Options Northamptonshire - A guide to care and independent living Autumn 2019

OPTIONS A guide to care and independent living

Leaving hospital

Northamptonshire

What’s next?

NHS continuing healthcare Who’s eligible?

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SOCIAL CARE

tips

Healthcare services Choosing the right one

Autumn 2019

FREE

guide CONTRIBUTORS: Age UK Northamptonshire Alzheimer’s Society Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust Northamptonshire County Council The NHS

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Contents Northamptonshire Adult Social Services – Rapid Response is a new service in Northamptonshire providing short-term care to support older adults in a time of crisis............................................4-5 Public Health Northamptonshire – Supporting independence.........................................................5 Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust: Our discharge suite.......................................................6 Our hospital team – the Integrated Discharge Team.........................................................................7 The assessment process by the Integrated Discharge Team..............................................................8 Getting the most out of your assessment.........................................................................................10 Intermediate care services.................................................................................................................11 Avery Care Homes..............................................................................................................................12 Short Term Assessment and Re-ablement Service (START)..............................................................12 24 hour care homes............................................................................................................................12 Other sources of help for when you have left hospital..............................................................13-14 NHS continuing healthcare...........................................................................................................16-17 Personal budgets and direct payments........................................................................................18-19 NHS-funded nursing care...................................................................................................................19 Paying for your own care (self-funding)......................................................................................20-21 Help at home from a carer...........................................................................................................22-23 Alzheimer’s Society Services in Northampton..................................................................................24 The Care Quality Commission Social Care and GP top tips.........................................................26-27 Age UK Northamptonshire...........................................................................................................28-29 NHS Hospitals and services in Northamptonshire............................................................................30 Useful contacts...................................................................................................................................31

Welcome and

introduction

This guide is intended to help you, your carer and your relatives understand how your local health services can help you after discharge from hospital. Also information to help you to live independently or access support and care services in your area.

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Rapid Response is a new service in Northamptonshire providing short-term care to support older adults in a time of crisis.

The newly designed service is an exciting part of the NASS strategy assisting people to remain safe at home when they are at risk of being admitted to hospital, or assisting in them being admitted to hospital for the right care at the right time.

The Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership service is forging brand new ways of working with our partners the East Midlands Ambulance Service, with Rapid Response staff working alongside ambulance technicians in the ambulances responding specifically to people after a fall at home and needing support to regain their independence. It also provides support where district nurses or GP's have identified potential crisis situations. The service works in conjunction with health, who also provide a Rapid Response and physiotherapy team. The service also places staff in the Accident and Emergency departments alongside hospital staff to help identify patients that can be discharged and cared for by the Rapid Response staff at home which

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inevitably prevents having to be admitted for a longer stay than necessary in hospital.

Once the patient is home, the service continues to support the patient at home. This support can be in the form of helping someone with their personal care, giving advice and information about services available to them or the provision of a piece of equipment to enable a person’s independence.

The Rapid Response Reablement staff will work alongside EMAS, Community Nurses, hospital staff and families to help either support in avoiding hospital admission or planning supported discharges, promoting a patient safety and in turn developing positive working relationships with our NHS colleagues.

Supporting independence Could you be a Reablement Support Worker for the Rapid Response Team?

Each year, around one in three people over the age of 65 has a fall, resulting in significant injury. Falls are not an inevitable part of growing older, and there are lots of things you can do to help reduce the risk of falling.

The Supporting Independence Programme

We are currently recruiting for the new CRT/ Rapid Response service.

​• Have you noticed any recent changes in your health?

The newly defined role of the Reablement Support Worker requires experience in a similar role or care environment and must hold a full drivers licence.

The correct candidate will be instrumental to assessing the home environment for any potential risks and highly proactive in looking for opportunities to enable the vulnerable adult to live a more independent and safe life at home.

​• Do you have difficulties walking or need help moving about?

Training will be provided to ensure you have all the up to date available service information as well as all the latest updates in falls and other preventative technology that you will be able to prescribe.

Working hours are variable, but the core shift pattern is 0700 to 1500 / 1500 to 2300, including weekends and bank holidays on a 4 week rota with varying shift pattern.

A generous Annual Leave allocation, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme and an occupational sick pay package are offered as terms and conditions of employment.

A full driving licence and the ability to drive confidently countywide is essential.

If you think this role would suit you, don’t wait, apply now to become a Reablement Support Worker and kick start your career in adult social care. https://www.olympuscareservices.co.uk/ reablement-support-worker/

​• Are everyday tasks such as shopping becoming more difficult? ​• Do you need someone to help you on a regular basis? ​• When you need help, do you sometimes feel lonely or isolated?

The Supporting Independence Programme provides up to 12 weeks of one to one support for those of us who may have slowed a little, are feeling less confident getting around or who need someone to help on a regular basis.

This could be supporting you to increase your levels of physical activity, helping you to access medication reviews or providing emotional or nutritional support and advice. Support can be face to face or over the phone depending on your preference.

This assessment can be completed by anyone living in Northamptonshire, or completed by a medical professional on someone else’s behalf, to see if they would be eligible for independence support.

You can complete an Independence Assessment online on the SIP webpage at www3.northamptonshire.gov.uk/ councilservices/health/pages/supporting-independence. aspx or you can call us on 0300 126 1000 to speak to an advisor over the phone, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

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The majority of people are able to return home following a stay in hospital without any additional support. If you feel you or your family member will require support to return home, please speak with the ward team who will be able to discuss your options with you.

Where necessary, the ward team will work with our Integrated Discharge Team to support you in developing a plan so you can be discharged home, as quickly and as smoothly as possible.

This guide explains how our team will help you, the role of our multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and how we work together to help with your discharge from hospital.

Our discharge suite Northampton General Hospital has a discharge suite, to provide a comfortable area where patients who are ready to leave hospital can safely wait for their transport home. It is situated close to the Cheyne Walk entrance, near the eye department and opticians shop.

The discharge suite offers a safe, warm, comfortable area for patients to wait for collection or for medications to take home. The suite has three rooms with beds for patients who require this and 20 chairs in two lounge areas. There are also TVs, magazines, newspapers, hot and cold drinks, snacks, and a hot meal if required.

Patients can expect a warm welcome and a chance to talk about their experiences in hospital, fears of going home or just have a friendly chat with our team.

Qualified nurses, healthcare assistants and admin staff are all on hand to support you and keep you updated.

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We’re happy for relatives and patients to come and see our facilities at any time. You can contact us on 01604 544082.

We discharge around 80 patients each day from the hospital.

It is vital for us to ensure there are enough beds each day for patients who need emergency assessment or planned surgery.

One way we do this is to discharge patients from the ward before 10.00am when they are medically fit to leave.

Patients waiting for transport or collection by a family member or transfer to care homes, will normally be transferred from a ward to the discharge suite.

Problems or queries If you have queries or are experiencing difficulties relating to your discharge you can either contact your Integrated Discharge Team care manager, or speak to the nurse caring for you on the ward. They can also give further information and contact details that you may find helpful.

Our hospital team – the Integrated Discharge Team Our team based in the hospital is made up of health and social care workers which enables a holistic approach to safe, effective and timely patient discharge.

In this team there are therapy representatives, social workers, assessment and enablement workers, intermediate care nurses, complex discharge nurses and discharge coordinators. They help the ward team to ensure patients are discharged safely to the appropriate destination.

How am I referred to the Integrated Discharge Team?

Planning for discharge normally begins at the point, or even before, you are admitted to hospital.

The discharge process is coordinated by a member of the nursing team on the ward. Following an initial assessment by nursing and medical staff, the Integrated Discharge Team will meet with you to discuss your discharge plan if you have needs that require assessment.

You can also give your consent to your carer who can ask for you to be referred to the discharge team. If you have any queries when you are staying in hospital or if you would like any general advice, please ask your nurse to contact the team.

A patient has to lack capacity for the power of attorney for someone to be able act on behalf of the patient

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA): If you are reading this on behalf of a relative or friend who is a patient with us, and there is a ‘Lasting Power of Attorney’ registered with the Office of the Public Guardian in place for that patient, please ensure that ward staff receive a copy of the document, or are provided with evidence of the LPA for our patient notes.

It is important that we have a certified copy of any existing LPA for ‘Person’s Health & Welfare’.

Please note that an LPA relating to property and affairs does not give anyone power to make decisions on behalf of the patient in regard to their treatment. However in the event that the patient’s circumstances have changed and they need to be considered for a placement such as a care home or nursing home, if you hold their LPA for property and affairs please confirm this to the nursing team.

They will, if necessary, ensure that a member of the Integrated discharge team contact you to review the ongoing needs of the patient. Please also note that we cannot act upon any LPA unless we have certified evidence that it exists. We cannot act upon a verbal notification of its existence. Once we receive the copy or other evidence we will ensure that a care plan is put in place agreed with the person(s) holding the LPA. Please also remember that an LPA is not the same as an ‘advanced directive’ unless this has been included in the LPA.

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The assessment process by the Integrated Discharge Team A member of the discharge team can be contacted if you need support. Any assessments our team carry out are not a test. It is simply finding out what help you might need at home to reduce any risks to your safety or independence.

The assessment process will start with discussions with you, your family/carers and the ward staff. This process of information gathering and discussions about your situation will enable the Integrated Discharge Team to work alongside you to: ■

identify your needs

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ive you information about services that could g immediately support you to be discharged from hospital or support you in the longer term. Depending on how complex your needs are other specialist assessments may also be required. The referral process and time scales for assessments are outlined in the Delayed Discharge Act 2003. The length of time required to complete the process can vary depending on how complex your needs are.

The Integrated Discharge Team will do all they can to help people to live independently and safely. We work with the resources available to us, and therefore prioritise those people who are in greatest need of help. This guide tells you more about the assessments and eligibility criteria. It also tells you what will happen after you have an assessment. This may be relevant to you if you are an older person (65+), have a physical or sensory disability, have mental health problems, or have a learning disability. Please see the information in the following section about our assessment process.

Discharge from hospital Once all assessments are completed the team will discuss with you what help may be available, and decide with you how your care needs can best be met.

We operate a process called Discharge to Assess for patients who might need 8

support on arriving home from hospital. This involves arranging a support care package to ensure patient safety, with a full assessment being made in the home rather than in hospital. We also use Discharge to Assess, for patients who are medically fit to leave hospital, but require discharge to a community bed, other placement or require further discharge arrangements. Patients and relatives will be given notice of a discharge date as soon as it is provided to the ward.

Important Information before you leave – self checklist There are a number of important questions that you need to be clear on before you leave hospital.

If you cannot answer ‘yes’ to one of the questions below please ask a member of the clinical team on your ward to help you gain the answer.

1. Do you feel fully informed of who to contact if you feel unwell when you get home?

2. Are you aware of the reason you have been prescribed your medication?

3. Do you know of the potential side effects of your medication, and what to do in the event of one occurring?

4. Do you feel you have all the information you need before you leave hospital?

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Getting the most out of your assessment You might want to prepare for your assessment by jotting down anything you want to talk through with the person carrying out the assessment.

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are you able to do for yourself or with the support of your family/social network?

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kind of help are you having at the moment? Or did you have before coming into hospital?

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some days much easier than others? If so, why do you think this is?

We know that there are some things which can be difficult or stressful to talk about, but please don't be embarrassed. We will listen to your concerns and respect how you are feeling about them.

If English is not your first language or if you use sign language, we can arrange for an interpreter. Please let us know what you need.

More about the assessment The ward will ensure completion of a referral in preparation for your discharge assessment. This referral is completed by all members of the MDT involved in your care.

Once the ward has completed your referral, our team may come and visit you on the ward. We will try where possible to allow a friend or relative to be with you at the assessment but this may not always be possible. This assessment may also take place once you have left hospital.

The assessment is free and will involve discussions about: ■

hat are you able to do for yourself or with W the support of your family/social network?

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What type of help you feel is needed

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ow stressful and urgent you feel your H situation is.

We look at four main areas of life: 1. How much control you have over your own life, and how easy or difficult you find it to make decisions about the way you live 2. Your health and safety, including any risks to your mental health or wellbeing 3. Your daily routines, such as personal care and domestic chores, and how well you are able to manage them 10

4. How well you are able to involve yourself in family responsibilities, community life, and work or study.

We may want to get information from other people, such as family and if in hospital, the ward staff and/or doctor etc. We might share some of the information you give us with other people, but only when it is necessary to help to plan your care, on a need to know basis and with your consent.

On the assessment form we write down everything we discussed and agreed with you during the assessment, and also anything we might have disagreed about.

You will get a copy of the completed assessment form to keep. Following the assessment, we will give you information about support that may be available, and any charges involved.

Assessments and carers If you have a carer, relative or friend who provides you with unpaid help – we may want to talk to them about what help they are able and willing to give.

Carers may also be entitled to support which helps them in their caring role. If you have an identified carer, this would also be an appropriate time for them to receive a carers assessment from Adult Services. Please ask us for more information on this.

Intermediate care services This is a tier of services which offers both bed-based and community-based services, ie community beds, specialist care centres and the intermediate care team.

You may not be able to return home immediately because of practical difficulties or important decisions that need to be made about your future. Unfortunately the hospital is unable to accommodate you during this process, as we need to provide care for other patients in need of urgent treatment.

In some cases the daily multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting may recommend a period of rehabilitation in order to maximise your independence and enable you to live at home as independently as possible. In this case you will be referred to a community bed. An assessor from the community hospital will ensure you fit the criteria if it is for a medical rehabilitation bed. You will be transferred to the first available bed which may not necessarily be the one closest to home.

In the Discharge To Assess process all patients who are unable to go to their permanent place of discharge are transferred to a bed in the community, at centres that have been identified for this process. This will enable all patients who are ready to leave an acute hospital bed to be discharged sooner and therefore reduce the risk of a prolonged length of stay.

There are also intermediate beds for reablement in a social setting which are called specialist care centres.

These centres provide a period of reablement up to six weeks where medical needs are not required.

There are three centres in the county (as at October 2015) and you will be expected to go to the first available bed, wherever that may be. Other beds may be available in the community at a later date.

Intermediate Care Team (ICT) The ICT is a specialist community-based team of qualified nurses, therapists and doctors that provides comprehensive assessment, treatment and rehabilitation to enable you to return home and continue your recovery following your stay in hospital. (You can benefit from this service even if you live in a residential or nursing home.)

As your ‘hospital at home’, ICT provides high quality, intensive healthcare up to a maximum of two weeks following discharge from hospital, bridging the gap between the hospital team and your GP. In the event that you become unwell following discharge, ICT can access a range of other options to prevent you being re-admitted to hospital unnecessarily.

ICT staff will work with you to design a personalised short-term treatment plan for your rehabilitation at home.

This may include complex medical treatment for a range of health conditions as well as improving your strength, stamina and confidence with a range of activities that will help you live independently. If you also require social care support, ICT will arrange for the short term and reablement team (START) or the crisis response team (CRT) to provide this for you, alongside your ICT treatment plan.

ICT also has a team of nurses in the accident and emergency department who can assist you to return home quickly. Ask a member of the hospital team to contact ICT for you.

For more information, please ask the NGH ward team for the ICT leaflet, which provides further details on what we are able to provide for you. More information is also available by telephoning 0300 777 0002 (option 1) or online at: www.nhft.nhs.uk/intermediate-care-team

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Avery Care Homes The hospital also use beds contracted from Avery Care Homes for when the patients have completed their acute phase of treatment and until they have their discharge services in place.

These beds are for short stay only, they are not permanent beds for patients and are not convalescence or reablement beds.

Short Term Assessment and Re-ablement Service (START) You may be assessed as benefitting from START for your return home. The START service provides re-enablement for adults aged 18 years and over within their own homes.

START helps people who have experienced a sudden change in health to help you regain your confidence and your ability to do things for yourself and to achieve optimum levels of independence, thereby remaining safely at home.

The service could be for a few days or a little longer

(maximum six weeks) and in most cases is a free service while we work with you to decide what help you may need in the future.

START can help if you need specialist equipment, and they work with you to encourage and support you.

If the need for continuing help is identified during this period you will be assessed under Northamptonshire County Council’s Fair Access to Care Services criteria and a financial assessment would be undertaken as there may be a charge for services.

24 hour care homes If it is felt that you can no longer manage at home even with support, it may be necessary to consider a move to a care home. You and your family will be involved in this decision.

The assessment will identify your care needs and will be carried out in the community as part of the Discharge To Assess process. This will help you and your family to select a registered care home which will be able to meet your needs.

There are three categories of care homes.

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esidential care – provides accommodation, meals, R care and support throughout the day and night.

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Nursing care – offers the same as residential care with

the addition of 24 hour care by a qualified nurse.

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ementia care which provides specialist extra D care for people often due to dementia or other mental health diagnosis.

During the care planning process you should be supported to identify a suitable care home which is registered to meet your needs and has a vacancy.

As we have already said, this process will take place in a community bed and not in hospital. Your social worker/care manager can help you with this process. However if the home of your choice has no vacancy, you may have to accept a place in an alternative care home until a place in your home of choice is available.

Other sources of help for when you have left hospital Northamptonshire County Council Adult care services - 0300 126 1000

Northamptonshire Carers – 01933 677837

www.northamptonshire.gov.uk – search for help for adults and older people

Northamptonshire Carers aim to offer a comprehensive support service to the unpaid carers of Northamptonshire.

If you think that you may need help from the council you can ask for advice or a care assessment by contacting Adult Care.

We recognise their contribution to society and will endeavour to empower carers in improving their quality of life. Our organisation is carer-led and our developments will be a response to carers’ needs. If you are a carer and would like information and advice to help you in your caring role, you can refer yourself to us by completing the on-line enquiry form at:

To make things easier for you we have set up a first point of contact for all our services called Adult Care. You can speak to an officer who will listen to your enquiry, advise and assist you, and make sure you receive an assessment if required.

We can help you with: ■

Social care assessments

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Safeguarding vulnerable adults

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Disabled person parking permits (Blue Badge)

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Adaptations within your home

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Community alarm scheme - Call Care

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Occupational therapy assessments

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Any other aspect of your social care

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Assistive technology

Age UK Northamptonshire – 01604 611200 Age UK Northamptonshire is an independent charity whose objectives are to make the lives of older people in Northamptonshire as fulfilling and rewarding as possible.

Age UK Northamptonshire can help you with a variety of day opportunities that are fun and offer companionship when used as part of a care plan can help older people remain healthy and well. Access to community information about housing, benefits, products and services (home insurance, motor insurance etc) www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire

www.northamptonshire-carers.org

Community Occupational Therapy – 01604 366000 By helping you to learn new ways of completing everyday tasks, our friendly Community Occupational Therapy team could help you to do things by yourself again, such as accessing or leaving your house, safely moving around inside your home, climbing the stairs; and getting dressed and washed by yourself.

By talking to you, and finding out what you would like help with, our team will identify any adaptations you might need and pass the recommendations to yourself or your local council.

First Stop Care Advice First Stop Advice is an independent, free service offering advice and information for older people, their families and carers about housing and care options in later life.

It is led by the charity Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) working in partnership with other national and local organisations.

Their service spans housing, care, finance and rights and is delivered through their website, telephone advice line and network of local and specialist partner organisations. www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk

>>

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SERVE Serve was formed in 1981 as an information and resource agency providing support for older people in the Rushden area of Northamptonshire. The organisation now covers the wider area of East Northamptonshire and parts of Wellingborough.

Serve was initially operated solely by volunteers and is proud of its traditions; it remains fundamentally a voluntary organisation but many of the services are now delivered by trained, paid staff.

Serve's range of service provision covers: ■

Community Transport

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Daily Living Equipment & Mobility Products

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Day and Homecare

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Handy person services

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Hearing Aid Assistance

www.serve.org.uk

Physiotherapy Service – Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust at the Highfields Clinical Care Centre, Cliftonville – 03305 556789 Physiotherapists help and treat people of all ages with physical problems caused by illness, accident or ageing.

Physiotherapists identify and maximise movement potential through health promotion, preventive healthcare, treatment and rehabilitation. The core skills used by physiotherapists include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and the application of electrophysical modalities. www.nhft.nhs.uk – search for physiotherapy service.

District Nursing Services – contactable via your GP surgery District Nurses are highly qualified nurses that provide clinical nursing interventions to housebound individuals within the patient’s own home eg wound management, people with chronic long term conditions. The community nursing service aims to promote health and avoid acute hospital admissions.

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NHS continuing healthcare Some people with long-term complex health needs qualify for free social care arranged and funded solely by the NHS. This is known as NHS continuing healthcare.

Where can NHS continuing healthcare be provided?

NHS continuing healthcare can be provided in a variety of settings outside hospital, such as in your own home or in a care home.

Am I eligible for NHS continuing healthcare?

NHS continuing healthcare is for adults. Children and young people may receive a “continuing care package” if they have needs arising from disability, accident or illness that can’t be met by existing universal or specialist services alone.

To be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you must be assessed by a team of healthcare professionals (a multidisciplinary team). The team will look at all your care needs and relate them to: •​what​help​you​need •​how​complex​your​needs​are •​how​intense​your​needs​can​be •​​how​unpredictable​they​are,​including​any​risks​to​your​health​ if the right care isn’t provided at the right time Your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare depends on your assessed needs, and not on any particular diagnosis or condition. If your needs change then your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare may change.

You should be fully involved in the assessment process and kept informed, and have your views about your needs and support taken into account. Carers and family members should also be consulted where appropriate.

A decision about eligibility for a full assessment for NHS continuing healthcare should usually be made within 28 days of an initial assessment or request for a full assessment.

If you aren’t eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you can be referred to your local council who can discuss with you whether you may be eligible for support from them.

If you still have some health needs then the NHS may pay for part of the package of support. This is sometimes known as a “joint package” of care.

Information and advice The process involved in NHS continuing healthcare assessments can be complex. An organisation called Beacon gives free independent advice on NHS continuing healthcare.

Visit the Beacon website or call the free helpline on 0345 548 0300.

NHS continuing healthcare assessments Clinical commissioning groups, known as CCGs (the NHS organisations that commission local health services), must assess you for NHS continuing healthcare if it seems that you may need it.

For most people, there’s an initial checklist assessment, which is used to decide if you need a full assessment. However, if you need care urgently – for example, if you’re terminally ill – your assessment may be fast-tracked.

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Initial assessment for NHS continuing healthcare The initial checklist assessment can be completed by a nurse, doctor, other healthcare professional or social worker. You should be told that you’re being assessed, and be asked for your consent.

Depending on the outcome of the checklist, you’ll either be told that you don’t meet the criteria for a full assessment of NHS continuing healthcare and are therefore not eligible, or you’ll be referred for a full assessment of eligibility.

Being referred for a full assessment doesn’t necessarily mean

Full assessment for NHS continuing healthcare Full assessments for NHS continuing healthcare are undertaken by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) made up of a minimum of 2 professionals from different healthcare professions. The MDT should usually include both health and social care professionals who are already involved in your care.

You should be informed who is co-ordinating the NHS continuing healthcare assessment.

The team’s assessment will consider your needs under the following headings: •​breathing •​nutrition​(food​and​drink) •​continence •​skin​(including​wounds​and​ulcers) •​mobility •​communication •​psychological​and​emotional​needs •​cognition​(understanding) •​behaviour •​drug​therapies​and​medication •​altered​states​of​consciousness •​other​signifi​cant​care​needs These needs are given a weighting marked “priority”, “severe”, “high”, “moderate”, “low” or “no needs”.

If you have at least one priority need, or severe needs in at least 2 areas, you can usually expect to be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare.

You may also be eligible if you have a severe need in one area plus a number of other needs, or a number of high or moderate needs, depending on their nature, intensity, complexity or unpredictability.

In all cases, the overall need, and interactions between needs, will be taken into account, together with evidence from risk assessments, in deciding whether NHS continuing healthcare should be provided.

The assessment should take into account your views and the views of any carers you have. You should be given a copy of the decision documents, along with clear reasons for the decision.

You can download a blank copy of the NHS continuing healthcare decision support tool.

Editorial content supplied by: the NHS

you’ll be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. The purpose of the checklist is to enable anyone who might be eligible to have the opportunity for a full assessment.

The professional(s) completing the checklist should record in writing the reasons for their decision, and sign and date it. You should be given a copy of the completed checklist.

You can download a blank copy of the NHS continuing healthcare checklist from GOV.UK.

Fast-track assessment for NHS continuing healthcare If your health is deteriorating quickly and you’re nearing the end of your life, you should be considered for the NHS continuing healthcare fast-track pathway, so that an appropriate care and support package can be put in place as soon as possible – usually within 48 hours.

Care and support planning If you’re eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, the next stage is to arrange a care and support package that meets your assessed needs.

Depending on your situation, different options could be suitable, including support in your own home and the option of a personal health budget.

If it’s agreed that a care home is the best option for you, there could be more than one local care home that’s suitable.

Your CCG should work collaboratively with you and consider your views when agreeing your care and support package and the setting where it will be provided. However, they can also take other factors into account, such as the cost and value for money of different options.

NHS continuing healthcare reviews If you’re eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, your needs and support package will normally be reviewed within 3 months and thereafter at least annually. This review will consider whether your existing care and support package meets your assessed needs. If your needs have changed, the review will also consider whether you’re still eligible for NHS continuing healthcare.

Q.

I have a local authority support package that works well. I’m now eligible for NHS continuing healthcare – will my support package change?

If you’re concerned about changes to your care package because of a move to NHS continuing healthcare, your CCG should talk to you about ways that it can give you as much choice and control as possible. This could include the use of a personal health budget, with one option being a “direct payment for healthcare”.

Q.

Can I refuse an assessment for NHS continuing healthcare? If I refuse, will I be able to get services from my local authority?

An assessment for NHS continuing healthcare can’t be carried out without your consent, so it’s possible to refuse.

However, if you refuse, although you’ll still be entitled to an assessment by the local authority there’s no guarantee that you’ll be provided with services. There’s a legal limit on the types of services that a local authority can provide.

If you refuse to be assessed for NHS continuing healthcare, the CCG should explore your reasons for refusing, and try to address your concerns. If someone lacks the mental capacity to consent to or refuse an assessment, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act will apply and in most circumstances an assessment will be provided in the person’s best interest.

Q.

Refunds for delays in NHS continuing healthcare funding

My relative is in a care home and has become eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. The CCG says the fees charged by this care home are more than they would usually pay, and has proposed a move to a different care home. I think a move will have a negative effect on my relative. What can we do?

CCGs will normally make a decision about eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare within 28 days of getting a completed checklist or request for a full assessment, unless there are circumstances beyond its control.

If there’s evidence that a move is likely to have a detrimental effect on your relative’s health or wellbeing, discuss this with the CCG. It will take your concerns into account when considering the most appropriate arrangements.

If the CCG decides you’re eligible, but takes longer than 28 days to decide this and the delay is unjustifiable, they should refund any care costs from the 29th day until the date of their decision.

If you’re not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare If you’re not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, but you’re assessed as requiring nursing care in a care home (in other words, a care home that’s registered to provide nursing care) you’ll be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care.

This means that the NHS will pay a contribution towards the cost of your registered nursing care. NHS-funded nursing care is available irrespective of who is funding the rest of the care home fees.

If the CCG decides to arrange an alternative placement, they should provide a reasonable choice of homes.

Q.

Is it possible to pay top-up fees for NHS continuing healthcare?

No, it isn’t possible to top up NHS continuing healthcare packages, like you can with local authority care packages.

The only way that NHS continuing healthcare packages can be topped up privately is if you pay for additional private services on top of the services you’re assessed as needing from the NHS. These private services should be provided by different staff and preferably in a different setting.

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Personal budgets and direct payments You’ll be given a personal budget to spend if your local council decide you’re eligible for help with any social care and support you need. You can request an assessment from the council to establish your needs.

The money in your personal budget can be paid to you, to help you make more decisions about how it’s spent. This is known as a direct payment.

What is a personal budget?

Your personal budget is the amount of money your local council will pay towards any social care and support you need.

The amount of money in your personal budget is decided by your local council after a needs assessment to work out: •​what​kind​of​care​and​support​you​need •​how​much​it​will​cost •​how​much​you’re​able​to​afford​yourself Carers and personal budgets If you’re a carer, you may be entitled to receive a personal budget after having a carer’s assessment to see what might help make your life easier.

A carer’s assessment is free and anyone over 18 can ask for one.

Choosing how to receive your personal budget You can ask the council to either: •​manage​your​personal​budget​for​you •​pay​the​money​to​another​organisation​–​such​as​a​care​provider •​​pay​the​money​directly​to​you​or​someone​you​choose​–​this​is​ known as a direct payment You can also choose a combination of these options. For example, the council could arrange some of your care but send you the rest of the money. This is often called a mixed package or “mix and match”.

If the council manages your money The money in your personal budget will be spent for you by the council. They will arrange all your care and support based on your agreed care plan.

They still need to check you’re happy with the care they’re arranging for you.

If your money is paid to another organisation The organisation you choose, such as your care provider, will speak to the council and arrange the payments.

Sometimes other organisations charge you extra money to arrange payments from the council.

The benefits of direct payments Direct payments give you more flexibility over how your care and support is arranged and provided.

For example, you could choose to hire care workers or personal assistants who: •​are​always​the​same​people​and​available​when​you​need​them •​speak​the​same​language​as​you •​have​experience​working​with​your​care​needs •​are​a​specifi​c​person​that​has​been​recommended​to​you •​can​help​you​get​to​shops​or​social​events There are many ways you could choose to use the money. It’s your choice as long as you’re spending your personal budget on things that meet your agreed care plan.

Most councils will ask for evidence of how you’ve spent your 18

money every 3 months.

When to consider other options You may decide direct payments are not helpful if: •​​you’re​worried​about​managing​money​or​the​people you employ •​you​spend​a​lot​of​time​in​hospital •​you​would​rather​the​council​arranged​your​care If you’re not confident about keeping records or managing the people who care for you, your local council should be able to provide support.

You could also consider having someone else manage your direct payments, for example a friend or family member. You’ll need to set up a trust for payments that are managed by someone else.

The Money Advice Service has information about setting up a trust.

How to apply for direct payments You should be offered direct payments as an option after your needs assessment.

You can also ask your local council’s social services department about direct payments.

How direct payments work If you choose direct payments, the council will send you the money in your personal budget by either: •​​paying​it​directly​into​a​bank,​Post​Offi​ce,​building​society​or​ National Savings and Investments account •​sending​you​a​pre-paid​card You can then choose how you spend the money on your own care and support, as long as it matches the care plan you’ve agreed with the council.

Signing a direct payment agreement The council might ask you to sign a document called a direct payment agreement. This says: •​​how​the​council​want​you​to​record​your​spending​–​for​ example, keeping receipts •​​your​responsibilities​as​an​employer​-​if​you’re​paying​for​a​ care worker If you spend direct payments on something that isn’t agreed in your care plan, the council could take the money back or end the direct payments.

If you’re struggling to manage your money Ask your local council for advice or call the Money Advice Service on 0800 138 7777.

If you want someone else to receive the direct payment You could speak to the council and agree for the money to be sent to someone who will spend it for you. For example: •​a​carer •​a​friend​or​family​member •​someone​else​who​speaks​up​for​you​(an​advocate) You may need to write down how they will spend the money and which decisions they can make for you. This is known as a decision-making agreement.

Employing your own carer or personal assistant If you decide to hire a carer or personal assistant yourself, it’s important to know the responsibilities you’ll have as an employer.

Although support from the council should be available, you may need to arrange:

Editorial content supplied by: the NHS

•​background​checks​or​references •​tax •​National​Insurance •​pension​contributions Read more about employing someone to work in your home on GOV.UK. Disability Rights UK also have more information on getting a personal assistant.

If you don’t want to become an employer You could choose to hire care workers through an agency instead. This removes the legal obligations of being an employer, but could: •​cost​you​more​money •​​remove​some​of​the​benefi​ts​-​such​as​having​the​same​person​ provide your care

How to research a care agency When choosing an agency, decide what sort of service you’re looking for and the tasks you need help with. It’s a good idea to contact more than one agency, as they may offer different types of services.

You can find out about local home care agencies by: •​speaking​to​your​local​council’s​social​services​department •​contacting​the​UK​Homecare​Association There are also organisations that inspect care agencies to see how well they are doing. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all health and adult social care in England.

You might see a CQC inspection rating when you search online for care home agencies. Their 4 ratings are: •​Outstanding •​Good •​Requires​improvement •​Inadequate You could also search for care home agencies on the CQC website to see their full reports.

Telephone helplines If you would like support to help you manage your personal budget or direct payments, speak to your council or call: •​​the​Disability​Rights​UK​personal​budgets​helpline​on 0330 995 0404 •​the​Age​UK​advice​line​on​0800​055​6112​(for​older​people)

How to complain about personal budgets It’s worth speaking to your council’s social services before making an official complaint to see if they can help.

You still have the right to complain if you: •​​have​been​told​you’re​not​eligible​to​receive​money​towards​ your care and support •​don’t​agree​with​the​amount​of​money​in​your​personal​budget You could either: •​speak​to​your​social​worker​about​being​re-assessed •​​call​your​local​council​social​services​and​request​a complaints form Your council should also have a formal complaints procedure on its website.

If you’re not happy with the council’s response Contact your Local Government Ombudsman. They investigate all

adult social care complaints.

More information about personal budgets and direct payments •​​Age​UK​have​a​detailed​fact​sheet​on​personal​budgets​and​ direct payments in social care •​The​Money​Advice​Service​has​a​guide​to​direct​payments

NHS-funded nursing care NHS-funded nursing care is when the NHS pays for the nursing care component of nursing home fees. The NHS pays a flat rate directly to the care home towards the cost of this nursing care.

Who is eligible for NHS-funded nursing care?

You may be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care if: •​​you’re​not​eligible​for​NHS​continuing​healthcare​but​have​ been assessed as needing care from a registered nurse •​you​live​in​a​nursing​home

How will my needs be assessed?

You should be assessed for NHS continuing healthcare before a decision is made about whether you are eligible for NHS-funded nursing care.

Most people don’t need a separate assessment for NHS-funded nursing care. However, if you do need an assessment or you haven’t already had one, your clinical commissioning group (CCG) can arrange an assessment for you.

Outcome of the assessment If you’re eligible for NHS-funded nursing care, the NHS will arrange and fund nursing care provided by registered nurses employed by the care home. Services provided by a registered nurse can include planning, supervising and monitoring nursing and healthcare tasks, as well as direct nursing care.

If you’re not eligible for NHS-funded nursing care and you don’t agree with the decision about your eligibility, ask your CCG to review the decision.

The cost of NHS-funded nursing care NHS-funded nursing care is paid at the same rate across England. In April 2018, the rate was set at £158.16 a week (standard rate).

Before October 1 2007, there were 3 different levels or bands of payment for NHS-funded nursing care – low, medium and high.

If you moved into a care home before October 1 2007, and you were on the low or medium bands, you would have been transferred to the standard rate from that date.

If you moved into a care home before October 1 2007, and you were on the high band, NHS-funded nursing care is paid at a higher rate. In April 2018, the higher rate was set at £217.59 a week. You’re entitled to continue on this rate unless: •​you​no​longer​have​nursing​needs •​you​no​longer​live​in​a​care​home​that​provides​nursing •​​your​nursing​needs​have​reduced​and​you’re​no​longer​eligible​ for the high band, when you would change to the standard rate of £158.16 a week, or •​you​become​entitled​to​NHS​continuing​healthcare​instead.

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Paying for your own care (self-funding) You will not be entitled to help with the cost of care from your local council if: •​you​have​savings​worth​more​than​£23,250 •​​you​own​your​own​property​(this​only​applies​if​you’re​moving​ into a care home)

You may be eligible for benefits, like Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which aren’t means-tested.

You can use them to pay towards the cost of your care.

You can ask your council for a financial assessment (means test) to check if you qualify for any help with costs.

Can I avoid selling my home?

You can choose to pay for care yourself if you don’t want a financial assessment.

You won’t have to sell your home to pay for help in your own home.

How to arrange your care as a self-funder

But you may have to sell your home to pay for a care home, unless your partner carries on living in it.

You can: •​arrange​and​pay​for​care​yourself​without​involving​the​council •​​ask​the​council​to​arrange​and​pay​for​your​care​(the​council​ will then bill you, but not all councils offer this service and they may charge a fee)

Sometimes selling your home to pay care home fees is the best option.

But there may be other ways to pay care home fees if you don’t want to sell your home straight away.

Find out what care you need

Releasing money from your home (equity release)

Even if you choose to pay for your care, your council can do an assessment to check what care you might need. This is called a needs assessment.

Equity release lets you take money that’s tied up in your home without selling it. It’s available if you’re over 55.

For example, it’ll tell you whether you need home help from a paid carer for 2 hours a day or 2 hours a week and precisely what they should help you with.

But you have to pay interest on the money you take out, which can be expensive.

The needs assessment is free and anyone can ask for one.

How much will care cost?

Social care can be expensive. Knowing how much you’ll have to pay will help you budget.

Paying for carers at home A typical hourly rate for a carer to come to your home is around £20, but this will vary depending on where you live.

Having a carer who lives with you costs from around £650 a week. But it can cost as much as £1,600 a week if you need a lot of care.

Paying for a care home There are 2 types of care home: •​​residential​homes​have​staff​that​help​with​everyday​tasks​ such as getting dressed and supply all your meals •​nursing​homes​also​offer​24-hour​nursing​care A room in a care home costs: •​£600​a​week​in​a​residential​home •​£840​a​week​in​a​nursing​home The price will vary according to where you live and the type of care you need.

For example, serious health problems like dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can increase the cost.

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Benefits can help with care costs

The Money Advice Service has more information on equity release.

Editorial content supplied by: the NHS

Renting out your home

Telephone help

You can rent out your home and use the income to help pay your care home fees.

Get advice on paying for care from:

A deferred payment scheme

•​Independent​Age​on​freephone​0800​319​6789

A deferred payment scheme can be useful if you have savings less than £23,250 and all your money is tied up in your property.

•​the​Money​Advice​Service​on​freephone​0800​138​7777

The council pays for your care home and you repay it later when you choose to sell your home, or after your death.

If your savings fall below £23,250, your council might be able to help with the cost of care.

Ask your council if you’re eligible for a deferred payment scheme.

Contact your local council about 3 months before you think your savings will drop to below £23,250 and ask them to reassess your finances.

You can get more information from: •​​the​Money​Advice​Service:​deferred​payment​schemes

•​Age​UK​on​freephone​0800​169​6565

If your savings run out

Councils provide funding from the date you contact them.

You won’t be reimbursed if your savings are less than £23,250 before you contact them.

•​Independent​Age:​guide​to​care​home​fees​and​your​property

Get expert financial help You can get unbiased expert advice from a specialist care fees adviser.

They’ll help you compare all your options before you decide what’s right for you.

Find a specialist care fees adviser in your area with: •​PayingForCare,​a​free​information​service​for​older​people •​the​Society​of​Later​Life​Advisers​(SOLLA)​on​0333​2020​454

What you can get for free You might be able to get some free help regardless of your income or if you’re paying for your care.

This can include: •​​small​bits​of​equipment​or​home​adaptations​that​each​ cost less than £1,000 •​​NHS​care,​such​as​NHS​continuing​healthcare,​NHSfunded nursing care and care after you have been discharged from hospital.

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Help at home from a carer Having a carer come to visit you in your home can make a huge difference to your life, especially if you have difficulty walking or getting around. It can help you stay living independently in your own home.

This type of care is known as homecare or domiciliary care or sometimes home help.

Help at home from a paid carer costs around £20 an hour, but it varies according to where you live. Sometimes, the council will contribute to the cost.

Homecare is very flexible. You might need a carer for only an hour a week or for several hours a day. You might need a livein carer.

It can be temporary – for example for a few weeks while you recover from an illness. Or it can be long term.

You might also consider home adaptations or household gadgets or equipment to make life easier.

When should I consider help at home from a paid carer?

You might want to consider care at home if: •​​you’re​fi​nding​it​diffi​cult​to​cope​with​daily​routines,​such​as​ washing, dressing and getting out and about •​you​don’t​want​to​move​into​a​care​home •​​you​can​still​get​about​your​home​and​it’s​safe​for​you​to​live​ in – or it can be adapted to make it safe

How can homecare help me?

A carer can visit you at home to help you with all kinds of things including: •​getting​out​of​bed​in​the​morning •​washing​and​dressing •​brushing​your​hair •​using​the​toilet •​preparing​meals​and​drinks •​remembering​to​take​your​medicines •​doing​your​shopping •​collecting​prescriptions​or​your​pension •​getting​out,​for​example​to​a​lunch​club •​getting​settled​in​the​evening​and​ready​for​bed

Home help This is slightly different to homecare and means day-to-day domestic tasks that you may need a helping hand with such as: •​cleaning​(including​putting​on​clean​bed​sheets) •​doing​the​washing​up •​doing​the​laundry •​gardening You might want some home help instead of or as well as homecare.

Most councils don’t provide home help. Contact a charity such as the Royal Voluntary Service, the British Red Cross or your local Age UK to see whether they can help (they may not be free).

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How to get help at home from a paid carer Your local council can arrange homecare for you if you’re eligible for it.

You can arrange your own homecare.

How your council can help If you want the council to help with homecare for you, start by asking them for a needs assessment.

Your needs assessment will help the council to decide whether you’re eligible for care.

If you’re eligible, the council may recommend help at home from a paid carer. They will arrange the homecare for you.

If you’re not eligible for care, the council must still give you free advice about where you can get help in your community.

Even if you’re intending to make arrangements yourself with an agency or private carer, it’s still a good idea to have a needs assessment as it will help you to explain to the agency or carer what kind of help you need.

Paying for homecare Depending on your circumstances, your local council may contribute to the cost of homecare or you may have to pay for it yourself.

If your needs assessment recommends home care, you may get help with the cost from the council.

What you will contribute depends on your income and savings.

The council will work this out in a financial assessment.

If the council is paying for some or all of your homecare, they must give you a care and support plan.

This sets out what your needs are, how they will be met and your personal budget (the amount the council thinks your care should cost).

You can choose to receive your personal budget as a direct payment each month. This gives you the control to employ someone you know to care for you at home rather than using a homecare agency, though you’ll then have responsibilities as an employer.

If you aren’t eligible for the council to contribute to your homecare costs, you will have to pay for it yourself.

Benefits that can help you with homecare Check if you’re eligible for benefits. Some, such as Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payments, aren’t means tested and they can help you meet the costs of homecare.

Find out how to apply for: •​benefi​ts​for​under-65s •​benefi​ts​for​over-65s

How to choose a paid carer If you’re arranging your own homecare, there are 2 main ways to do this: •​use​a​homecare​agency •​employ​your​own​carer

The NHS have not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does the NHS endorse any of the products or services. All information and figures correct at the time of going to print.

Editorial content supplied by: the NHS

Homecare agencies

What to expect from agency carers

Homecare agencies employ trained carers and arrange for them to visit you in your home. You may not always have the same carer visiting your home, though the agency will try to match you with someone suitable.

Homecare agency carers should treat you in a respectful and dignified way. For example, they should always:

How much do they cost?

It costs around £20 an hour for a carer to come to your home, but this will vary depending on where you live.

If you’re paying for yourself, the agency should be able to give you a clear price list. They’ll send you a monthly bill for your homecare.

How to find a local agency There are 4 main ways to do this: •​​search​the​NHS​website​for​local​homecare​services​and​ agencies and a list of national homecare organisations and then contact the ones that interest you •​​ask​your​council’s​social​services​department​for​information​ on the homecare agencies in your area. They may have a directory of homecare agencies on their website •​​contact​the​Care​Quality​Commission​(CQC).​All​homecare​ agencies must register with the CQC. It can give you the latest inspection report on an agency •​​ask​the​United​Kingdom​Homecare​Association​(UKHCA)​for​a​ list of approved homecare agencies in your area

•​​knock​and​ring​the​front​door​bell​and​announce​their​arrival​ before coming into your home •​bring​an​identity​card •​know​where​your​keys​are​kept​if​they’re​not​in​your​home •​keep​any​entry​codes​to​your​house​confi​dential •​know​what​to​do​if​they​can’t​get​into​your​home •​know​what​to​do​if​you’ve​had​an​accident Employing your own carer Instead of using an agency, you can hire your own carer, sometimes called a private carer or personal assistant.

If you employ a carer, you have the legal responsibility of an employer. This includes arranging cover for their illness and holidays.

Which? Later Life Care has advice on employing a private carer.

How to complain about homecare You have the right to complain if you’re not happy about the help at home you’re receiving. This might be because carers: •​arrive​late​and​leave​early •​don’t​give​your​medicines​to​you​properly •​leave​your​home​untidy​after​visits •​give​you​poor​care​like​dressing​you​wrongly First complain to your local council or, if you’re paying for yourself, the agency. The council or agency should have a formal complaints procedure on their website. Try to be specific about what happened and include staff names and dates if you can.

Questions to ask the agency Here are some questions you may want to ask an agency before employing them: •​what​charges,​if​any,​will​I​be​expected​to​pay?

•​what​services​are​charged​as​extras?

•​​have​your​carers​looked​after​someone​with​similar​ needs to mine?

•​how​will​you​choose​the​most​suitable​carer​for​me?

•​​will​the​carer​agree​to​visit​in​a​specifi​c​time​slot?​And​ will they tell me if they’re delayed or running late?

•​what​sort​of​training​do​your​carers​get?

•​​if​I’m​paying​for​my​own​care,​do​you​have​a​standard​ contract I can read before signing my own?

•​​if​the​council​is​contributing​to​my​care​can​I​see​a​copy​ of the contract they’ve signed with the agency?

•​​how​can​I​contact​your​agency​during​the​day,​in​an​ emergency or outside office hours?

If you’re not happy with the way the council or agency handles your complaint, ask the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman to investigate further. An ombudsman is an independent person who’s been appointed to look into complaints about organisations.

You can also tell the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which checks social care services in England.

Your local council must provide you with an independent advocate (someone to speak up for you) to help you make a complaint if you need one.

Further help •​the​charity,​Independent​Age,​has​good​advice​on​homecare •​​the​CQC​has​a​good​booklet​on​what​to​expect​from​a​good​ homecare agency •​read​how​to​organise​homecare​from​Which?​Later​Life​Care •​Age​UK​has​information​on​all​aspects​of​homecare •​​if​you​need​help​with​one-off​jobs​like​changing​a​light​bulb​or​ moving furniture, the charity GoodGym has volunteers who will come round to help.

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Services in Northampton ■F rom diagnosis through to future planning, we have many services which will be invaluable to you ■ Alzheimer’s Society has a host of factsheets, a helpline and an online forum where you can talk to people in a similar situation to yourself ■ These resources can also be useful for carers ■ Support for Carers ■ Peer Support Group ■ Activity Group For information about our services or if you are interested in getting involved by volunteering or fundraising, please contact our local office:

■ Singing for the Brain ■S ide by Side Befriending

Telephone: 01832 736670 Email: northamptonshire@ alzheimers.org.uk

✆ National Dementia Helpline

0300 222 11 22 Our helpline advisors are here for you.

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Website: www.alzheimers.org. uk/northamptonshire

Talking Point

Online community

Visit our online community to get advice, share experiences, connect.

More Than Mobility 25 Weston Favell Shopping Centre, Northampton NN3 8JZ

Deafconnect’s Hard of Hearing Service offers support and advice to over 100,000 hard of hearing and deafened adults of all ages, with or without aids, across Northamptonshire, either at the community centre or in their own home. It is being funded for 5 years by the Big Lottery Fund.

1 in 6 people in the UK are hard of hearing or deafened. We are supporting the NHS who recognise that isolation and loneliness has a detrimental effect on mental health and wellbeing. maintain quality of life.

We aim to: • Provide information and advice to adults of any age who have hearing loss, with or without aids, to promote independence, health and wellbeing.

•P rovide coping tactics and strategies for everyday life to reduce isolation and loneliness and gain confidence.

• Provide information and advice on audio assistive equipment and lip reading classes to

•V isit care homes to help support the use and maintenance of hearing aids and promote deaf awareness.

•P romote deaf awareness to family and friends to maintain and improve communication, support them to learn how to keep in contact via Next Generation Texting and how to use equipment etc.

• S et up self help social support groups across the county.

Volunteers will be crucial to help run the service. If you would like to volunteer or book an appointment please contact us at: The Hard of Hearing Service, Deafconnect, Spencer Dallington Community Centre, Tintern Avenue, Northampton, NN5 7BZ.

Telephone: 01604 589011 Text: 07817 006817 Email: hardofhearingservice@deafconnect.org.uk Website: www.deafconnect.org.uk Deafconnect1874

@_deafconnect_

Company limited by guarantee No 6423466 Registered Charity No 1124196

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The Care Quality Commission is here to make sure health and adult social care services including hospitals, home and residential care as well as GPs in England provide people with safe, effective, high-quality care.

We publish independent inspection reports and ratings about services – information you can use when you’re choosing care for yourself, or a loved one.

You can use our website to search for services you might be interested in by geographical area, or by specialism. For example, a care home that might offer specialist care for someone who has dementia.

We also welcome your feedback on the care you have received – good or bad. We use this information to help inform our inspections and can alert authorities including local social services, if there are safeguarding concerns about care being provided.

You can visit our website at www.cqc.org.uk to find our inspection reports, or share an experience of care.

You can also call us to share an experience of care on 03000 61 61 61.

Here are some tips to help you choose your care.

Social care Top tips 1

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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) registers all care homes and home care agencies. You can find out which ones support specific groups of people, such as people with a learning disability or those living with dementia.

CQC’s Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care, Andrea Sutcliffe always uses ‘The Mum Test’: is a care home safe, caring, effective, responsive to people’s needs and well-led? In other words, is it good enough for my Mum (or anyone else I love and care for)?

Look for care homes and home care agencies where the staff involve people who use services and their families and carers, and treat individuals with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

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Whether you are being cared for in your own home or in a residential setting, the staff looking after you need to be skilled, kind and supportive.

They should also be capable and confident in dealing with your particular needs. You should always feel that their support is helping you to live the life you want to.

A care home will be a home for you or your loved one. Residents should be treated as individuals with their likes and dislikes taken into account.

Think about whether a home is close enough to family, friends, and community facilities.

Look at how well-led and managed a home is. What does it have in place to ensure that it delivers high quality care? Does it promote meaningful activity and connect the home with the community?

If you or a loved one needs help with day-today care, you can contact your local council’s social services department. They will ‘make an assessment of your needs’ and depending on circumstances, may be able to help you access financial help. For more advice visit Age UK’s website www.ageuk.org.uk/home-and-care.

If you would like to organise your care yourself, you can find a care worker or personal assistant through an agency. Your local social services department should be able to provide details of approved agencies.

CQC’s ratings will identify services as:

Outstanding Good ● Requires improvement ● Inadequate ● This will help you make informed choices around your care.

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Safeguarding adults who receive social care is everybody’s business. If you are concerned about the safety of a loved one receiving care, contact the service provider in the first instance. You can also contact social services at your local council. If you feel a crime has been committed, contact the police.

You can share your safeguarding concerns with us on our website or contact our National Customer Services on 03000 616161.

The Care Quality Commission has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does the Care Quality Commission endorse any of the products or services.

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GP Top tips

1

If you are new to an area you can find details of local GP services such as doctors’

7

Outstanding Good ● Requires improvement ● Inadequate ●

in centres in our online directory of care services www.cqc.org.uk/content/doctorsgps

You can search any of these services by the name of the service, a place name or your postcode at www.cqc.org.uk

3

8

After an inspection, CQC publishes its findings in a report on its website. You can use these reports to check and compare services in your area.

4

There are already over 1,000 reports about GP

CQC will also look at how specific population groups are treated and give a rating. For instance how well they serve: Mothers, children and young people, vulnerable older people (over 75s) and people with longterm conditions.

People will be able to choose a GP service that rates highly on the areas that matter to them.

practices published on the CQC website.

9 5

choices about where they get treatment. This will be on a four-point scale:

practices, out-of-hours services and walk-

2

CQC rates all GPs to help people make

Last year, CQC launched its new-style inspection reports for GPs – looking at the five key areas SAFE, EFFECTIVE, CARING, RESPONSIVE and WELL-LED – you can use the

We welcome your feedback (good and bad) on the services you, or a loved one, receives from your GP. You can share information with us online at http://www.cqc.org.uk/share-your-experience-finder or call us on 03000 61 61 61.

reports to compare local GPs and choose services.

6

You can also use these new style inspection reports

Telephone: 03000 616161 Web: www.cqc.org.uk

to find out more about local services and

/CareQualityCommission

choose the one that is best for your needs.

@CareQualityComm

The Care Quality Commission has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does the Care Quality Commission endorse any of the products or services.

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Age UK Northamptonshire About Us Age UK Northamptonshire, is a local, independent, voluntary organisation, serving the needs of older people in our county and part of a national family which serves the needs of older people everywhere.

We recognise that you want a choice in how you are supported to continue to remain independent in your own home. The following services are designed to offer you support when and where needed to help you remain independent.

Our Services Age UK Northamptonshire offers services which are available to older people or their carers throughout the county.

Hospital Discharge and Community Team The team exists to provide short-term support to older people living with long-term health conditions.

We will also offer support following a stay in hospital, focussing our efforts on helping those who do not have other networks of support.

Our aim is to work with people to reduce the likelihood of

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hospital re-admission and to enable individuals to regain, in part or in full, independence as far as possible.

The team provides a countywide service for anyone who is registered with a GP within the county.

Home Care Age UK Northamptonshire provides a Home Care service for older people in Northamptonshire, offering help with domestic tasks.

General housework including: internal cleaning of windows, laundry, shopping, changing beds and ironing.

The scheme employs domestic care workers who are security checked and supervised by Age UK Northamptonshire.

Money Management Support Age UK Northamptonshire offers a Money Management support service to help older people who are struggling with money matters.

■ Cash collections ■ Set up of Direct Debits ■ Signposting to other agencies ■H elp to regain independence with money matters

Carers Service Our Carers Service supports people who care for other people who may be relatives, neighbours or friends. The service benefits carers by offering support and advice.

Carers who register with the service can benefit in a number of ways: P rovide a carer to sit with your loved one to enable you to take a break ■ The chance to talk to someone who understands and who will really listen to you, offering support in your caring role ■ Information on matters which may concern you as a carer, for example, benefits and allowances, aids and adaptations ■ Information and advice on what other services and support you could access locally and nationally, including the chance to benefit from the experiences of others and we can signpost you to carers groups across the county.

■

Extra Help at the End of Life Age UK Northamptonshire provides care to people in the last weeks of their life, which enables them to remain at home with their loved ones.

This service is only available by referral from your GP surgery or hospital staff.

Handyperson and Gardening Service These schemes helps older people to remain independent by assisting with a range of minor household repairs and gardening.

We can carry out jobs including: Fitting smoke detectors and hand rails, replacing light bulbs, fuses and plugs, small carpentry work, dealing with trip hazards such as loose carpets, moving heavy furniture, levelling paving slabs and any gardening needs.

Although it is not an emergency service, if the job is urgent we will do all we can to visit as soon as possible.

Wellbeing Centres As time goes on, the interests of new generations of older people change.

Our Wellbeing Centres offer a range of activities to people who want to maintain a good quality of life, build new friendships and learn new skills.

If you need to get out of the house for the day or just for a few hours, a Wellbeing Centres is available for a cup of tea or a meal, the company of friends and much more.

Lifetime Activities Our Lifetime Activities can enable people to maintain a good quality of life, build new friendships and learn new skills. Activities and courses are designed to help people remain fit and active for longer.

Volunteering and Fundraising For more information about becoming a volunteer or fundraiser for Age UK Northamptonshire, call 01604 611 200.

Advice and Information: To find out more about our services and to learn about how we can help you, call our Information and Advice Team on 0300 3033 929. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am – 12 noon or visit us at www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire

Age UK Northamptonshire 31 Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5DQ Tel: 01604 611 200 www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire Age UK have not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does Age UK endorse any of the products or services.

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NHS Hospitals and services in Northamptonshire 3. St Mary's Hospital 77 London Road, Kettering NN15 7PW Tel: 01536 410141

1. Corby Community Hospital Cottingham Road, Corby NN17 2UN Tel: 01536 400070

5. Isebrook Hospital Irthlingborough Road, Wellingborough NN8 1LP Tel: 01933 440099

4. Danetre Hospital London Road, Daventry NN11 4DY Tel: 01327 708800

2. Kettering General Hospital Rothwell Rd, Kettering NN16 8UZ Tel: 01536 492 000

Kettering General Hospital

6. Northampton General Hospital (Acute) Cliftonville, Northampton NN1 5BD Tel: 01604 634700

Corby Community Hospital

CORBY 1

Sessions House, George Row, Northampton NN1 1DF Tel: 0300 126 1000

EAST NORTHANTS NORTH

WEST KETTERING

KETTERING 2 3

EAST KETTERING

St. Mary's Hospital

DAVENTRY & DISTRICT

WELLINGBOROUGH NORTH

EAST NORTHANTS SOUTH

WELLINGBOROUGH 5

NORTHAMPTON

NORTH EAST

WEST

4

WELLINGBOROUGH SOUTH

Isebrook Hospital

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Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Danetre Hospital London Road, Daventry NN11 4DY Tel: 01327 708800

SOUTH

SOUTH NORTHANTS

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

BRACKLEY & DISTRICT

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Northampton General Hospital Cliftonville, Northampton NN1 5BD Tel: 01604 634700

Acorn House Acorn Industrial Estate, Islip, Northamptonshire NN14 3FD Tel: 01832 736670

Head Office 31 Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5DQ Tel: 01604 611200

Useful contacts A

E

Action on Elder Abuse 080 880 88141 We work to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older adults Action on Elder Abuse, PO Box 60001, Streatham SW16 9BY I www.elderabuse.org.uk I enquiries@elderabuse.org.uk

Elderly Accommodation Counsel 0800 377 7070 Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) is a national charity that aims to help older people make informed choices about meeting their housing and care needs.

I www.eac.org.uk I info@firststopadvice.org.uk

Admiral Nurses 0800 888 6678 This helpline has been set up to provide people with an opportunity to talk through their worries and concerns about themselves, friends or relatives with dementia. The lines are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11am and 9pm. Callers can leave messages any time and request a call back I www.dementiauk.org I helpline@dementiauk.org Age UK Northamptonshire 01604 611200 An independent charity whose objective is to make the lives of older people in Northamptonshire as fulfilling as possible.

31 Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5DQ I www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire Alzheimers Society 01832 736670 Islip Office The UK's leading support and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers.

I www.alzheimers.org.uk/northamptonshire I Northamptonshire@alzheimers.org.uk

C CareAware 0161 707 1107 A one stop shop for free advice on care fee funding for older people.

I enquiries@careaware.co.uk Care Quality Commission (CQC) 03000 616161 National Correspondence, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4PA I www.cqc.org.uk I enquiries@cqc.org.uk Carers Trust 01933 677837 Offers a comprehensive support service to the unpaid Carers of Northamptonshire.

123 Midland Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 1LU I www.northamptonshire-carers.org I carers@northamptonshire-carers.org Carers UK 0808 808 7777 Prevents carers from becoming emotionally drained, and from forgetting to take care of themselves. 20 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4LX I General enquiries: 0207 378 4999 I Advice line: 0808 808 7777 I www.carersuk.org I info@carersuk.org Central and East Northamptonshire Citizens Advice 03444 889 629 7/8 Mercers Row, Northampton NN1 2QL I http://www.cencab.org.uk/ Centre for Independent Living (CIL) 01604 588501 Supporting Disabled People and Carers across Northamptonshire.

Gladstone Road Resource Centre, Gladstone Road, Northampton NN5 7EJ I information@northamptonshirecil.org.uk Cruse Bereavement Care 0808 808 1677 Cruse Bereavement Care is here to support you after the death of someone close. I www.cruse.org.uk I helpline@cruse.org.uk

D DIAL (Disability Information Advice Line) 01536 204 742 DIAL Northants provide information and advice to disabled people, their family and professionals on all aspects of living with a disability.

DIAL Northants (Corby), Resource Centre, Patrick Road, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 1XB I dialcorby@hotmail.co.uk Disability Service Centre Get advice or information about a claim you’ve already made for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment.

I www.gov.uk/disability-benefits-helpline

M Mind (National Association for Mental Health) 0300 123 3393 The leading mental health charity in England and Wales. We work to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.

I www.mind.org.uk I info@mind.org.uk

N National Rheumatoid 0800 298 7650 Arthritis Society (NRAS) or 0845 458 3969 Provide information, support and advice for people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis I www.nras.org.uk NHS 111

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P Parkinson's Disease Society I www.parkinsons.org.uk

0800 800 0303

R Royal Osteoporosis Society 0808 800 0035 Advice, information and support group for people with osteoporosis.

I www.theros.org.uk Royal Voluntary Service 0330 555 0310 A volunteer organisation that enriches the lives of older people and their families across Britain. We support older people by giving time and practical help to help them get the best from life.

Royal Voluntary Service, Beck Court, Cardiff Gate Business Park, Cardiff CF23 8RP I www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

S Serve 01933 315555 Serve was formed in 1981 as an information and resource agency providing support for older people in the Rushden area of Northamptonshire, East Northamptonshire and parts of Wellingborough.

19 Church Street, Rushden, Northants NN10 9YU I www.serve.org.uk I info@serve.org.uk Stroke Association 0303 3033 100 Advice and information for stroke patients and their families.

I www.stroke.org.uk

T The Department of Work and Pensions I www.dwp.gov.uk The Pension Service I www.gov.uk/contact-pension-service

OCTAGON DE S IG N & M A R K E T I N G LT D

Every possible care has been taken to ensure that the information given in this publication is accurate. Whilst the publisher would be grateful to learn of any errors, it cannot accept any liability over and above the cost of the advertisement for loss there by caused. Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd have not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd endorse any of the products or services. No reproduction by any method whatsoever of any part of this publication is permitted without prior written consent of the copyright owners.

Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd. ©2019. Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN10 6AB. Tel: 01302 714528 Options Northamptonshire is published by Octagon Design and Marketing Ltd with editorial contributions from Northamptonshire County Council, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust, Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, the CQC and the NHS. The editorial contributors have not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor do the editorial contributors endorse any of the products or services.

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Proud to be in the “Top 3 Most Recommended” Care Home in Wellingborough Area Established over 30 years ago The Cottage Care Home is based in the beautiful picturesque grounds of Irchester in Wellingborough. The area benefits from a range of amenities including a health centre, a chemist, a school, a library, churches, shops, public houses and a country park.

We provide premium care for the elderly, to enable them to continue living an active and independent life, in warm, safe and comfortable surroundings. We deliver a comprehensive range of care under one roof. This includes respite and specialist dementia care and end of life care. We recognise each individual is unique. Our compassionate and experienced Carers ensure that each person receives the care that is tailored to their individual needs, personality and wishes, to enable them to lead the life they like in a dignified way. No wonder The Cottage is in the ‘Top 3 Most Recommended’ Care Homes in Wellingborough!

The Cottage Care Home 80 High Street, Irchester, Northampton, NN29 7AB T: 01933 355 111 E: cottage.reception@wellbeingcare.co.uk W: www.wellbeingcare.co.uk Designed & Compiled by Octagon Design and Marketing Ltd., Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN10 6AB Tel: 01302 714528