Adult Social Care Support Step by step

Joe’s story Joe needs some extra support He may ask for support from friends, family members or his neighbour or GP - all are part of his ‘circle’ of trusted support

Information and advice By offering better access to information and advice, Joe can resolve some of his own issues with support from his family or friends, if that is what he wants.

Needing extra support Joe feels that he needs some extra support at home He calls the Adult Social Care Help Desk –

Joe’s initial assessment They arrange an initial assessment for Joe He can invite a relative or a friend to be involved in his assessment – we would welcome their input We can arrange an independent advocate to help him speak up and express his wishes

First step – re-ablement Joe is put in touch with Community STEPs Community STEPs: Short Term Enablement Programme -Free support -Up to 6-weeks -Tailored to Joe -Enables him to regain his independence, relearn skills or learn new ways of doing things

Community STEPs -After a short period of re-ablement support, Joe has regained some of his independence. -He can now prepare meals and get around the house a little more easily.

After re-ablement Joe still needs additional help and we work with him to complete his full assessment looking at his needs and goals

Completing Joe’s Assessment Questions during his assessment might include: -Have there been any recent changes or events in your life? -What is a good day or a bad day like for you? -Who are the people most important to you? -What activities do you most value? -What do you feel is going well for you at the moment, and what is not working so well? -How would you like your situation to improve?

Eligibility to social care support We work out Joe’s eligibility according to the national ‘Fair Access to Care Services’ (FACS) criteria. We can only meet needs that are assessed as critical or substantial.

Step by step – Joe’s story We will look at all means of meeting his needs, including services such as information and advice, or technology such as ‘telecare’ – for example sensors and alarms.

Allocating money towards Joe’s support Using Joe’s assessment, a computer system calculates Joe’s estimated (or ‘indicative’) personal budget This is a guide, rather than an allocation of money, based on what we estimate it will cost to meet his identified support needs. It will help him start his Support Plan.

Developing Joe’s Support Plan Joe can write his support plan himself, or get help from family, friend, another organisation or our staff. Whichever he chooses, it is important that he is as involved as much as possible.

Joe’s needs to consider: 1.What is important to him? 2.What does he want to change and achieve? 3.How will he be supported? 4.How will he use his personal budget? 5.How will his support be managed? 6.How will he stay in control? 7.What is he going to do to make this plan happen?

Joe’s Support Plan might include: Traditional social care – like having someone to help him get up, wash and dressed OR A personal assistant instead of a council carer A service offered in the community – cleaning, help with laundry or hot meals An independent care agency Transport to visit his family or friends A local club or educational activity Equipment to help him live independently

Joe’s circle of support

Contributing to the costs Financial and Benefits Assessment (FAB) The council may contribute to his personal budget according to Joe’s financial situation (income, savings & financial commitments) During the FAB we will help make sure that Joe is getting all the right benefits. We need to work out how contributions to Joe’s personal budget will be made up

Joe’s Support Plan can include money from other sources: Independent Living Fund – money to help disabled people over 15 and under 65 live in the community Disabled Facilities Grant – for changes to your house, like a stair lift or a wet room Access to Work – for the cost of workplace adjustments to help a disabled person take up or retain paid work Supporting People – spent on ‘housing related support’ to help people live independently in their own home.

1.Meet the needs identified during his assessment 2.Be legal 3.Keep him safe 4.Offer value for money To be agreed by the council, Joe’s Support Plan must:

How Joe’s manages his budget Personal Budget by Direct Payment Money is paid directly to Joe and he can use it to organise, buy and manage his agreed support. Combination Personal Budget A combination of the two options above. Managed Personal Budget The council organises, buys and manages Joe’s agreed support – a less flexible option

Keeping track If Joe receives a Direct Payment, (option 1) he is responsible for how the money is spent. The Direct Payment Guide available from the county council gives advice and support. Joe will need to keep a careful record on how he uses the money and always keep his receipts. 1

Putting his support into action Everyone’s support plan will be different. Everyone will want a different level of control. There is no formula – just what suits Joe. Joe may like to organise his support himself, get someone else to organise it all, or something in the middle.

Contingency planning Joe needs to include a contingency plan that can be put into action should something unexpected happen. This plan should tell us how his care needs will be met in any emergency, for example if his carer suddenly became ill e.g. The Carers Emergency Support Scheme.

Changing circumstances If Joe needs more or less support, or his financial circumstances change then he needs to let us know as soon as possible. We will need to review his support with him.

Joe’s future We will arrange to review Joe’s support plan at least once a year to make sure that it is still meeting his needs. Hopefully Joe will get back on his feet to live independently, without social care intervention in the long term.

Further information Visit Visit Contact the Adult Social Care Help Desk: