
Tel: 01634 833937
The team provides community based services to clients between the ages of
16 and 65, with Acquired Brain Injury, for instances following an R.T.A,
or stroke.
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Speech and Language
Therapy Service |
Mental Health
Services Directorate Manager |
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Disablement Services Centre
Medway Maritime Hospital,
Windmill Road,
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 5YX
Tel: 01634 830000 |
'A' Block
Disablement Services Centre
Medway Maritime Hospital,
Windmill Road,
Gillingham,
Kent.
ME7 5NY
Tel: 01634 830000 |
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Clinical Director
for Learning Disabilities Services |
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Dr. S. Sadiki,
Rochester Health Centre,
Delce Road,
Rochester,
Kent.
ME1 2EL |
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Medway
Carers Centre |
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Medway Carers Centre aims to encourage people
who are family carers to make use of the help that is available to them as
family carers, both locally and nationally.
This pack has been designed by Medway Carers
Centre. We have tried to make it straightforward, but it may not include
everything you need to know; we hope it will help you to begin to find the
information you need, but if you do discover helpful information, which is
not included, please let us know.
Community Care Assessments are
assessments for a cared for person they should take account of the needs
of the individual, with the aim of providing appropriate services that
meet these needs. As part of this assessment, the opinions and concerns of
family carer’s should be taken into account. To have a Community Care
assessment you need to contact the local authority Social Services and
they will decide whether your cared for person meets their eligibility
criteria for services from the local authority. If they do meet the
criteria you are entitled to ask for a carers Assessment, and whilst you
are not eligible for services you may receive services indirectly through
the cared for persons care package.
The Carers Recognition and Services Act 1995
& The Carers & Disabled Children’s Act 2000 are important to family
carers. This means anybody who is giving or intends to give regular
and substantial care is entitled to an assessment of his or her ability to
care and to continue to care. Provided the person they care for has had a
Community Care Assessment and is eligible for services. If the person
refuses services they are eligible for, a family carer may still be
eligible for an assessment.
Occasionally you may receive a poor quality
service. If this happens please do not accept this. If you are not
satisfied, speak to the Manager of the service being provided. If the
problem is not resolved satisfactorily, you should make a formal complaint
through the organisation’s Complaints Procedure. Making a complaint need
not mean being negative. If service providers are not aware of your
concerns they cannot make changes and improve services.
May we encourage you not just to ask for an
assessment of your needs, but also to join with other family carers,
nationally and locally, to share your own experiences and also to add your
voice to those who are speaking on your behalf to planners, both at
government or local level. In this way, we hope understanding of family
carers’ needs will improve and better services will be provided. |
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Medway
Social Services |
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What
are the Social Services? |
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The Social Services is a
department of the local Council. Many
people confuse Social and Care Managers Services with Social Security.
The difference is that Social Security provides financial help,
whereas Social Services provide practical help and advice.
Social workers and Care Managers work for the Social Services.
This
is a list of the services, which they are responsible for, and the sort
of problems on which they can advise you:-
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Assessment
& Care plans |
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Advice
for family carers |
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Home
Helps |
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Financial
difficulties |
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Meals
on Wheels |
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Sheltered
housing |
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Care-phones |
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Adoption
and fostering |
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Day
Centres |
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