The Community Independence Service (CIS) is an intermediate person-centred service providing advanced short-term nursing care, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and social care to people with immediate health issues or needs that affect their mobility or day-to-day activities. The service aims to provide safe clinical care at home, which helps people avoid unplanned hospital admission or returning to the hospital after a recent discharge.
The service is available seven days a week from 8am to 10pm for adults over the age of 18 who live in and are registered with a GP in the following boroughs:
- Hammersmith & Fulham
- Kensington & Chelsea
- Westminster
Including nursing and care homes.
CIS in Hammersmith & Fulham consists of four teams:
- Urgent Community Response (UCR): UCR provides fast access to a full assessment and the care you need. Once we have received a referral, we will assess you on the same day. As a community service, we will visit you where you live, and in the most urgent cases, we aim to be with you within two hours.
- Home First: our colleagues in the community will work with you to provide short-term support following your discharge from hospital through Pathway 1. Our Pathway 1 team is made up of professionals across many organisations working together, such as carers, therapists and social workers. We will contact you within 24 hours of you returning home, and provide your immediate care needs at home. This depends on what support you need. This may include help with day-to-day tasks.
- Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation will work with you to help regain or maintain your health and independence at home. We will visit where you live and carry out a complete and thorough assessment of your needs and current symptoms or problems. Then we will work with you to set individual goals. These are things that you would like to get help with, work on, and achieve with our support, to ensure that you can stay independent for longer. The majority of people are seen within 48 hours, with non-urgent referrals assessed within 14 days.
- Case Management: This provides a comprehensive and collaborative approach to your healthcare. We will work closely with you and all other professionals and practitioners involved in your care to develop a personalised care plan tailored to your specific needs that will support you to live independently and safely at home.
This service is delivered in partnership with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL).
While West London NHS Trust staff are employed in the Hammersmith and Fulham CIS team, the service is led by CNWL.
Please follow this link CNWL website for more details of the services provided, operating hours and how to make a referral.
Please note that Ealing Community Partners also offer a Rapid Response and Home First service for residents in the borough of Ealing through their Intermediate Care Services. You can find out more information about this service by following this link.