Access to information and support can be invaluable to those without family support or links to services available in their community. The Third Sector Referral Coordinator (TSRC) team provide an additional resource for health and social care staff to support people to access and benefit from support from local community and/or national third sector organisations.

The team take referrals for adults from acute and community hospital teams, clinical teams based within each of the 7 Integrated Care Communities (ICCs) and Adult Social Care (ASC) in North Cumbria NHS area.

Click here to get in touch with our TSRC Team

 

The Team

 

Following a referral, individuals receive a holistic assessment telephone call from the TSRC team to discuss potential support they could benefit from. They will ensure the individual is given information, guidance, and support to access the wealth of third sector organisations and services across North Cumbria. With consent, this is often via a direct referral to the appropriate third sector organisation.

Watch a video explaining how the TSRC service works and how to make a referral below:

 

Some examples of the support the TSRC team have assisted people to access include:

NB This list is not exhaustive and support isn’t limited to the patient/individual being referred – It could be support for their family or carers dependent on the specific needs/goals at the time of referral.

The Team unfortunately aren’t an emergency service and can’t offer that type of emergency support that would sit more appropriately with statutory services, this could include emergency food parcels. In addition, the Team are unable to accept referrals for adults who are receiving treatment for complex psychotic episodes, displaying suicidal behaviour or those who require/are awaiting assessment by mental health professionals in the community or within acute NHS. Additionally, the Team are also unable to accept referrals where the support that is needed for an individual sits more appropriately within Adult Social Care Teams.

 

How to refer into the Third Sector Referral Co-ordinator Team

Referrals to the TSRC Team can only be made by NHS Health or Social Care Staff. If you think that you or a family member would benefit from some additional support from the Third Sector, please ask your Health or Social Care practitioner to make a referral on your behalf and one of our Coordinators will contact you.

To make a referral to the team on behalf of someone, please E-mail: pathway0@cumbriacvs.org.uk with the information below:

• Name
• Address
• D.O.B
• Telephone number(s)
• NHS Number (if you have this)
• An indication that the person has given consent to the referral to our Team.
• A brief outline of the person’s needs. If goals/outcomes that the person is hoping to achieve have been identified with staff, it can be helpful to have this information to help guide the telephone consultation.
• Any important notes to flag for our team

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: All members of the TSRC Team have honorary contracts with NCIC, are authorised to discuss patient information with clinical staff and will manage patient information appropriately.

 

Read what others have to say

If you are thinking what is the benefit of referring to the TSRC Team? Then these quotes, a selection from health and social care colleagues who have used the TSRC service may help you in making that decision.

“The Third Sector Referral Co-ordinator team (TSRC) offer an incredibly vital and responsive service to stroke patients and their families/carers. They complete a comprehensive telephone assessment to understand and identify individuals’ needs and interests so they can advise them of what Third Sector support is available in their local area. If required, the team can also complete referrals on their behalf and offer follow up support. This allows for a broad range of services and activities to be discussed, and people to be linked into a wide range to meet their individual holistic needs and that of their family/carers. The fact the team hold honorary contracts with NCIC is a real bonus as this supports collaborative working as all information is recorded by the TSRC on EMIS and as a team we can easily access this. From a team perceptive this not only saves us as NHS professionals lots of time and gives us reassurance that people’s needs are being appropriately met but the TSRC team also provide us with a directory of up to date and relevant services which we can then include this in care plans as part of an individual’s stroke rehabilitation journey. Thank you TSRC.”
Case Manager/Team Lead North Cumbria Community Stroke Discharge & Support Team

“Thank you so much Danny as it’s just so difficult for them. So I’m sure this will be one family that really benefit from your help.”
Cancer Care Co-ordinator

“Aww that is brilliant! Thank you so much for this amazing service, I am sure he will feel much better now with this input and he will feel like someone has listened to him and helped him. I appreciate all you have done. Thanks again.”
Community Nurse

“Thank you so much for all your support, this sounds very helpful for the patient.”
OT

“It sounds as though you were able offer some really helpful advice and signposting services thank you.”
Team Lead

 

Background information

Read an evaluation of the Third Sector Referral Coordinator Health & Welfare Telephone Support Service, produced Spring 2025, by Dominic Gordon and Becky Linton of Cumbria CVS, Third Sector Referral Co-ordinator Team.

Read an Evaluation of the Third Sector Referral Coordinator Team: Nurturing Connectivity between the Third Sector and Health Sector, produced in January 2023 by Dr Meghánn Ward, Professor Tom Grimwood and Dr Laura Snell at Health and Society Knowledge Exchange (HASKE), University of Cumbria.

Read an Evaluation of the Third Sector Referral Coordinator Team, produced in February 2022 by Dr Laura Snell, Dr Tom Grimwood and Vicki Goodwin at Health and Society Knowledge Exchange (HASKE), University of Cumbria.