Referring to The Link

The Link Visiting Scheme operates an open-door policy which means that all new referrals will receive an initial phone assessment. All full assessments will be completed face to face by a member of our assessment team.

We recognise that people’s lives can change, so we welcome service users to be referred again if they have had a change in their personal circumstances.

During the assessment process, we assess each person for: level of need, which service would be more appropriate, the service users’ expectations, eligibility according to our criteria (see below) and risk to a volunteer in the service user’s home (health and safety and lone working). If appropriate, we will only offer activities and/or one-off events depending on the outcome of the home risk assessment. This is to help us with the demand for our service.

The Link Visiting Scheme reserves the right to terminate a referral/assessment, decline a repeat re-referral or exclude a service user from the scheme, should the circumstances demand it.

We endeavour to signpost all service users we are unable to help to more appropriate local services.

1. Admissions

As a guideline we accept people who:

  • feel lonely and isolated. 

  • that appear safe for a volunteer to visit.

  • live independently or in sheltered accommodation.

  • live within the Wokingham Borough.

  • Are unable to independently attend group activities * for example, for reasons of confidence, disability and/or mental health

  • are over 60 years old

2. Exclusions

We are unable to accept people who:

  • are unable to form and maintain friendships due to, perhaps, the middle to late stages of dementia or other complex needs.

  • are unable to communicate with others.

  • have no insight into their own mental health issues.

  • cannot maintain the boundaries of appropriate conversation with a volunteer.

  • live in residential care homes or nursing homes

  • are not living alone - * with the exception of couples with no support network or isolated carers.

  • have medical conditions that would make it difficult for an unskilled volunteer to visit them (i.e. needing skilled and trained staff).

  • have a strong social network already in place or already attend group activities * We can provide advice on more activities or groups of interest however.

  • Live in sheltered accommodation where group activities take place

  • have been given a Personal Care Budget that makes provision for social inclusion.

Our Volunteers and Link staff are not able to provide personal care. Link Friends are unable to attend our activities if they are unable to mobilise independently or require help with personal care. Exceptions to this is if a carer attends with the Link Friend and can provide full assistance.

Please be mindful that this is a voluntary organisation and volunteers are only trained to be good listeners and provide focused attention and quality time aiming to reduce loneliness and isolation. We encourage and support our Link Friends to attend our activities and for volunteers to take Link Friends out of their house as much as they are able.

We do not provide help with practical tasks such as cleaning, shopping, gardening, taking to appointments and under no circumstances do we provide financial assistance.

For all referring agents - we are happy to attend team meetings or have discussions individually covering all aspects of our admissions and exclusion criteria. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Marjie Walker, CEO

Office: 0118 9798019

Email: marjie@linkvisiting.org