Extra care housing Extra care housing is similar to sheltered schemes, with self-contained accommodation together with some communal facilities. In an extra care scheme, instead of low-level support traditionally provided by wardens in sheltered schemes, higher levels of care and support are provided on site by a designated team of care workers, who can be
available 24 hours a day. Extra care allows you to retain your own tenancy and have care services delivered, ensuring that you can remain safely in your own self-contained accommodation. For information on extra care housing in your region, contact Adult Social Care.
Specialist services Learning disability The council’s service for people with learning disabilities and their families is a joint service with the Learning Disability Health Services of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. It is known as Community and Support Services, and operates a number of day services, in both large and small venues and short break services. You can get help and advice on problems you may be experiencing with: being listened to or understood; your education; keeping well; money and work; somewhere to live; things to do and helping others to care for you. Support can come from: art therapists; community nurses; dietitians; occupational therapists; physiotherapists; psychiatrists and psychologists; speech and language therapists and your doctor. Teams will also help you get advice and support from: advocacy services; the Department for Education; the Department for Work and Pensions;
Jobcentre Plus; the Housing Department and the police. The teams can also assess the needs of family carers and help support the person they care for. Scope Offers free, impartial and expert information, advice and support to disabled people and their families. National advice line: 0808 800 3333 Email: helpline@scope.org.uk Web: www.scope.org.uk Supported Living Cornwall (The DOVE Project) Supports a range of people with a variety of disabilities to live in their own communities. Second Floor, 7 The Crescent, Plymouth PL1 3AB Tel: 01209 612494 Web: www.thedoveproject.co.uk Many other services and support organisations exist for people with a learning disability. You can find out more at www.supportincornwall.org.uk
Mental health If you are worried about your mental health, it’s important to remember that you aren’t alone. Lots of people have issues with their mental health and there’s help and advice available in Cornwall to support you. Your local Integrated Community Mental Health Team (ICMHT) should be your first point of contact if you have a mental health condition. ICMHTs are community-based assessment and treatment services for people with mental health conditions
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aged between 18 and 65 years. You can ask your GP to refer you or ask someone who knows you to contact the ICMHT on your behalf. There is increased demand for home care for people with mental health conditions arising from greater use of supported living instead of care home placements. Like other specialist care services, this can be paid for (if you have been assessed as eligible) with a Personal Budget, discussed earlier on page 14.
Se a rch f or ca r e a t www. ca re c h o i c e s .c o .u k t o fi n d s u p p o r t i n y o u r are a
