HELP FOR PEOPLE WHO LOOK AFTER A RELATIVE, FRIENDS

HELP FOR PEOPLE
WHO LOOK AFTER A
RELATIVE, FRIENDS
OR NEIGHBOUR
Adult Services
Big plans for the care we provide
Caring
Carers - the people who look after others in our community
- play a valued and important role. Stockton Council
recognises the work that carers do, and we are committed
to enabling them to continue in this role as long as they
are able and willing to do so.
Carers can be relatives, friends, neighbours or anyone
providing regular, substantial care. They can be of any age
and, indeed, some are children or young people. They can
provide care for a whole range of needs - for example,
those associated with physical or learning disability,
deafness, blindness and mental health needs.
Providing care for another person can be a rewarding and
fulfilling experience. There are times, however, when it can
be physically and emotionally wearing. The person providing
the care can become exhausted, particularly when he or
she gives a high level of support over a long period.
We also have a duty to consider how caring affects a
carer’s ability to work and participation in education,
training or leisure activity.
So it's in everyone's interest for the person who is
providing care to have good physical and emotional health,
so that they can continue to support their relative or friend.
To achieve this, help may be provided to support carers.
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What help?
If you are a carer, help is available in many forms:• We may be able to provide special equipment to assist
with access, mobility and personal care.
• Day Support can provide a place for a client to mix with
others and develop skills and interests. At the same
time, this can also offer a carer the opportunity to take
a break or to have time to do other things.
• When a carer is looking after someone with a high level
of dependency, and needs a break or holiday,
Residential Respite Care may be an option. This could
be as a 'one off ', or be arranged on a regular basis in
advance through the year.
• Carers can also call for advice on other matters, or
information, such as details of Carer Support Groups or
Benefits Advice.
• Carers can register with the Sitting Support who
provide care to enable carers to have time on an
irregular basis e.g. to attend a wedding or hospital
appointment.
• A Personal Budget can be available to enable people to
arrange their own support services whether for carer
support or support to the cared for person.
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Wherever possible we work with other agencies. Provided
both yourself and the person you care for agree, we'll
share information between Social Services, and other
public bodies such as Health and Housing agencies where
it will benefit the person you care for and the joint
planning of support.
There may also be other options or support that you can
think of that would assist you in the caring role. We'll be
as reasonable and flexible as we can to make the support
meet your needs, so do talk to us about your situation if
you are unsure whether we can help.
How do I find help?
If the person you provide care for already has a social
worker, contact them and tell them you wish to discuss
what support you might receive. If they don't have a social
worker, contact our First Contact Team (contact details on
the back of this leaflet) who will take details and arrange
for someone to contact you.
Both the person being cared for and the carer have a
separate statutory right to an assessment of their needs and to have any identified eligible needs met.
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Carers Support Services
Sanctuary Supported Living offers an independent and
comprehensive support, information and advise service to
all carers and ex-carers.
For more information about their services please contact
Sanctuary Supported Living on 0800 917 0204 or
stocktoncarers@sanctuary-housing.co.uk
A specialist Sitting Service can be provided by Sanctuary
Supported Living which supports carers to be able to
attend appointments etc.
Advocacy
As a carer, you may find it hard to give your views to the
Social Services or Health Authority representative. If so, an
independent advocate may be able to assist. This person
would find out from you precisely what is wanted - and then
help you to take this up with the appropriate body or person.
A free and confidential Advocacy Service is available from
Stockton & District Advice & Information Service, Bath Lane,
Stockton-on-Tees TS18 2DS. Telephone 01642 649700.
How will I be assessed?
We'll arrange for someone to see you, when and where it's
convenient to you. You may choose whether this is in the
presence of the person you care for or not. Both are often
seen together, though there are times when it is
appropriate for the carer to be seen alone.
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The carer's assessment will identify the things you do for
the person you care for - how often, how much, how it
affects you and what you think about it. It should identify
the effect on your life i.e. your ability to fulfil other
commitments such as employment, care of other people
in your family, your opportunity for a social life and
whether you have any disability or illness which affects
your ability to care.
What happens after the assessment?
The assessor will discuss with you the outcome of the
assessment. He or she will tell you whether help might be
available to you and, if so, what it might be. Sometimes
there may be different types of help - if so, both yourself
and the person you care for can choose.
Personal Budgets
Where there is a need for social care to be provided to
help people stay in the community, a Personal Budget can
be available whether for carer support or support to the
cared for person. This is where money is received instead
of support. People arrange their own support, with help if
required. The person who completes the assessment will
give more information on this. Additionally there is a
leaflet “Personalisation - Your Guide to Personalisation”.
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Then what?
Once we have agreed with you what is required, support
can be provided. Both you and, where appropriate, the
person you care for, will receive full details in writing of
what is to be provided. Where this is an ongoing support
the assessor will review it within three months of
commencement to make sure things are working and the
support is still required and appropriate. After this, we will
review support at least annually.
Will it cost anything?
Some people will not pay anything and others will be
charged. This depends upon the financial circumstances
of the person who receives the support. Where support is
provided directly to a carer they would be liable if a charge
arose. Likewise, support to the person cared for would
make them liable to any charge that arose.
To work out the charges, we carry out a financial
assessment, which is designed to be as fair as possible. It
also includes advice to help maximise benefits. Our leaflet
'Fairer Charging for Home Care and Other Non Residential
Services' (available from Social Services offices) gives
more information about this.
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What if I don't agree with the assessment,
or the help I need doesn't exist?
Although most of our clients are satisfied with the support
provided and the way the assessment is conducted, there
may be times when this is not so. If you are not satisfied in
the first instance talk to the assessor about your concerns.
If you do not feel you can do this, or having done so,
remain dissatisfied we would like to hear from you. At the
beginning of each assessment, we will give you a leaflet
'Comments Commendations and Complaints', which
invites you to tell us whether or not you are satisfied with
our performance. We will investigate all complaints and
respond to each in writing.
Copies of this leaflet can also be obtained by calling in at
the Children, Education and Social Care offices or by
telephoning and asking us to post one to you.
We are constantly reviewing and planning how we deliver
support. We'd be delighted to hear your suggestions on
how we might improve - please make your suggestion
using the 'Comments Commendation and Complaints'
leaflet; once we receive it, we will contact you to discuss
the matter further.
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Getting in touch
First Contact
( 01642 527764
Minicom: 01642 527769
8 first.contact@stockton.gov.uk
ª Opening Hours
Monday – Thursday 8.30am - 5pm
Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm
Out of hours and weekend contact
Emergencies Only
( 08702 402994
Minicom: 01642 602346
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For more information on Adult Services please visit:
www.stockton.gov.uk/adultservices
If you would like this information in any other language or format for
example large print or audio please contact
01642 527501.
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Leaflet C1
July 2013
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