Wellbeing and advocacy

Mental Health Crisis Helpline
Telephone: 0800 129 9999

Talking Therapies (over 17) friendly service for people with low mood, anxiety or stress.
Telephone: 0300 365 2000

Advocacy Services 
Tel: 0330 440 9000

The Learning Disability Partnership Board (LDPB) works to improve the lives and safety of people with learning disabilities in RBWM.

The LDPB is open to anyone interested in improving the lived experiences of adults with a learning disability and making sure they have their views heard. 

Membership is made up of adults with a learning disability, carers, professionals and service providers. 

The LDPB's aims are: 

• To make sure the views of people with learning disabilities are heard by local services and across the community.
• To make sure the people who provide services make them available to people with learning disabilities and make them easy to use.
• Challenge services when things are not right or do not support those with learning disabilities, their families and carers.
• Keep members up to date on local issues affecting people with learning disabilities, their families, and carers.

The LDPB meet 6 times a year: January, March, May, July, September, November. Meetings alternate between online zoom meetings and in person meetings.

If you are interested in improving the lived experiences of adults with a learning disability and making sure they have their views heard, you can join the LDPB by contacting Caroline Waites (LDPB Officer) at Caroline.waites@theadvocacypeople.org.uk

Age UK Berkshire provides health and wellbeing support services for older people across Berkshire. 
Telephone: 0118 959 4242

Our Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding Team ensure safeguards are in place to ensure people in care homes and hospitals are looked after in a way that does not inappropriately restrict their freedom.

A Social Prescriber can help you with a wide range of social, emotional and practical needs, with the aim of improving your mental and physical wellbeing.

They can provide advice and connect you with local groups, activities and services in your community. This could include volunteering opportunities, arts and creative activities, group learning, gardening, befriending services, cookery sessions, healthy eating advice, physical activity and sports groups.

Residents can self-refer to the Social Prescribing Service using the online referral form. Alternatively, you can ask your GP surgery reception team for a referral.

The service is available to all residents of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and can help connect you with local support to improve your health, wellbeing and quality of life.
 

Are you caring for a family member or friend?

If you provide necessary unpaid care or support to an adult family member, friend or partner, you may be eligible for support.

We can discuss completing a Carers Assessment of Need with you and talk about the support available to Carers living in the borough.

Alongside this you can apply online for a Carers Allowance, to receive money to help you look after someone who needs to be cared for.

Many parent/carers feel like they reach a cliff edge when it comes to navigating and access support once their loved one enters adulthood. The needs, experiences, and concerns of those who care for adults with a learning disability varies greatly, which is why being part of a parent/carer support group is so valuable.

Carers are free to have open discussions without fear of judgement, as there is often someone else who has been through similar experiences and come out the other side.

The parent/carer support group is facilitated by The Advocacy People who also facilitate the Learning Disability Partnership Board. The parent/carer support group meet online once a month on a Wednesday via Zoom 12:30 to 1:30pm. 

How the Group Supports its Members:

• The group is a friendly, safe space where carers can share their lived experiences without fear of judgement.
• The group provides a space to give and receive peer support, sharing individual experiences decreases the sense of isolation, provides practical support and helps build resilience.
• The group shares up to date information to support carers and their loved ones.
• The group invites organisations to meet with carers to hear carers experiences and talk about the services they provide. This helps drive development of services and gives carers a better understanding about the different types of support available and how to access support. 

What Carers Say About the Group:

“I highly recommend the group.”

“The parent/carer support group has given us, carers, a chance to come together on a platform to voice our concerns to the organisations that work with adults with additional needs, as well as providing a place for peer support.”

“The group is very valuable to people like me, and my daughter.”

“The group is a great way of engaging with other parents/cares with the same issues/ dilemmas.”

Anyone interested in joining the parent/carer support group please contact Caroline Waites at: caroline.waites@theadvocacypeople.org.uk 

The team provide advice and help to people living with dementia and their family or Carers.

Contact the team on 01628 683 715 or email DementiaCareAdvisors@rbwm.gov.uk

Free Dementia Support Groups:

Join one of our free monthly sessions to meet others in a similar situation and share experiences. Our team will be available to offer practical information, advice and guidance.

Find out about our groups and the support we can provide on our Dementia Care Advisors page. 

Support is available for people living in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, who have:

• Sight loss
• Hearing loss, including people who are Deaf
• Dual sensory impairment.

If you think you need support you can contact us and we will run through some questions with you to look at how your sensory loss is impacting your day to day life. 

If you agree, we will be able to complete a specialist assessment that is related to helping you:

• Be as independent as possible
• Access rehabilitation programmes that help with daily living tasks
• If eligible, provide pieces of equipment that can help with daily living
• Support for family carers.

Other types of support or a direct payment so you can organise the support to fit your individual personal needs.

Registration

Registering your sensory impairment with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead can make it easier to access a lot of the support and guidance which is available. It can help with benefits and other concessions, including:

• travel
• parking
• help with paying your TV licence.

Registration as deaf or hard of hearing

Registration is voluntary, and your details will be kept confidential. If you are concerned about your hearing please contact your GP who may refer you onto an audiology clinic. In audiology you will have a hearing test and they will issue you with an Audiogram. This would be your evidence for registration.

There are three separate registers:

• Hard of hearing
• Deaf with speech
• Deaf without speech

Benefits and concessions available are:

• Discounts on public transport such as a disabled person’s rail card.
• VAT exemption evidence on some equipment purchases.
• Concessions or free entry at some cinemas, theatres, museums and day out activities such as some castles or theme parks.

Registering your sight impairment

Some levels of sight loss qualify you to be registered as Sight Impaired (blind) or Severely Sight Impaired (partially sighted).

An eye consultant (ophthalmologist) will first need to confirm you are certified as sight impaired, or severely sight impaired and provide you with a Certificate of Visual Impairment known as a CVI.

Your GP can put you in contact with a consultant if you haven’t already seen one and you will also receive a copy of your CVI. You can then contact Optalis who can let you know about services available to you and discuss registering your sight impairment.

Registering means that you may be able to access to a number of benefits such as:

• Free advice on dealing with sight loss.
• Free sight tests.
• Blue badge.
• Discounts on your TV licence.
• Some disability benefits / tax allowance benefit.
• Discounts on public transport such as a Disabled Person’s Railcard.
• Free or discounted corrective lenses (if these are suitable for you).

Registering your dual sensory impairment (combined sight and hearing loss)

The definition of deafblindness as adopted by Optalis is: ‘Deafblindness is a combination of sight and hearing loss that affects a person’s ability to communicate, access all kinds of information, and get around.’

There are currently no direct benefits or concessions linked to the deafblind register. The register is optional, and eligibility needs to be confirmed by an appropriately trained professional or organisation.

To register your sensory impairment contact: adultsocialcarefrontdoor@rbwm.gov.uk

Further support and advice is also available from:

• Berkshire Vision 
• RNIB