First Steps to Support phoneline
A free phoneline to help support adults living in Surrey, UK.
First Steps to Support is a free and anonymous phoneline to help you, your friends or family with life stresses. If you're feeling anxious, stressed, worried or down, having trouble sleeping, or you're just not feeling yourself, contact us to help ease the pressure.
Chatting to our family and friends about our worries can be helpful, but sometimes an impartial viewpoint can also be beneficial. Seeking help early can help lighten the load before things get tough. No matter how small your worries, we are here for you.
There is no waiting list. You can call, text or email us:
- Phone: 0333 332 4753 (local call rates apply)
- Text: 07860 026657
- Email: dohel.firststeps.surrey@nhs.net
The friendly and professionally trained NHS advisors at First Steps to Support are here to:
- Listen to what's troubling you, for example, financial worries, work stresses, relationship problems and bereavement, and we can help you find a way forward
- Guide you to the right support and services to lighten the load, help you cope better and enjoy life again
- Act as an anonymous and confidential service that won't pass on your details, unless you ask us to (an exception to this is if we feel there is a danger to yourself or others).
- You will not be asked for your name, only what you would like to be called. We do not have access and will not add anything to your medical records.
Opening times
- Monday 9.30am to 4pm
- Tuesday 9.30am to 4pm
- Wednesday 9.30am to 4pm
- Thursday 10am to 8pm
- Friday 9.30am to 4pm
- Saturday 9am to 1pm
Please note the phoneline will be closed on Christmas Day (25 December), Boxing Day (26 December) and New Year's Day (1 January).
If you are contacting us outside of the opening hours, please do leave us a message or email us at dohel.firststeps.surrey@nhs.net and we will get back to you.
Watch this video to find out more about the First Steps service
Feedback from our callers
- "From a starting place of negativity and disabling anxieties about many accumulative areas of my life, my Wellbeing Adviser was very reassuring, informative with a calming sense of empathy."
- "I was spoken to by a very helpful and informative advisor, she gave me the website to try and advice on how to access the services."
- "Thank you, you've helped me, just talking helped."
- "You're a good listener". Appreciate you looking out for me"
- "Thank you for your help, you've been absolutely lovely. You've put a spring in my step".
Privacy notice
For many people contacting the First Steps to Support service, personal information is not required and the caller may remain anonymous. You will not be asked for your name, only what you would like to be called.
First Steps will not ask for any personal details, unless this becomes needed to support you and only with your consent. For example, to make an onward referral, we will ask for the information needed to complete that task. This information will then be securely destroyed. In the rare occasion where there is a legitimate need to retain this data, it will be stored on our secure and NHS approved clinical record system, Iaptus.
We ask if people are willing to give non identifiable information for monitoring and quality purposes, (e.g. to help us see if our service is accessed by the range of Surrey residents). If this non identifiable information is given, it is stored securely on our NHS Servers. Our staff all undertake regular training and we are compliant with Data Security Protection Toolkit.
First Steps is delivered by Dorking Healthcare Limited (DHC) which is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office as a Data Controller. DHC only deliver NHS/ Public Health contracts.
The full privacy statement can be found on the DHC website.
Our staff:
Care, compassion and friendliness are key attributes we look for when selecting our Wellbeing Advisors. We know that people want high quality support from a friendly and empathic person. All advisors have to meet a minimum standard of training, although many also hold relevant professional qualifications. Our team use evidence based support to ensure you get the best support possible.
Request for your feedback
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