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. 1 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. 2 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. 3 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 [email protected] 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. 4 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”. 5 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. 6 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. 7 Getting in touch First Contact ( 01642 527764 Minicom: 01642 527769 8 [email protected] 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 8 9 10 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. ARABIC FARSI FRENCH KURDISH CHINESE PUNJABI URDU Leaflet C1 July 2013 Produced by Xentrall Design & Print Services cesc0054