HIV support

A video in British Sign Language about the support provided for people living with HIV and for their partners, friends, families and children.

 

 

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Video transcript

 

Kent County Council provide help for people living with HIV and for their partners, friends, families and children.

We support all age groups, including children, and can assist with help at home and respite care where appropriate, as well as counselling services.

We have 3 HIV specialist support workers, covering East, Mid and West Kent areas.

We can advise on

• housing
• benefit entitlements 
• and specialist resources including local health services and support groups

We can also provide details of additional useful resources available outside of the county.

Find out more about the HIV support Kent County Council offer by visiting the Kent County Council website:

www.kent.gov.uk

Confidentiality

A HIV positive diagnosis can be very distressing news to receive and needing to tell someone else can be a daunting and frightening prospect.

People with HIV can be at risk of rejection, social isolation and harassment because of the stigma and prejudices associated with HIV.

We protect the confidentiality of people using our services, and their carers, and ensure their rights are respected, including the right to privacy.

Sometimes disclosure of a person's HIV status can open the way to valuable additional services and resources.

However, we always seek the individual's consent before passing on such information and take care that it is not given to anyone not directly engaged in providing a relevant service.

Specialist Workers

Area contacts deal with any HIV issues that occur within their area of Kent. Contact your areas specialist worker if you need :

• advice on welfare benefits
• housing
• peer linking
• support groups
• specialist respite services
• domiciliary care
• access to other professionals
• counselling services
• and access to sexual health services.

Find out how to contact your local specialist worker by visiting on the Kent County Council website at www.kent.gov.uk/hiv or email HIV.Enquiries@kent.gov.uk

Alternatively contact the 24 hour HIV/AIDS and Sexual health helpline on 0800 567123.