Jewish Care’s social work and community support services help individuals, families, carers and communities by enabling people to make a meaningful difference to their lives, with dignity and choice. The support you need could be only a tap away.
We can help:
- identify what support, care or services you need
- advise, co-ordinate and act on your behalf with local authorities
- signpost you to other helpful services
- provide support and advice for as long as required
Our services are free and easy to use and are available to anyone over the age of 18. You can call us about yourself, a relative or friend (as long as you have the permission of the person you’re concerned about). GPs or other health or social care professionals can also contact us.
We’re currently working in a different way from usual because of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the situation changes, we may change the way we work again. You can find details of Jewish Care’s latest Covid-19 policy here, but please do contact us if you or someone you know needs support.
To get in touch, please call our confidential helpline on 020 8922 2222 or email helpline@jcare.org
We’ve also created an online library of services and resources that are able to offer help and guidance.
Once you have contacted the Jewish Care Direct helpline, your details will be given to a member of the team and we will call you back to talk through your situation. We may also arrange a visit to have a more in-depth conversation. At that point, we will discuss with you the different support or services that may be suitable, whether part of Jewish Care or other service providers. We will then work with you to help put these into place.
Our teams have strong links with a range of local services and will be able to help you if you live across:
- Central and Greater London
- Home counties
- South London in partnership with Nightingale Hammerson
We also offer support and guidance by phone and email across the UK and abroad.
We have five specialist teams of experienced social workers and community support workers with extensive knowledge on a range of issues.
Dementia
This team has strong links with local and national services and can provide support for people in the community who are living with dementia. They also work closely with all of Jewish Care’s other services, especially those for people living with dementia, for example Memory Way Cafés and centres for people living with dementia.
Disability and welfare rights
This team can help adults of all ages to live as independently as possible. They can also liaise with voluntary and social services for useful equipment and resources and help to ensure full entitlement of benefits.
Family carers
This team offers emotional support and practical advice for people who are caring for an adult relative, friend or neighbour. They provide it through one-to-one meetings, support groups or conversations via phone, video call or email. They also support people whose relative is moving into residential care.
Shalvata
Shalvata offers support for Holocaust survivors and refugees and can help with practical advice, counselling, assessments and applications for various grants.
End-of-life care
This award-winning team supports people who have a life-limiting illness and can help with advance care planning. They also understand the importance of co-ordination with other health professionals involved, either to remain in the community or assist the transition into nursing care. The team has good links with hospitals and hospices who can work together to understand the needs of people at such a sensitive time.
End-of-life and palliative care support
We offer support, information, and advocacy with life-limiting situations at end-of-life and palliative care. We can support you to have advance care planning conversations about what matters most to you with important people in your life.
Although these conversations are often thought difficult, they are important and part of life and should ideally be thought about at an early stage to minimise any problems that may lie ahead. It is never too early to share your thoughts on how you wish to be cared for at the end of your life with the people who are close to you.
This includes subjects like where you would like to live if it should become difficult for you to stay at home. It also covers burial planning and who will execute your Will to make sure your wishes are followed., along with how you can grant Lasting Powers of Attorney to enable trusted individuals to take crucial decisions on your behalf should circumstances impair your mental capacity.
You can make these decisions alone or with help from someone you trust. This could be a family member or someone else you trust who is important to you. They would then be legally able to speak for you, should you find yourself unable to communicate.
- GOV.UK’s Lasting power of attorney: acting as an attorney has detailed information about this subject.
- Age UK: Power of attorney to find links on how to set up LPA for yourself.
- Age UK: Making a will
- GOV.UK: Making a will
- Managing your finances: Wills, trusts and legacies
- Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care
- British Heart Foundation: Facing the end of life
- Cancer Research: Care planning
- Forum for discussion and thought: End-of-life decisions
- Marie Curie: Planning ahead
Frequently asked questions
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the general term used to describe the voluntary discussion you have with the people who are important to you. For example: sharing what treatments we would accept or refuse; where we would like to live if we could no longer live at home; or where we would wish to be cared for at the very end of our lives.
An advance statement is not a formal document, but it can guide and inform those who may need to make future decisions on your behalf.
An Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) is a legally binding document which relates to refusing lifesaving treatment. This was previously referred to as a ‘living will’ or an ‘advance directive’. This is an important matter that you need to discuss with your GP or other health professionals who may be involved with your care. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an attempt to start your heart again after it has stopped working. Whether you choose not to have this is another important decision which you should discuss with your GP or other health professionals.
This is a formal and legal document which will ensure that your wishes will be followed once you are no longer alive.
You may have questions about burial planning. You can always contact your synagogue to find resources, but if you do not belong to a synagogue, please contact Jewish Care Direct on 0208 922 2222 who can signpost you to available resources in your area relating to burials, cremation, and minyan support.
Alternatively, if you prefer to talk to someone from our Social Work and Community Support Service, please call Jewish Care Direct on 0208 922 2222 or email Helpline@jcare.org for more information.
This is a legally binding document which allows you to choose someone else to manage your affairs and take decisions on your behalf once you no longer have the mental capability. You can appoint more than one person to act on your behalf. An LPA is only valid once registered with the Office of Public Guardian. You cannot complete an LPA if you no longer have mental capacity, so it is important to set up your LPA with important people in your life that you trust.
To read guidance on Lasting Power of Attorney please click here.