Touchpoint Closed to New Referrals - 19th July to 1st September 2022
Due to overwhelming demand for support from our Touchpoint Services over the past few months, we’ve made the difficult decision to close to new referrals for a short time. We will not be accepting new referrals for both Peer Support and Benefits Advice Service from 19th July 2022. Both services will be reopening to new referrals from 1st September 2022.
In doing this, our aim is to reach those who are currently waiting for a service more quickly, as well as reduce the waiting time for those who want to access us in the future. As such, any referrals we have received before 19th July will remain on our waiting lists and we will contact them as soon as possible when space becomes available.
As always, if you are experiencing a crisis during this time, please check out our list of emergency contacts.
In the meantime, we thank you for your support and patience, and if you have any concerns regarding a referral, please do not hesitate to contact us via telephone 0203 475 1306 or email at touchpoint@inclusionbarnet.org.uk.
The Touchpoint Team
About Touchpoint
When you are experiencing any form of disability, it can be very hard to access the services and resources you need to help you live the life you want to live.
This is where our FREE Touchpoint service comes in.
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Who we work with:
Touchpoint could be the right service for you if:
- You feel yourself to be disabled because of a physical or sensory impairment, mental health issues, deafness, learning disabilities, neurodivergence and/or long-term conditions, and
- You live, study or work in the borough of Barnet, and
- You are finding it hard to access the support or resources you need to live the life you want to live.
If you’re not sure what type of support you need, please feel free to get in touch and we’ll be very happy to discuss this with you.
What we do:
Our aim is to work with you to:
- understand the goals you’d like to achieve
- identify the local services and/or community resources that could help you achieve those goals
- overcome the barriers you’re facing to accessing those services and resources so you feel able to confidently access them independently.
When we talk about barriers, we simply mean anything that is getting in the way of you accessing what you want to access. Barriers are often different for different people and can include anything from a lack of wheelchair access or appropriate materials, to challenges with communication or confidence.
At Touchpoint, all our staff have their own experience of living with disability, so whilst they are experts in understanding the barriers you might be facing, we recognise that everybody’s personal experiences are different. Our job is to work with you to overcome them.
If this sounds like the right service for you or someone you know, please complete our referral form by clicking on the button at the bottom of this page. We accept self-referrals and professional referrals.
If you have any questions at all about the service, or have any issues completing the referral form, please do call us on 0203 475 1306 or e-mail us at touchpoint@inclusionbarnet.org.uk.
What to expect from our service:
Waiting times
We are a small charity with limited resources so our waiting times fluctuate according to demand. Please feel free to contact us if you would like an update on where you are on our waiting list.
Dedicated peer worker
Once you reach the top of the waiting list you will be allocated to a dedicated peer worker who will work with you one-to one. Wherever possible we try to match you with a peer worker who has similar lived experience, though we cannot guarantee this as we are a small team.
Initial assessment
Your allocated peer worker will then carry out an initial assessment. This is where we get to know you a bit better and understand what your needs are, including any reasonable adjustments. Together we will agree whether you need short or long-term support.
We will have a friendly chat with you on the phone (or alternative) for approximately an hour. You do not need to bring anything to this appointment but we will need you to complete some consent forms. We also carry out a standard risk assessment for all people using our services.
If you have any concerns or questions about using our services you can use the assessment time to discuss these.
Support Options:
Short term support
Approximately two weeks of short term peer support addressing any immediate barriers. Some examples of the type of support this could be, include (but not limited to): Accessing the local food bank; difficulties making contact with medical services; exploring what activities are in your area.
Long term support
Approximately up to six months peer support working with you to identify more complex barriers, including, but not limited to things like: reducing social isolation; accessing support equipment; support to engage and communicate with services.
What we don’t provide
We are not a medical, clinical or emergency service. Please see our crisis and urgent support advice page here.
Touchpoint during Covid-19 pandemic
What has changed?
We’re currently only providing face-to-face appointments in specific cases. However, we’ve found that we can still effectively provide our service via phone, video-call, WhatsApp, text messaging and email for the time being.
Crisis & urgent support
Help in a crisis
Touchpoint is not an emergency service.
If you feel that there is an immediate risk to yours, or someone else’s safety then please contact 999 or visit your local Accident and Emergency.
Getting help
If there isn’t immediate risk but you feel you need urgent support please consider contacting one of the following organisations.
Physical & mental health
NHS mental health crisis service:
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can contact the local NHS mental health crisis service on: 0800 151 0023. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
The Samaritans:
If you feel you are in experiencing feelings of despair and would like someone to talk to, contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (this is a free number from any phone).
General medical help – dial 111
NHS 111 can book patients into be seen at their local A&E or Urgent treatment centre, emergency dental services, pharmacy or other more appropriate local service as well as send an ambulance should the patients condition be serious or life threatening. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week. More information is available by clicking here
Homelessness / Risk of homelessness
Barnet Council
If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless you should contact Barnet Homes (the property managment company for Barnet Council) as soon as possible on 020 8610 3539. Or for more information visit their website by clicking here.
Homeless action in Barnet
Provide a helping hand for people in need, in particular: People who are vulnerably housed or at risk of homelessness ;people who are experiencing homelessness, including sofa surfing etc; People who have recently secured housing but who might appreciate some support with their health and wellbeing, for example. budgeting/job hunting. For more information visit their website by clicking here: or call them on 020 8446 8400.
Food and other essentials
Food banks
There are a number of food banks across Barnet you can find your nearest one by clicking here.
