Kibble is offering residential care staff a Safe Space to Talk.

A new charity-operated helpline has been launched to support residential care workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Safe Space to Talk service gives care workers the opportunity to talk to trained therapists in confidence about any concerns they may have while the outbreak is ongoing.

Provided by child and youth care charity Kibble, the service is available to all residential carers in Scotland, with sessions being conducted over the phone or on Skype.

A Kibble spokesperson said the service will provide “a helping hand during these uncertain times”.

In a statement, the charity said: “The importance of looking after our health and wellbeing, particularly at this time, cannot be underestimated.

“For many residential workers, there is heightened risk to their health as they work to keep those in our community safe, while also supporting their own families at home.”

The phone line will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am – 6pm, and Thursdays from 12pm – 8pm. Some appointments may also be available at weekends where needed.

Dan Johnson, forensic psychologist at Kibble, said: “We recognise that these are extremely unsettling and concerning times for people working within residential care settings across the country.

“Connections are more important than ever right now. The support line will give care staff the chance to speak to someone who understands residential care. All calls are confidential and purely about giving residential workers a safe space to talk”.

Residential care staff interested in accessing the service should contact safespace@kibble.org to arrange an appointment.