Options Derby and Derbyshire Autumn 2023

OPTIONS

Personal budgets and direct payments Preventing falls and trips

tips 10 SOCIAL CARE

Connecting with older people

FAR FILLIMORE CARE HOME

“Home away from home”

LITTLEOVER NURSING HOME

“Premier nursing home”

• Accommodation for 26 residents

• For elderly people and people with Dementia

• 2 double rooms for couple sharing • Group activities

• Long and short term respite care • Palliative care

• Large landscaped gardens

• Local GP visits

Wood Lane, Hanbury, Burton-on-Trent DE13 8TG

Telephone: 01283 812 180

Email: ffch.admin@ffchltd.com

www.curagroup.co.uk/far-fillimore

• Accommodation for 40 residents all single rooms

– majority wet room en-suites

• Specialise in palliative care • Unrestricted visits

• Regular group activities and entertainment

• Within walking distance of shops and post office

• Local GP visits and On-site nurse • Tuck shop/Café

149 Stenson Road, Littleover, Derby DE23 1JJ

Telephone: 01332 760 140

Email: lnh.admin@ffchltd.com

www.curagroup.co.uk/littleover

friendly and professional care homes”

“Warm,

When you leave hospital

You may need details about your condition, medication and the treatment that you will need once you are back at home. Depending on your diagnosis, dieticians, occupational therapists and physiotherapists may be available to help before you leave the hospital.

Staff will also tell you about follow up appointments, rehabilitation and support services that can help with problems you may have after leaving hospital. Sometimes patients need help with health and social care after leaving hospital. A social worker will visit you if you have additional needs once you are back at home.

We recommend if you are a day patient and have any form of sedation that you arrange for someone to take you home.

On the day of your discharge, you may be invited to move to the discharge lounge where you will be cared for whilst the hospital makes all the necessary arrangements such as transport etc. The Discharge Lounge is situated inside the Visitor’s Entrance and can be called on 01246 513581.

If collecting a relative from the Discharge Lounge, please use car park 5 or 6.

Before you leave hospital, staff will help you to plan your departure and will give you advice on how to take care of yourself.

We’re responsible for providing care and treatment to more than 400,000 people who live in our communities.

Make sure you speak up when you’re feeling down

If you’re experiencing anxiety or distress, there’s a Derbyshire helpline you can call that’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Everyone feels sad or worried sometimes. For many older people, though, these feelings can become difficult to manage. They may be compounded by health problems, money worries or the loss of a partner or friend.

If you’re struggling to cope with your feelings and emotions, then why not call the freephone Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support Service on 0800 028 0077?

This NHS-backed helpline is open round the clock to provide support to people of all ages. The expert advisers can offer help in a range of different ways –

whether that’s advising you on your mental health or talking through practical issues that may be causing you concern.

The helpline staff – who work for Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Derbyshire Federation for Mental Health and the charity P3 –speak to hundreds of Derby and Derbyshire residents every month. So why not give the helpline a go? Call the Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline on 0800 028 0077

Learn more at www.derbyshirehelpline.com

Are you Delirium aware?

Take advantage of a special online training course and video

Delirium is a physical condition that causes a person to become easily distracted and more confused than normal.

Delirium can be very distressing for the person and their family. If it is not caught early and treated, it can have serious consequences. There is growing research suggesting a strong link between Delirium episodes and the development of Dementia in older adults.

A special online training course and video has been created for Derbyshire that aims to increase

awareness of Delirium, and how to spot it and prevent it.

The training course can be found by typing in this address to your web browser: bit.ly/delirium-awareness

You can also find a link to the training course and watch the video on the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust website. Click on ‘Get involved’ and then ‘Delirium awareness’. The direct link is www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/delirium

The advisor I spoke to was fantastic and understood my needs for phoning and helped me through a tough spot – helpline caller.

At Danforth Care Homes, we are committed to providing the highest quality of care and services to our elderly residents. We strive to create a place where they can live in comfort and security, while feeling safe, respected, and valued.

Our mission is to create a home-like atmosphere for our residents that is safe, secure and encourages independence. We strive to maintain a warm, caring and friendly environment in which each individual is respected, valued and provided with quality care tailored to their individual needs.

You can stay in one of our beautiful homes and experience individualised care and quality lifestyle for an inclusive fee.

Danforth care homes aim to provide the highest standards of care in a luxurious, modern and comfortable environment. We aim to help older people live happier, healthier and more fulfilled lives. We strive to give peace of mind to our residents’ families, who have entrusted us with the care of their loved ones. Our focus is to make a difference to lives every day through both the quality of the care we provide and the consistently high standard of all of our fantastic care homes.

We are committed to providing a better way to live. Our staff are committed to developing relationships with our residents and their families, to ensure that their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are met. We value the individual and unique qualities of each resident, and strive to provide an atmosphere where they can continue to learn, grow and develop.

We know we have the best colleagues achieving this and the best care standards because of our guiding principles and beliefs that make up our “Danforth Values”.

Our “Danforth Values” ensure that each one of our fantastic colleagues are part of the Danforth Family. And these values ensure that as a family, we work together as a team, and a common goal of always remaining the best care provider, providing the best care, in the best luxury care homes.

The Danforth Values that make up our “family” are:

NHS healthcarecontinuing

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 cannot be met by existing universal or specialist services alone.

Find out more about the children and young people’s continuing care national framework on GOV.UK

Your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare depends on your assessed needs, and not on any particular diagnosis or condition.

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 is not 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 are not 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.

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.

For most people, there’s an initial checklist assessment, which is used to decide if you need a full assessment.

NHS continuing healthcare assessments

Integrated care boards, known as ICBs (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.

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 what the assessment involves.

Depending on the outcome of the checklist, you’ll either be told that you do not 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 does not necessarily mean 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

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.

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

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 medicine

• altered states of consciousness

• other significant care needs

These needs are given a weighting marked “priority”, “severe”, “high”, “moderate”, “low” or “no needs”.

If you have at least 1 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 1 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 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 1 local care home that’s suitable.

Your ICB 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.

If your needs have changed, the review will also consider whether you’re still eligible for NHS continuing healthcare.

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.

Refunds for delays in NHS continuing healthcare funding

ICBs 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 the ICB 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.

Find out more about NHS continuing healthcare from NHS England.

Frequently asked questions about 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 ICB 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 1 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? Consent is not needed for completion of assessments (CHC Checklists, Decision Support Tools (inclusive of FNC by default) and Fast Track), or collation and sharing of information with:

• Care Teams

• Health and Social Care Staff

But consent is needed to share personal information collected for, and as part of, assessments (Checklist, Decision Support Tool (inclusive of FNC by default) and Fast Track) with third parties, such as family, friends or representatives, at the beginning of the process. There is a legal limit to the types of services that a Local Authority can provide. If you have any concerns about being assessed for NHS continuing healthcare, the ICB should explore your reasons for this, and try to address your concerns.

If someone lacks the mental capacity to consent to sharing of information with third parties (other than Care Teams or Health and Social Care Staff), the principles of the Mental Capacity Act will apply and a best interests decision may be needed.

Q

My relative is in a care home and has become eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. The ICB 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?

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 ICB. It will take your concerns into account when considering the most appropriate arrangements.

If the ICB 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 is not 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.

United Against Dementia

Alzheimer’s Society wants everyone affected by dementia to know that whoever you are, whatever you are going through, you can turn to them for support, help and advice.

Dementia Connect

Dementia Connect, from Alzheimer’s Society, is a personalised support service for anyone with dementia, their carers, families and friends.

We understand that dementia affects everyone differently. So whether you, a loved one, a friend or neighbour needs dementia support, we’re here for you.

We’ll connect you to a whole range of dementia support, by phone, online and face to face. Our highlytrained dementia advisers can help people come to terms with their diagnosis and navigate the complicated maze of health and social care services.

It’s free, easy to access, and offers you the support you need. Whether it’s advice on legal documents, help understanding dementia or someone to talk to when things get tough, we’re here to help.

We can keep in touch with you to make sure you keep getting the support you need. And because we know it’s never easy to tell your story, you’ll only ever need to tell it to us once.

Phone support

Our dementia advisers are available to talk to on the phone seven days a week. They will listen and give you the support and advice you need, including connecting you to help in your local area and online. We can offer you the option of regular calls so we can keep in touch, to find out how you are and help when things change.

Online support

Dementia Connect online support is available round the clock through our website. Answer a few simple questions about yourself, or someone you know, to get personalised, relevant information and advice. From guides on dementia to advice on making your home dementia friendly, get the information about the things that matter to you.

‘The Dementia Adviser was lovely and full of information. Without Alzheimer’s Society and the Dementia Adviser we’d have nothing. She is a major networker and knows everything and everyone local. I feel in charge and empowered.’ Katherine, living with dementia

If you need further support, you can request a call from our dementia advisers, who should be in touch with you within a week. Our online support includes Talking Point, our online community where you can connect with others in a similar situation, and our Dementia Directory where you can search for local services.

Face to face support

Where possible, our local dementia support workers can meet you in person to offer further support, advice and information. They will also connect you to other face to face services in your area, including local support groups.

Notes: Dementia Connect phone and online support is available wherever you live. As the service is new, some parts of the service may not be available in your area just yet.

Residents and their families enjoyed a majestic celebration this weekend at Brookview Care Home.

The home was set up to replicate a traditional ‘street party’, adorned with flags, bunting and balloons, and with the addition of a ‘throne’ at the head of the table in the lounge, it was truly fit for royalty! The throne was hugely popular and proved to be a great photo opportunity as no one could resist putting on the red cloak, fake fur stole and crown! It was a two-part celebration, on Friday, as a pre-curser to the main event, at the residents request they had fish and chips from their local chippy, followed by the Victoria Sponge they had decorated beautifully, washed down with Pimms and lemonade. A party was to follow with music provided by Vic a regular entertainer

On Saturday the residents and their families all gathered around their large TV to watch the coronation which they enjoyed with an ‘afternoon tea’ type buffet, more Pimms and a Prosecco toast to HRH King Charles, It was a wonderful weekend!

Brookview Care Home is open for show rounds and visits, contact us on 01246 414618 or email Brookview@Beachcroft.net

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 specific person that has been recommended to you

• can help you get to shops or social events

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.

You could also consider having someone else manage your direct payments, for example a friend or family member.

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 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 Office, 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:

• 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 benefits - 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

When choosing an agency, decide what sort of service you’re looking for and the tasks you need help with.

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.

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)

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 integrated care board (ICB) 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

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 to 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.

• 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

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 ICB to review the decision.

The cost of NHS-funded nursing care

NHS-funded nursing care is paid at the same rate across England. In May 2022, the rate was set at £209.19 a week (standard rate) and will be backdated to 1 April 2022.

If you moved into a care home before 1 October 2007, and you were on the previous high band, NHS-funded nursing care is paid at a higher rate. In May 2022, the higher rate was set at £287.78 a week and will be backdated to 1 April 2022. 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 £209.19 a week, or

• you become entitled to NHS continuing healthcare instead

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 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.

2 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)?

3

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

4

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.

5 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

6

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?

7

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.

8

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 H Good ● Requires improvement ● Inadequate ● For up-to-date information about planning, choosing and paying for care, visit NHS Choices. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-careand-support-guide/

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 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.

GP Top tips

1

If you are new to an area you can find details of local GP services such as doctors’ practices, out-of-hours services and walkin centres in our online directory of care services www.cqc.org.uk/content/doctorsgps

2 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

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 practices published on the CQC website.

5 CQC launched its new-style inspection reports for GPs – looking at the five key areas SAFE, EFFECTIVE, CARING, RESPONSIVE and WELLLED – you can use the reports to compare local GPs and choose services.

6

You can also use these new style inspection reports to find out more about local services and choose the one that is best for your needs.

7

CQC rates all GPs to help people make choices about where they get treatment. This will be on a four-point scale:

Outstanding H Good ● Requires improvement ● Inadequate ●

8

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

9

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-yourexperience-finder or call us on 03000 61 61 61.

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

/CareQualityCommission @CareQualityComm

Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board

Here to help you

Did you know that GP practice receptionists are trained to help patients get the best possible care? This is not always by seeing a doctor, and they may be able to help you get better advice more quickly by speaking to a different specialist. These include clinical pharmacists, nurses or physiotherapists, all of whom have years of specialist training to help you.

Other colleagues at GP practices who may be able to help you include:

• Healthcare Assistants

• Nursing Associates

• Physician Associates

• Paramedics

• Advanced Clinical Practitioners

• Dietitians

• Occupational Therapists

• Podiatrists

• Mental Health Practitioners

• Social Prescribing Link Workers

• Health and Wellbeing Coaches

You should call your practice if you are ill or have concerns about things you are worried might be a sign of cancer, so that these can be checked out.

You can also use the NHS 111 service for advice by visiting 111.nhs.uk or calling 111. Urgent Treatment Centres are open 8am-8pm and can treat a wide range of conditions such as infections, minor burns, bites, rashes, sprains and more. In cases of lifethreatening health emergencies, call 999

Please consider the range of staff available at your practice when making an appointment, and speak with the receptionist if you’re unsure. This will help to make sure you access the right kind of health care for your needs.

This will help to make sure you access the right kind of health care for your needs.

A range of healthcare professionals work alongside GPs to ensure you get the right care for your needs as quickly as possible.

Preventing falls and trips

As we get older, the risk of having a trip or a slip increases which can lead to injuries, a visit to A&E and maybe a stay in hospital. Falling can also contribute to a loss of confidence and independence.

Around a third of people aged 65 and over in Derbyshire will have a trip or a fall each year and this rises to half of all people aged 80 and over. However, falling over isn’t an inevitable part of getting older and many falls are preventable by doing some simple things. Everyone can benefit from living a healthy, happy, ageing lifestyle, even if they’ve never had a fall before.

If you’re over the age of 65, or who have loved ones who are, there are things you can do to help:

• Keep active – simple strength and balance exercises can help prevent falls. Age UK offer ‘Strictly No Falling’ classes to people across Derby and Derbyshire who are over the age of 65 to help them to keep active and there are also online exercise videos

• Wearing sturdy footwear with a good grip can greatly reduce the risk of falling, especially outdoors in the winter months

• Wear correct fitting slippers and throw out slippers that don’t fit properly

Your local pharmacy should always be your first choice for minor ailments and conditions

If you or your family become unwell, you may not always need to see a doctor or get a prescription.

Your local pharmacy should always be your first choice for help with minor ailments and conditions such as aches and pains, coughs, colds, rashes and allergies. Pharmacists are professionally trained to help you with minor illnesses and can ensure you get the right help from a doctor if needed.

Local pharmacies offer seven-day opening and late hours for convenience and you don’t need to make an appointment.

Feeling unwell?

Everyone can benefit from living a healthy, happy, ageing lifestyle, even if they’ve never had a fall before.

• Keep the home safe - watch out for trip hazards and remove them or secure them where possible

• Discuss any worries or concerns about your health with your GP and let them know about any falls or feeling dizzy

• Have your eyes checked regularly and keep glasses clean

For more information about how you can help yourself or your loved ones to prevent falling and what services are available to you, as well as exercise classes, search Derbyshire Strictly No Falling online or contact Age UK Derby and Derbyshire on 01773 766922.

Don’t wait for it to get worse.

Your elec tronic shared care record

Health and social care organisations in Derby and Derbyshire have worked together to develop a new confidential computer record to improve the care you receive.

Until now, each organisation providing your care has kept different sets of records, which may be duplicated or incomplete.

The Derbyshire Shared Care Record (DSCR) has changed all that by joining up different records to create a more comprehensive and up-todate record about you. Over time this will help improve the care you receive.

The DSCR went live in early 2022, after many months of preparation by local NHS and social care organisations.

Joining up different records, including GP, hospital and social care records, will help improve care and avoid

situations where individuals have to repeat the same details about their care to each professional they see. It is only used for direct care.

Jim Austin, digital senior responsible officer for Joined Up Care Derbyshire, said: “It means that health and social care professionals working across Derby and Derbyshire’s NHS and local authority organisations are able to access the same, appropriate information to support the care of individuals.

“This is completely confidential and secure. It’s designed to help doctors, nurses and other health and social care professionals directly involved in an individual’s care to make better, safer decisions ”

Health and social care organisations for Derby and Derbyshire participating in the Derbyshire Shared Care Record, include: Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, Derbyshire Healthcare, DHU Healthcare, Derbyshire Community Health Services, One Medical Group and primary care/GP services.

If you would like to learn more about the Derbyshire Shared Care Record please check out this web page: https:// joinedupcarederbyshire.co.uk/ your-services/derbyshire-sharedcare-record/

A shared care record means:

A shared care record means:

Quicker and safer care

Peter is brought into A&E unconscious after a car accident. But wait!

Wouldn’t it be better if emergency staff knew he was allergic to penicillin, had a stroke three years ago and is the carer for his autistic sister? By having access to his shared care records, wrong medicines are less likely to be given, fewer tests are needed thanks to knowledge of his medical history and care can be organised for his dependants.

Compassionate care

Rita is discharged from hospital. But wait!

When the community matron visits wouldn’t it be better if she knew why Rita’s medication had changed, whether a care package has been arranged or that a conversation has taken place about her end-of-life care wishes. Having access to her shared care record means medicines can be reviewed and explained and care visits arranged efficiently.

A shared care record means:

Joined up care

Tom’s carer calls round and wonders why there is no answer. But wait!

Wouldn’t it be better if Tom’s carer knew his GP had already sent him to hospital so there was no need to call. It means carers have peace of mind and no unnecessary worry about why a patient isn’t answering the door.

As you can see, there are so many ways in which your care, under each of the health and social care professionals looking after you, is now more joined up with the switch-on of the Derbyshire Shared Care Record. You can find out more about it here:

https://joinedupcarederbyshire co uk/your-services/derbyshire-shared-care-record/

We empower, care and engage with older people to make later life better.

Our name is nationally recognised but we are a local, independent charity. Every day our work makes a difference to older people and carers.

Our organisation involves older people in everything we do and volunteers give their time to help us deliver more for less.

We rely on donations and every penny we receive is spent in Derbyshire. And all our services, shops and fundraising need volunteers so come and join us.

Day Care

When I first met Mary she seemed a bundle of illnesses and conditions. It was hard to see her for all the labels. ‘Dementia’, ‘depression’, ‘arthritis’, ‘falls risk’…. But somewhere under all the labels Mary was still there we just had to find her.

Her husband Jim was very anxious and feeling guilty that first trial day. Mary sat with her head down, until the music started that is! Then Mary’s new label was ‘beautiful voice’. At lunchtime she got another new label: ‘loves pudding!’ Craft got her fingers sticky and her mind working and she talked so her new companions gave her another label: ‘funny’. When Jim collected her and discovered our staff did not label her ‘difficult’ he breathed a sigh of relief.

Mary’s labels got more and more about her and less and less about her physical and mental health. Her regular falls prevention activity and empowering care meant she could move better at home too. Each visit got easier for Jim and something to look forward to for Mary. She started to label the day at Bakewell ‘my day’ and Jim could call it ‘his day’ and they got along better on all the other days.

When things got difficult Jim had experienced, skilled staff to turn to for advice and Mary had carers who knew her not her labels. With a door to door service and everything included in the price it was great value for money.

As you’d expect our care carried on even in a pandemic and the day centre opened again with effective Covid-secure measures in place where Mary’s new label was ‘so glad to be back’

If you, or someone you love, would like to join our Day Services in Bakewell, Hope and Hulland Ward call Alison Milner on 01773 766922

Chaddesden Centre

For the people who use our Chaddesden Centre it a big part of their lives. The centre is a place they volunteer, learn, share, dance, sing and feel alive again. Our Chaddesden Centre provides a very popular weekly home-cooked meal for the lunch club, delivers and supports social groups, classes, and special activities and events. The activities are low cost but high value and delivered in a friendly, accessible centre in the beautiful Chaddesden park.

Come along to one of our events, sign up for a class or volunteer and find out what the Chaddesden Centre could mean to you.

Only Care Ltd, 5 Churchill Court, 58 Station Road, North Harrow, Middlesex HA2 7SA

hoffice@onlycareltd.com

0203 935 0000

Enriching Life Through Compassionate Care

Bramble Lodge: Residential and Dementia Care

Bramble Lodge is situated within scenic gardens in West Hallam, Derbyshire. Bramble Lodge has established an enviable reputation for providing high quality care in a homely environment by placing the comfort of our residents as our priority. We ensure that a good quality of life is maintained through activities and social events, combined with excellent facilities and personalised care planning.

82 High Lane West, West Hallam, Derbyshire DE7 6HQ 0115 944 4545 • bl@onlycareltd.com

Hollybank House: Nursing & Residential Care

Hollybank House is a delightful Nursing and Residential care home, housed over 2 floors and set in the beautiful countryside of Oakerthorpe, Derbyshire. Many of the rooms are en-suite and all are decorated and furnished to a modern, but homely style. The Home is set off the main Chesterfield Road and has good transport links available. It is surrounded by majestic gardens and large woodland areas.

Chesterfield Road, Oakerthorpe, Alfreton Derbyshire, DE55 7LP 01773 831 791 • hh@onlycareltd.com

Blackwell Care Home: Nursing & Residential Care

Blackwell Care Home offers spacious accommodation with all private single en-suite rooms with the exception of two shared rooms designed for married couples. All rooms are beautifully decorated and have TV and telephone points. Bedrooms are fully furnished but residents are more than welcome to personalise the bedrooms to make it feel like home away from home.

Blackwell Care Home, Gloves Lane, Blackwell, Derbyshire, DE55 5JJ 01773 863 388 • bw@onlycareltd.com

Ashcroft Care Home: Nursing, Residential & Dementia Care Ashcroft is a state of the art care home which offers the latest in luxurious living: the home has its own tea room, hair salon, massage and pamper parlour. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities. What’s more, the home is just a short walk from the town centre and leisure parks. Life in Ashcroft is about helping our service users to enjoy more independent and fulfilling lives.

Langton Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire NG17 1ER 01623 444780 • ac@onlycareltd.com

Willowcroft Care Home: Mental Health Care

Willowcroft strives to improve the life of service users so that they can lead an independent and fulfilling life. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities. We work closely with market leaders in the architectural and design industries to create home environments that enable people who are living with Mental Health Conditions and Dementia to find their way around independently.

New Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire NG17 1BW 01623 703320 • wc@onlycareltd.com