REFERRAL CRITERIA FOR A BEFRIENDER & IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Befriending Service Aim
Ecas recognises that people with a physical disability can sometimes feel lonely and isolated. We aim to help reduce this through our Befriending Service.
Criteria for having a Befriender
The Ecas Befriending Service will provide its service to isolated, physically disabled adults 18+, living in Edinburgh.
By isolated we mean people who are not currently receiving support to attend classes, access their community or participate in leisure activities or whose social life is limited due to their impairment, an example may be: limited or no visits from family or circle of friends.
Medical Criteria
Ecas follows the EHRC guideline that: “You are disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.
- ‘substantial’ is more than minor or trivial, e.g. it takes much longer than it usually would to complete a daily task like getting dressed
- ‘long-term’ means 12 months or more, e.g. a breathing condition that develops as a result of a lung infection.”
However, please remember that Ecas only provides support to people who have a physical disability. We regret that the following conditions, on their own, do not meet our criteria: psychiatric disorders, learning difficulties, behavioural disorders, developmental delay, Down’s syndrome, autism, visual or hearing impairment, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV and back pain.
Volunteer befrienders are not unpaid carers. They will not provide any intimate or personal care. They will not assist with any medication or manual handling and they will not provide advocacy.
Ecas Ltd: a company limited by guarantee in Scotland No. 102790,. Registered Charity Number: SC014929
Important Information for Referrers and Clients
Ecas welcomes referrals from health workers, family/friends and self-referrals. Consent MUST be given from the client before a non self-referral is submitted.
Ecas asks that both referrers and clients keep the Befriending Service Team informed if there are any changes in the client’s circumstances after submitting an initial referral. In particular, changes which could compromise the safety of the befriender or client or which mean the client is no longer eligible to receive the service.
Ecas welcomes feedback, comments or suggestions on our Befriending service from all referrers at any time. To do so please contact the Befriending Manager on 07825 305 376 or email hello@ecas.scot.