SARSASPathway to Support

Pathway to Support

At SARSAS, we’re here to support you. Here’s what happens after you reach out to us.

Making a referral

Who can refer?

You can refer yourself, or a professional can do it on your behalf.

What happens next?

We’ll aim to get back to you within 1-4 weeks to acknowledge your referral.

You can refer yourself here

Initial contact from SARSAS

Where it is safe to do so, we will contact you via email or post to introduce ourselves and explain the next steps.

Booking your assessment

We’ll call you to arrange an assessment, which can be over the phone, via video call, or in person at our Taunton or Bristol office.

If we can’t reach you:

We’ll try again two weeks later.
Finally, we’ll send you an email/or letter asking you to get in touch within a week to schedule your assessment.
If we don’t hear back, your referral will be closed.

Assessment

The assessment’s purpose is to help us understand your needs and decide how best to support you.

How long does the assessment take?

The assessment usually lasts an hour, depending on how much or how little you want to tell us.

What will happen at my appointment?

All of our assessments are now conducted over the phone or via Teams. The call will come from a withheld number, or you will be provided with a Teams link at the time of booking your appointment.

To ensure you feel comfortable during your assessment, we suggest that you find a quiet, private area to talk where you know you won’t be overheard or disturbed.

What will you ask me?

Before we start the assessment, we will explain our confidentiality policy and give you a chance to ask any questions you might have.

The majority of the assessment will focus on how you are coping and what you would like to get from support. We will ask you to tell us a little about the incident(s) that brought you to look for support at SARSAS and may cover any other areas of support you might need.

At the end of the assessment, we will explain the different support options available in your area and agree on a support plan with you that outlines how SARSAS (or another appropriate service) can help meet your needs.

Will I have to tell you everything?

No, it is up to you how much or how little you want to tell us. Any questions we ask are so we can gather information to ensure we are making the most appropriate pathway decision for support for you.

What if I change my mind?

Just give us a call as soon as possible so that we can make your appointment with someone else. You can call us again at any point should you decide that you want support. If you change your mind after the assessment, let us know, and we will take you off any waiting list.

Please note: We will try to assess you as soon as possible, but timeframes may vary.

Whilst waiting for support

Unfortunately, we have waiting lists for some of our services. The waiting time will vary depending on the location, your availability, and the service you have chosen. The wait time for your chosen service and area will be explained during your assessment.

Find out more information about the support we provide while you wait:

Helpline, e-support and live chat

Self-help guides

Trauma and selfcare: online course

Beginning your support

What happens next:

Once it’s time to start, we’ll contact you to discuss your current situation.
You’ll be matched with a support worker or counsellor who will work with you.

Find out more information about our support services:

Specialist support work

Counselling

Group work

Learning disability and Autism support

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