HIV services

Social Services have a team of social workers who have specialist knowledge and expertise in working with a range of adults with long term conditions including HIV/AIDS. We are able to provide help and assistance to people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS

This could be someone who is unwell because of HIV
Or it could be a carer, partner or family member of the person who is unwell

Children affected by HIV/AIDS

All new referrals for children affected by HIV should be sent to:

Disabled Children's Social Work Team
Specialist Children's Service
The Wood Street Health Centre
6 Linford Road
Walthamstow E17 3LA

Tel 020 8430 7956
Fax 020 8430 7941

If whole families are affected by HIV/AIDS the Enablement and Care Team will work with the Disabled Children's Social Work Team to provide support. For more information about the Specialist Children’s Service.

What do we provide?

Depending on the level of need we can offer:

Advice and information on resources available
Assessment of need and care planning
Mobility support (travel pass, orange parking badge, taxi card, parking bay)
Access to occupational therapy services
Personal support in the home, including home care and meal delivery
Respite break away from your home
Supported living grant for equipment
Liaison with doctors and other health professionals
Emotional support and access to counselling
Carer support, helping carers to identify their own needs and ways of meeting them
Referral to other specialist organisations, including charities, for complex welfare benefits, housing or legal advice
Information on and liaison with services for women, gay men, members of black and ethnic communities, and drug users

Who can have this service?

You should live in Waltham Forest and:

you are HIV positive, or
you are a family member, partner or carer of the above

Will I have to pay?

Depending on your financial situation, there may be charges for some of these services.

How to get this service?

You can directly contact the Enablement and Care Team or ask someone else to do it for you. Please phone or email us first to make an appointment. We have access to interpreters and translators if we do not speak your language.

To access support services for people living with or affected by HIV/Aids please contact

The Enablement and Care Team
47 Gainsford Road
Walthamstow E17 6QB

Tel Call 020 8496 3000 and ask for The Enablement and Care Team
Tel 020 8496 1662/1872/1895 (Duty officers)
Email enablementandcare.team@walthamforest.gov.uk
Fax 020 8496 1840

Confidentiality

We recognise that people living with HIV/AIDS can face ignorance, hostility and discrimination. We understand that confidentiality is of the utmost importance, and undertake to treat information you may give us with respect.

We promise that any information you give us about yourself or your circumstances will not be passed on to anyone else without your permission, except where we have a legal duty to do so. We will advise you of the possible consequences of either telling or not telling other people of your situation.

» For more information download a copy of the Confidentiality Policy

Quality with equality

We will:

Respond promptly, efficiently and appropriately when you request information or assistance
Tell you how long you can expect to wait for a matter to be dealt with
Be sensitive to any needs around your gender, race, language, culture, religion, sexuality or disability
Treat you with respect and consideration
Not make judgements about you

What we do

Depending on your level of need, care managers in the Team can organise a range of services, advice and information. Or we can give emotional support - someone to talk with about your feelings, hopes, fears and expectations. We can put you in touch with other organisations which may have something to offer you.

Personal support

The help we can provide could be anything from delivery of a meal to your home if you are too unwell to cook for yourself.

If you are unwell we may be able to provide a paid carer to help you in your home
We can provide equipment that will help you to maintain your independence at home
We may be able to arrange a break away from your home for you, particularly if you have an unpaid carer who needs a break from looking after you

Carer support

We recognise that however committed you may be to supporting someone with HIV/ AIDS, this can be an extremely tiring and challenging role. We can support you to identify your own needs in this situation, and look at ways of meeting those needs.

How we work

We work in partnership with you and other people supporting you. This could include your carer, your partner, family or friends. It could also include other professionals like doctors, nurses, or workers from voluntary organisations. Our aim is to support you in taking and maintaining control over your own life. We will take responsibility for making sure that the different people involved with you know what everyone else is doing.

What happens when you contact us?

We will ask you for some basic details about yourself - name, address etc. We may then make an arrangement to see you (unless you just want information). When we meet, we will discuss your circumstances with you to make sure we have the information we need to be able to help you.

If we assess that you need ongoing support from us, we will draw up a plan with you to deal with the things you need help with, and allocate a key worker so that you speak with the same person each time you need something.

If you just want help with one or two particular items, we will deal with these. You can get in touch again if you need help in the future.