Referring for a Service

Who can apply to have a befriender?

Anyone who is 18yrs+ and has experienced mental ill health, is lonely or isolated and lives in the Highland Council Region can be referred or refer themselves.

Who can make a referral?

• You can refer yourself
• Mental health workers can make referrals
• We will also accept referrals from Social Workers; GP's; voluntary organisations; and other support agencies as well as family and friends with the permission of their loved one.

How is a referral made?

• Refer yourself by calling us on the appropriate number (see our 'contact us' page) or;
• Fill in the form on the 'contact us' page and we will be in touch or;
• Fill in the paper referral form available from Community Mental Health Teams and:
  • post to us at 19 Church Street, Inverness IV1 1DY
  • or call us for appropriate email address to scan and email (01463 235675)
  • Fax to 01463 712791

What happens after we receive a referral?

• We will call and speak to the person the referral is for (the Friend) to tell them more about befriending and see if it is something they would like to consider
• We will send a form to get their written permission to speak to their mental health worker, GP, social worker or support worker (if we have not already received it)
• We will arrange a couple of meetings or telephone calls with the Friend to get to know them better
• We will speak to their mental health worker, GP, social worker or support worker
• We will send a Friend's Agreement to be signed and returned to us
• We will find a compatible volunteer to match the Friend with
• We arrange the first contact and continue to support the friendship as it develops