Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC)

Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC) are a charity working closely with statutory agencies in Sheffield to provide a network of support for older people, their carers and families. Most of their work helps older people in their own homes. SCCCC can also support people who are admitted to or discharged from hospital or are living in a residential home.

Their programmes and areas of focus are listed below. You can find out more about any of their projects on their website.

Good Neighbours Scheme

The Good Neighbours Scheme involves matching older members of the community with local volunteers. These volunteers can provide support with:

• Regular social visits
• Re-arranging furniture to enable greater mobility
• Escorting to hospital appointments (service user to bear the cost of any taxi)
• Telephone support, a friendly call on a regular basis
• Pen pal Scheme, receive some happy post, a letter, card or drawing from a friend you haven’t met yet

The service is free and aims to combat loneliness for people over 65 living in Sheffield.

They take referrals from a wide range of sources including district nurses, GPs, social work teams and various intermediate care teams. Referrals also come from relatives and potential service users. You can telephone the office on 0114 2505292 or use their email referral form, simply download the form and email back to: [email protected]  (all the information they require is on the form). Or email [email protected] to request a form.

Telephone Support Service

If you are over 65, feeling lonely or isolated, living in Sheffield and would like to talk to someone on the telephone on a regular basis, you can access SCCCC’s Telephone Support Service. They can match you up with a friendly volunteer who will ring you regularly to chat with you about whatever you wish to talk about.

Contact Tammy Wilson on 0114 2505292 or email her [email protected] to refer yourself to the scheme.

Back Home Scheme

The Back Home Scheme is based in Sheffield. It is a 4-week person centred plan to help people regain confidence and to empower them to settle back into their home and community after hospital discharge.

The scheme provides support around a range of practical tasks.

A&E to Home

Assistance is available for older people who have had a visit to A&E with a minor injury, but are well enough to go home with some support. The service covers the A&E Department at the Northern General Hospital and the Emergency Admission Unit and the Minor Injuries Unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. It operates between 9am and 9pm, seven days per week including bank holidays. SCCCC takes the patient home and helps them to settle in (by checking the heating is on, making a cup of tea etc).

Temporary Key Safes

SCCCC loan out temporary key-safes to people who need them. These help prevent delayed hospital discharge by providing temporary key access for the carer(s) until a more permanently fixed key-safe can be fitted.

High Seat Chair Loan

SCCCC loan out high seat chairs for a period of 6-8 weeks. These are primarily for patients who have had hip or knee surgery and are there to aid recovery.

Placement Support Scheme

The Placement Support Scheme supports older people and their family/carers who are looking for an appropriate residence for a family member who needs to move due to health/mobility changes. The service is provided on a city-wide basis, Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm. People will have a dedicated Coordinator who will have the use of a wheelchair accessible vehicle or taxi service support for transport. The service is free.

Contact [email protected] or telephone 0114 2505292 for more information.

Heat Helpers

This scheme advises older people about how to heat themselves instead of the house this winter. Their staff can offer practical support to assist an older person to keep warm in their home this winter.

Please contact Karen Redfern for further details. [email protected]