Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Your Guide to
Accessing
Community Care
Services in West
Dunbartonshire
June 2009
CONTENTS
Pages
1. YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED 3
1.1 What is community care? 3
1.2 Why do we prioritise access to community
4
care services?
1.3 How do we determine your care needs? 4
1.4 How would you request an assessment of
4
your care needs?
1.5 What happens next? 5
1.6 Services, which can help you, stay
6
independent
1.8 Community Health and Care Services 13
1.9 Direct Payments 17
1.10 Independent Living Fund 18
1.11 Violence Against Women Partnership 18
2. WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR
COMMUNITY CARE SERVICE 19
PROVISION
2.1 Emergency 19
2.2 High 19
2.3 Medium 20
2.4 Low 21
3. HOW WILL I OBTAIN THE SERVICES I
22
NEED
3.1 Social Work Services 22
4. WILL I HAVE TO PAY 23
5. HELP AND INFORMATION 23
5.1 What to do if things go wrong 23
5.2 Help from other organisations 24
6. DEFINITIONS 25
6.1 Explaining some of the words we use in
25
this booklet
7. CONTACT POINTS 26
2
1. YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Introduction
Community care is the help and support we provide to adults and those who
care for them, so that people can live independent lives in the community. We
can provide the support either in people's own homes (wherever possible) or
in other care settings such as sheltered or 'very' sheltered housing or in a care
home. People aged 16 years and over whom may need community care
services include those with needs arising from:
We give priority to people with the greatest care needs when providing help or
support. Community care also takes account of the needs of carers. We do
not provide community care support for life because the services we provide
can change, as people's needs change. Many people only need help for a
short time (sometimes for a few weeks after coming out of hospital) and are
then able to look after themselves without any more help. It is important that
we recognise people's abilities and their need for independence, therefore
community care support should only be given when it is actually needed. As
well as assessing people's care needs, we provide some community care
services and we also commission a range of services from independent or
voluntary care providers.
3
1.2 Why do we prioritise access to community care services?
If we are unable to provide a service when we assess your needs, you may
choose to make your own arrangements and pay for any help you need. We
can offer advice in respect of this.
If your circumstances change, you can contact us again. In any case, please
ask us for advice if you are not sure.
You are entitled to a Single Shared Assessment if you have a disability or any
social care or health needs. The type of assessment we carry out will depend
on what your needs are. In most cases we can start the assessment within
days and complete it within a month.
Carers
Carers have a right to an assessment of their needs. This should be a
separate assessment of your needs as a carer to make sure that your needs
are addressed separately from those of the person that you care for. On the
basis of our discussions with you we will develop a Carers Support Plan to
meet your needs.
We will find out your opinions and ideas about the help you need and the kind
of services that will best meet your needs.
We will also offer a benefits check to ensure you are receiving all benefits to
which you are entitled.
We will agree with you your level of needs and advise you of the outcome of
your assessment.
We will draw up a care plan/support plan detailing the agreed level of your
needs and the possible outcomes to best meet your needs.
We will give you a copy of your assessment, care plan/support plan, and
information about who to contact in an emergency, or who to contact if you
have a question about the services you receive.
5
We will regularly review the services we provide to you, particularly when
there are major changes in your situation. Should your situation deteriorate,
we may need to increase services, even on a temporary basis.
One of the key priorities of Community Care is to work with you to help you
achieve and sustain as much independence as possible for as long as
possible.
This is why we review care needs regularly to ensure that the services you
receive reflect any change in needs.
We are committed to helping people live safely and independently in their own
homes, wherever possible and will attempt to ensure this with good quality
services.
If you reach the stage where you can go back to living independently, we will
reduce any services you no longer need. We will always discuss this with you
and let you know.
If you are not eligible for community care services, you may be able to get
other kinds of support. We may refer you to other organisations or give you
information about other support services you could access.
When we have assessed your needs, we may provide the following services
to help you stay independent: -
They can assist with your benefit enquiries, assist you in accessing the
relevant benefits and represent you at appeals.
Services include:
• Advice and Support
• Debt and Money Advice
• Benefits maximisation
• Helpline
• Claims, Representation and Appeals
6
1.6.2 HomeCare
This service is provided by home carers who are trained to help you with your
care needs such as help with washing, toileting, bathing, dressing, getting in
and out of bed, shopping, laundry and meals.
People who have a low income are not usually charged for home care
services. Charges for services are dependent on individual income levels,
excluding housing costs and the mobility component of the Disability Living
Allowance. The amount payable does not increase according to the level of
service provided, and is always less than the actual cost of service provision.
If you need assistance with personal care there will be no charge for these
tasks.
A number of lunch clubs operate in the area providing a hot meal and the
chance to socialise.
7
The complexes can provide people with the opportunity of remaining in a
community setting while receiving additional support and monitoring from the
Sheltered Housing Supervisors. The 9 complexes in West Dunbartonshire
Council are staffed and monitored 24 hours per day. As well as providing
support to the person living in the sheltered housing flat there are also
activities which take place on a regular basis within the complexes for
example, lunch club, video afternoons, outings etc.
Telecare is the use of sensors which works alongside a community alarm and
can provide a means of automatically signalling the required response to an
emergency or crisis situation as it arises. Telecare is very much at the
forefront of community care services and all local authorities are investigating
its use for helping to support people living at home, allowing them to remain
independent in the community.
People with a variety of needs can benefit from Telecare dependent upon the
individual circumstances. This can include Older People, Adults with Mental
Health or Learning Disabilities, Adults with Physical Disabilities, People with
Dementia and Children with Disabilities.
Sensors Include:
• Fall Detectors
• Smoke Sensor
• Heat Sensor
• Pressure Mat
• Ruggedised Alarm
• Mobile Assessment Packages
• Gas Sensors
• Bed Sensors
• Flood Detector
8
This means some equipment items can be accessed directly via our health
colleagues i.e. District Nurses and Allied Health professionals such as speech
and language therapists or physiotherapists.
Anyone can refer themselves to the service; you do not need to be referred by
a doctor or nurse.
You will be asked for some basic information about yourself and the problem
you need help with. A letter will be sent to your about your request for
assessment, which will tell you if you have been placed on a waiting list. This
is because there is a high demand for services. A senior member of staff
checks all referrals to ensure the appropriate priority is given to them.
They provide a range of services for deaf, deaf/blind and visually impaired
people, including support services such as guide communication, specialist
equipment and rehabilitation services, advice, information and counselling.
Other community based short break services are provided through joint
Learning Disability Services by organisations such as Cornerstone, which
runs a service for people with learning disabilities and their carers.
10
specialist care is indicated this may have to be accessed from outwith the
West Dunbartonshire Council area.
People accessing this service will require to make a contribution to the cost of
their care.
Referrals to joint learning disability service can be made through the Social
Work Duty System, your doctor or nurse or by contacting the team directly.
A Mental Health Officer service is also provided by the Local Authority. This is
a separate service from the CMHT resourced by specially trained Social
Workers appointed by the Local Authority to carry out specific duties such as
11
providing interventions in relation to the Mental Health Care and Treatment
Act and Adults with Incapacity Act.
There is also a Brain Injury Team which supports adults where an acquired
brain injury is affecting their quality of life. Support to carers is also provided.
The Acquired Brain Injury Team forms part of the WDC Social Work Mental
Health Service. The team is led and managed by the Social Work Mental
Health Team Leaders and includes Service Co-ordinator, Social Workers,
Support Workers, Assistant Psychologist; and sessional support from a
Consultant psychologist. The team provides an assessment and care
management service to adults aged 16 years and over and their carers where
acquired brain injury is the primary issue affecting quality of life. Training and
support is also offered to carers and other agencies.
Referrals to Addiction Services can come from anyone and the response
and service offered is based on the perceived need at the point of referral.
Service responses are therefore "tiered" and include;
• Information/Advice/Support
• Harm Reduction
• Groupwork
• Social Support
• Relapse management
• Clinical Interventions
• Therapies (non clinical)
• Assistance with training and an employment
• Support to sustain tenancies
The Service would always work with people through a community based
approach before considering any form of residential rehabilitation.
The COPT is made up of a range of Health and Social Work staff who provide
services to support older people aged 65 years and over and their carers
living in the Clydebank community. The CART is for individuals aged 16
years and over who live in the Dumbarton and Alexandria area. A key aim of
12
COPT/CART is to enable people to remain in their own homes for as long as
possible and avoid unnecessary hospital admission through help with the
following: promoting independent living, mobility - getting around, exercise
programme, nursing care, podiatry - foot care, dietary advice, falls prevention,
arranging packages of care, respite and community alarms and advice on
healthy living.
Anyone can refer to the COPT/CART service i.e. self, family members,
someone who is looking after you, health and social care professionals and
voluntary organisations.
1.7.5 Hospital Discharge Teams - Social Work Services; IRIS and Vale of Leven
Hospital (Ward 14 & 15)
The Social Work Hospital Discharge teams support patients at the Royal
Alexandria, Vale of Leven, Western Infirmary, Gartnavel General, and
Southern General Hospitals.
As was said earlier many of our services are delivered by integrated care
teams e.g. Mental Health, Learning Disability and Addiction and some Older
Peoples Services. In addition to this through the assessment process people
can be referred for a variety of support services provided by the NHS. These
include
13
• Community Assessment and Rehabilitation
• Hospital Discharge
•
1.8.1 Community Physical Disability Team (including Your Enablement Service
YES)
The team has an open referral system in that anyone can refer providing the
person is between the ages of 16-64 and has complex needs.
People are often referred for physiotherapy by doctors or other health and
social care professionals and can also make self referral by telephone, drop in
or completion of a self referral form (available form your General Practice).
Domiciliary Service provides visits to people in their own home who are unable
to attend a clinic. People who need to be seen at home have a very wide
range of problems from acute musculoskeletal pain affecting mobility; acute
exacerbation of respiratory problems; follow up of post-acute care conditions,
long term neurological and musculoskeletal problems, people with palliative
care needs. Referral is through general practitioner or hospital team.
Speech and Language Therapists assess, diagnose and treat the full range of
Communication and/or Eating and Drinking Disorders in Children and adults
of all ages.
The service works in partnership with parents, carers teachers, nurses, allied
health professionals and in the location to best meet individual needs.
15
The Nutrition and Dietetic Service aims to prevent and offer effective dietary
treatment for nutrition related diseases. The service works with patients,
carers, staff ad the public and all ages across the population groups.
Referrals can be made by patients, relatives, health professionals and other
agencies.
Outpatients
Outpatients referred to the service are offered appointment in the following
settings ;
• Outpatients clinics at Clydebank Health Centre, Dumbarton Health Centre,
Alexandria Medical Centre, 75 Bank Street, and the Vale of Leven Hospital
Out patients department.
• Joint Consultant/multi-professional/team outpatient clinics e.g. diabetes,
renal paediatrics.
Home Visits
People referred for nutrition and dietetic advice from Primary Care can be
seen in the home environment or at patient's clinics as appropriate.
There are a range of Nutrition and Dietary education sessions provided by the
Service.
These include:-
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Diabetes Group Education
Coeliac Disease Annual Information Event
Eat Up Programme
The District Nursing Team provides a 24 hour, nursing service for the house-
bound
The West Dumbarton CHP District Nursing Teams are based in Health
Centres, at three localities, Clydebank, Dumbarton and Alexandria.
16
The District Nursing Sister leading the team is a Register Nurse (RN) further
educate to degree level as a Specialist Community Practitioners.
The nursing team comprise of Community Staff Nurses (RN); and Health Care
Assistants (HCA) who have undertaken SVQ Training.
Terminal Care
Palliative Care
Wound Care Management
Pain Management
Complex Medication Treatments
Chronic Disease Management
• Self referral
• GP
• Other Health Professionals
• Social Work
Direct payments is not a service as such however if you quality for community
care support and want to arrange your own care in relation to most of the
services noted above, we can offer you 'direct payments' to allow you to do
17
this. Direct payments are used to secure services to meet the needs identified
on a Single Shared Assessment. You can employ your own Personal
Assistants or buy services from agencies or local authorities. Any services set
up using Direct Payments or Personal Assistants employed are accountable
to you, not the local authority.
You can also choose to have a mixed package of support where the Council
will arrange some services for you whilst you arrange other services using
Direct Payments. People who receive Direct Payments must use the money
to arrange services. It is not additional income and will not affect welfare
benefits.
You must also be willing to accept and able to manage Direct Payments. You
do not need to be able to manage the Direct Payment on your own, you can
get as much help as you need and the Independent Living Support Service
will offer
advice,support and training.
The Independent Living Fund (ILF) is a trust which works in partnership with
the local authority to provide financial help to allow disabled people to live
independently in their own home. West Dunbartonshire Council's ILF
Development Worker offers information and assistance to service users,
carers and social workers regarding the Independent Living Fund.
These include:
18
• Women's Safety Service: Supports women within the Criminal Justice
system and also women whose partners offending patterns involves Domestic
Abuse and who are involved in programmes to address this.
19
2. WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR COMMUNITY CARE
ASSESSMENTS AND SERVICE PROVISION
Everyone is entitled to an assessment of need and there is no charge for this. There are
however 4 levels of priority set, which are aimed at ensuring that everyone who asks for
a service is dealt with fairly and in a timely fashion, depending on the urgency of leave
situation.
Eligibility for services is based on the assessment of your needs and is intended to
ensure that these with the greatest need and at most risk are first to receive services.
To qualify for services your circumstances should be similar to those described below.
These are categories of need which have been developed in line with the Scottish
Governments Eligibility Criteria. You do not need to meet all of the priorities in all the
categories to qualify for services.
Service Provision
If your level of need or risk is due to a sudden change of circumstances.,
services will be put in place to meet your needs immediately. These services
may change if your situation becomes stabilised.
SUBSTANTIAL NEED
Assessment
You will be assessed as having a high priority if your circumstances identify you
as being at substantial risk. For example
• You live alone and your essential, daily, personal, nutritional care and safety
needs are not being met.
• Where your essential daily personal care and nutritional needs are not being
met or they are being met by a carer whose own health is seriously at risk.
• Where you are in hospital and cannot be discharged until essential services
have been arranged
• You are a vulnerable person who has been, or is at risk of being exploited or
abused.
• You are experiencing severe mental health problems and may require
assistance from the Mental Health Service
• Where your condition indicates that you are a risk in yourself or to others
• You are leaving prison and have a mental health problem
• You are pregnant and are at risk due to mental health or addiction issues
If you are assessed as having a high priority, it is likely that more than one of
the following services may be provided.
(This is not a complete list but helps identify the services available to meet high
priority needs).
21
2.3 MODERATE NEED
Assessment
You will be assessed as having a moderate priority if your circumstances
identify you as being at a moderate level of risk in your daily life. For example:-
• You have some difficulties in carrying out personal care tasks but this does
not place you at initial risk
• Practical home based support would sustain your situation
• Your family or care network may require support and/or advice to maintain
your situation at home
• You need services to allow for rehabilitation from illness or injury assist
you to be more independent and to meet any developmental needs
• Your mental health or addiction problems are affecting your ability to cope
with day to day life to the extent that your physical health and personal
relationships may be suffering.
(This is not a complete list but helps identify the services available to meet
medium priority needs).
If for any reason we are unable to meet the typical response times, you and the
person who makes the referral will be informed of the reasons why we have been
unable to meet the timescales and when you can expect an assessment.
2.4 LOW
Low Priority
Assessment
You will be assessed as having a low priority if your circumstances identify no
significant risks in your daily life. For example;
22
• Your basic care needs are being met and there is no immediate risk to your
health, safety and independence.
• You are not at risk of social isolation as you appear to have sufficient support
in place
• You have a few health problems indicating low risks to your independence
• You have difficulty undertaking one or two aspects of your
work/learning/education/family and/or social networks indicating little risk to
your independence
• Your carer has difficulty undertaking one or two aspects of their
caring/domestic role
The type and amount of services you may receive will be based on your
assessed needs and on the availability of the services. After assessment we will
arrange for services to be provided as quickly as possible but if there is high
demand for the service we may not be able to provide it immediately (this may
apply even if you have been given a high priority).
West Dunbartonshire Department of Social Work and Health will discuss this with
you as soon as your assessment is finalised and your care plan is complete.
Where appropriate, you will be offered a choice of services available but we are
unable to guarantee that a particular service will always be available. If you are
not satisfied with the priority we give you, you can ask us to review our decision.
There is a charge for some Social Work services. We will discuss any services
you may need to pay for and details of any charges will be available from your
Social Worker/Care Manager. More information can be obtained from the West
Dunbartonshire Charging Policy for Social Work Services.
23
3.1 Social Work Services
As noted in section 1.4 of this document most services are accessed through the
Social Work Duty System located in geographically based area teams.
3.2 To get an assessment of your needs, you or your carer or representative should
contact your local Social Work office, your doctor, community nursing services or
the ward staff if you are in hospital. You can always get advice from other
independent or voluntary organisations if you are not sure.
However many of our services are of a specialised nature and may be delivered
jointly with health. Information about these services, who can access them and
how to go about it is also detailed in 1.6.15, 1.6.16, 1.6.17.
3.2.3 All of our Services have leaflets describing their services and what you can
expect from them. These can be found on the Social Work and Health section of
West Dunbartonshire Council’s website under “Services Provided”.
4.1 There is no charge for a assessment of your needs or NHS Community Care
Services but we may ask some people who then go on to receive Social Work
Services to make a contribution towards the care they receive.
• The practical support element of Home Care e.g. Domestic tasks or shopping
• Residential respite care
• Community Alarms.
• Day Care.
• Some Equipment and Adaptations
• Some Housing Support Services
Any contribution we ask you to make will depend on your financial position. We
will assess your financial situation when we are assessing your needs, and will
tell you if you need to pay towards the cost of your care. In order to maximize
your income. We will always offer you a benefits check which would be carried
out by our Welfare Rights Service. Further information on charges for services
are contained in West Dunbartonshire Council, Department of Social Work and
Health Charging Policy.
24
5. HELP AND INFORMATION
Others are more general organisations, such as Citizens Advice Bureaux, Help
the Aged, and Age Concern. Addresses are usually listed in the phone book, or
you can contact your local Social Work office. Some organisations offer advocacy
services where they will act on your behalf if you have a complaint about a
particular service, as well as providing information and advice.
In addition, Social Work can also commission other independent services, such
as interpreting services and some specialist services from outwith the West
Dunbartonshire Council area when necessary.
25
6. DEFINITIONS
6.1 Explaining some of the words we use in this booklet
Independent and
voluntary providers organisations other than the Council or health service
that provide social care support.
26
7. CONTACT POINTS
Application for an assessment for Social Work Services can be sent to the
following Offices. You can also discuss your needs with your GP or nurse who
can make a referral for you.
Bridge Street
(access to assessments for those people living in the Dumbarton Area)
6-14 Bridge St
Dumbarton
G82
Tel: 01389 737020
Fax: 01389 737022
Welfare Rights
6-14 Bridge Street
Dumbarton
Tel: 01389 737048
27
Occupational Therapy
7 Bruce Street
Clydebank
Tel: 0141 951 6161
Learning Disability
Beardmore Business Centre
Dalmuir
Clydebank
G81 4HA
Tel: 0141 562 2332
Fax: 0141 562 2323
Physiotherapy Services
Physiotherapy Self Referral Physiotherapy Self Referral
Clydebank Dumbarton
Tel: 0141 531 6367 Tel: 01389 817569
Alexandria
Tel: 01389 817531
28
District Nursing Services
Clydebank Health Centre Dumbarton Health Centre
Tel: 0141 531 6400 Tel: 01389 811847
Out of Hours: 0141 232 8100 Out of Hours: 01389 710278
PARTNERSHIP SERVICES.
You can also see information about us on West Dunbartonshire Council Website
www.wdcweb.info
29