Sefton social care and wellbeing

We encourage you to take care of your long term health and wellbeing by supporting and signposting you to a range of activities and events in your local community. These are available through libraries, leisure centres or through the voluntary, faith and community sector. You can find full details of what is available in your local community through The Sefton Directory www.seftondirectory.com

Adult Social Care

If you think you need additional help and support to maintain your independence or are struggling to live at home then you may be entitled to help from adult social care.

Your social care assessment

An assessment means collecting information about you and your life and talking with you about the difficulties you have and how they affect your wellbeing. This helps us to understand your situation, what your needs are and how to plan for the future.

Things we will look at during your assessment:

• Who (if anyone) you would like to be involved in your assessment. If you have a carer then we will need to speak to them

• What you are finding difficult and how this is affecting you in your daily life

• Your daily routine and how you manage

• Your health and how it affects you, including medication, recent visits or contact with GP or hospital

• Looking after yourself (e.g. washing, dressing, meals, shopping, managing your home and finances)

• Things you enjoy doing

• Things that are important to you

• Support already available to you – what’s working well (e.g. help from family and friends, equipment and aids, paid carers)

• Anything that has worked well in the past

• If you are a carer, how your caring role affects you day to day

• What about things you do well?

• What would you like to achieve / do more of?

Who can have an assessment?

Any adult who may have needs for care and support can have an assessment.

Anyone who looks after another adult and may need help to enable them to continue to care can have a Carers Assessment.

What if I don't want an assessment?

You can refuse to have an assessment but we may still need to talk to you if we are concerned about your safety and wellbeing.

We can still give you information and advice about arranging your own support and accessing activities and groups in your community. If you are offered an assessment but refuse this time, you could still change your mind at a later date.

Carers Support

You are a carer if you provide regular and substantial unpaid help to someone who is frail or disabled, or mentally or physically ill, and who cannot manage without your support. You may not live in the same house, and you do not have to be related to the person you look after.

Public Health teams work to help people in Sefton to be healthy and happier.

Carers are now able to have an assessment. The local authority will assess whether the carer has needs and what those needs may be. This assessment will consider the impact of caring on the carer. Anyone wanting help, advice or assistance completing the carers needs assessment should contact Sefton Carers Centre on 0151 288 6060

Find out more here: www.sefton.gov.uk/socialcare/care-and-support-for-adults

Living Well Sefton

Public Health teams work to help people in Sefton to be healthy and happier. It's something you can do regardless of your age or your circumstances and it’s our job to help you.

There are parks, healthy places and a long coastline for you to enjoy. If you want to be healthier we can help you with information about how and where you can do it. If you want to start click www. livingwellsefton.org.uk or ring 0300 323 0181

Living Well Sefton is a FREE service with a focus on supporting people with issues that may be affecting their health and wellbeing. It is collaboration of various Sefton organisations which have the expertise and knowledge to share with you.

As part of the service, there are a number of Living Well Mentors to talk to and they work with you on a one-to-one basis to identify health areas to see where small tweaks can be made but may have a big impact on improving your health.

Alcohol - Many people may not realise the amount they drink could be having an adverse affect on their health. Weight Management - Managing your weight should be done in tandem with regular physical exercise, eating a healthy diet and watching how much you drink. Our Living Well Mentors can help you set goals and give details of other ways you can manage your weight such as joining one of their healthy cooking or weight management courses

What

Living Well Sefton can

offer Physical Activity – Research shows that physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress, depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. That is where we can help. Our partners offer sessions, workshops and activities you can join which will not only burn calories they make you feel better because you are meeting different people and being active. From walking groups, walking football and a Steps to Health programme As well as this, our Living Well Mentors can provide in-depth support by working out how physically active you want to be and tailoring a plan just for you.

Stop Smoking - It has been recognised for some time that stopping smoking is the single best thing anyone can do to improve their health because smoking is the biggest cause of preventable death and disease in the country. Smoke free Sefton is an established, nurse-led stop smoking service which can help anyone wanting to quit cigarettes. People are up to four times more likely to stop with this kind of support and they can be reached via our service. Alternatively, the stop smoking team have clinics throughout the borough at different times to be as flexible as possible.

Mental Wellbeing - Our partners offer a variety of programmes, services and activities to give your wellbeing a boost. They range from: benefits and debt advice, luncheon clubs to provide a place to meet as well as eat, a film club, gardening groups, confidence and assertiveness courses and learn skills to cope with life’s stresses. Think Differently, Cope Differently is a five-week course our partners deliver and it is designed to increase your wellbeing by improving positive thinking, eating more healthy, learning relaxation skills and other ways of coping.

Reporting an adult safeguarding concern

Safeguarding is work that helps vulnerable adults to keep their independence, wellbeing and choice and to live a life free from abuse, including neglect. It is important to understand that Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, including yours. We all have a role to play in preventing abuse. If you see something, report it as quickly as possible to stop it getting worse.

Are you concerned about adult abuse?

• Do you think a vulnerable adult is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed by someone else or is neglecting themself?

• Are you worried that a vulnerable adult is living in circumstances (at home or in care) where they are being treated badly or neglected?

If you've answered yes to either of these questions, then please call 0345 140 0845 to report your concerns. Don't worry if you are not sure. All reports will be looked into and no action will be taken unless it is needed.