n Care and Support for Adults

Welcome to Sefton’s Guide to Community Services for Adults

Providing help and support

This publication provides details of organisations who can provide help and support. We have also developed an on-line directory of local services, The Sefton Directory, which provides details of organisations and opportunities in the local community to help keep people active, healthy and well!

The directory can be accessed at www.sefton.gov.uk/ seftondirectory

Improving your health and wellbeing

Getting healthier is one of the easiest things you can do to make your life better: • You will be able to do more for yourself • You can meet more people and build your social network by making new friends • You can improve your wellbeing.

Living Well Sefton is a range of activities that support adults to manage their own wellbeing. The types of activity vary from information and advice to drop-in sessions or a regular weekly programme. The programmes encourage people to learn skills in coping and self-care. Research shows that reading improves mental wellbeing. Mood-boosting books are aimed at adults, older people and teenagers, particularly those who might have experienced mild to moderate mental-health conditions linked to stress, anxiety and depression.

If you are feeling stressed, depressed or just want a bit of a pick me-up, boost your mood with a good book.

The Active Lifestyles, Relax and Revive – mental wellbeing and Living Well Sefton Programmes are well established in Sefton and demonstrate an increase in overall wellbeing. A positive sense of wellbeing has encouraged participants to change some of their other habits such as reducing smoking and taking up new interest such as volunteering. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from these programmes then contact the team on 0300 323 0181.

Alternatively, for further information you can visit the Active Sefton website on: www.sefton.gov.uk/ activesefton or the Living Well Sefton website on: www.livingwellsefton.org.uk

Dignity and respect

Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

The Dignity Campaign is about winning the hearts and minds, changing the culture of care services and placing greater emphasis on the quality of care services in, for example, care homes, home care services and hospitals.

High quality services that respect people’s dignity should: • Have a zero tolerance of all forms of abuse • Support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family • Treat each person as an individual by offering a personalised service • Enable people to maintain the maximum possible level of independence, choice and control • Respect people’s right to privacy • Ensure people feel able to complain without fear of retribution • Engage with family members and carers as a care partners • Assist people to maintain confidence and a positive self-esteem • Act to alleviate people’s loneliness and isolation

If you live in Sefton and don’t think you, or someone you know, is being treated with dignity and respect you can contact one of the services below to discuss your concerns:

Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 218 2333 or Healthwatch on 0151 920 0726 Ext: 214

Complaints

Everyone has a right to complain if they think they are not being helped appropriately. If you have an adult social care complaint contact the Health and Social Care Complaints Officer on Tel: 0151 934 3166

Safeguarding adults

Sefton meets its statutory obligations, as determined within the Care Act, relating to the safeguarding of adults at risk. A copy of the multi agency framework can be found at Sefton Council website: www.sefton.gov.uk

No smoking policy

From 1st July 2007 it became illegal to smoke in virtually all public places. The Council needs to ensure steps are taken to minimise the risks associated with second hand smoke when staff visit private homes and residential accommodation. If you are receiving care, you will be asked not to smoke when staff are visiting you. For more information contact: 0345 140 0845.

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to equality and social inclusion. The Council has signed up to the Equality Standard for Local Government which requires us to mainstream gender, race, disability, age, sexuality, religion or faith, transgender and intersex into all council policies. This ensures equality of opportunities for all.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (SSCCG) and NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (SFCCG) are the bodies responsible for ensuring that Sefton residents have the right health services for their needs, which are also effective, efficient and of the highest possible quality and safety.

They are made up of doctors, nurses, practice staff and members of the public from Sefton, who are best placed to know the health needs and views of people living in the area.

Their membership brings together all doctors’ surgeries in Sefton, stretching from Churchtown in the north, Bootle in the south and Melling and Lydiate to the east, and which serve around 280,000 people.

SSCCG and SFCCG are working closely with a wide range of partners - including local people, Sefton Council, hospitals and community and voluntary organisations to make sure that health and health services across the borough continue to improve in the future.

You can find out more about their work, how you can get involved, or to sign up to their e-newsletter by visiting their websites: www.southseftonccg.org.uk and www.southportformbyccg.org.uk

Care and support is the term used to describe the help that some adults need to live as well as possible with any illness or disability they may have.

A needs assessment is a conversation between you (or the person you look after if you are a carer) and a trained person either from the council or another organisation that the council works with. You will be able to talk about your care and support needs and the goals you want to achieve.

We will use the assessment to plan your care and support needs, and to discuss how these could be met. This might mean that we will give you help or put you in touch with other organisations, such as voluntary, faith and community group, who may be able to give you the support you need, help you keep well and live independently.

The national eligibility threshold consists of three criteria, which must ALL be met for your needs to be eligible. The eligibility threshold is based on identifying: • whether your needs are due to a physical or mental impairment or illness • to what extent your needs affect your ability to achieve two or more specified outcomes • and whether and to what extent this impacts on your wellbeing.

If you do have needs caused by physical or mental impairment or illness, we must consider whether the effect of your needs is that you are unable to achieve two or more of the following specified outcomes: • managing and maintaining nutrition • maintaining personal hygiene • managing toilet needs • being appropriately clothed • being able to make use of the adult’s home safely • maintaining a habitable home environment • developing and maintaining family or other personal relationships • accessing and engaging in work, training, education or volunteering • making use of necessary facilities or services in the local community including public transport and recreational facilities or services • carrying out any caring responsibilities the adult has for a child

If you are unable to achieve two or more of these outcomes we must also look at whether these have a significant impact on your wellbeing to determine your eligibility.

What happens after the adult needs assessment?

Following your adult needs assessment we will inform you about our decision and give you reasons to explain what we have decided.

If you have eligible needs, we will contact you to discuss what help might be available. This will be based on the information you gave us during your assessment. As far as possible the council will agree your care and support plan with you.

If you do not have needs that are eligible, we will give you information and advice about what care and support is available to help you locally, this could be help from local charities or voluntary organisations.

Advocacy

You may wish to have someone with you during the assessment, this can be a relative, friend, neighbour or an advocate. An advocate is someone who can help people who need assistance in getting their views across. There are a number of voluntary agencies who provide advocacy services.

This booklet contains information about organisations who may be able to help and support you. Alternatively, you can contact Sefton Carers Centre Support Team for help and advice on 0151 288 6060 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 4.30pm) or visit The Sefton Directory at: www.seftondirectory.co.uk