Part two: Help when you need it: where to start if you need care and support

As well as explaining what care and support is and how it works, this part of the guide will help you find out about short-term support to help you, or someone you care for, get back on their feet. It will also explain what is available to you if you have long-term support needs.

What is care and support?

Care and support can be a mixture of practical, financial and emotional support for adults who need extra help to manage their lives and remain independent. This includes older people, people with a disability or long-term illness, people with mental health needs and carers.

Gloucestershire County Council will always try to support you first by helping you find your own solutions to stay independent, or by offering you some short-term support to get you back on your feet and stay independent for as long as possible. There is more information on being independent in part one, beginning on page 8. If you need longer term support, the council can help you to consider the options available to meet your needs.

Most people will have to pay something towards their care costs, and some will have to pay all their costs. Paying for care and support can be an expensive and confusing process, so this part of the guide also tells you about support available to help you get your legal and financial affairs in order.

Where to find more information about care and support

Your Circle

A directory to help you find your way around care and support and connect with people, places and activities in Gloucestershire. Search under the category ‘Care and support’, ‘Looking after someone’ or use the ‘Information A-Z tab’ on the menu bar.

Visit www.yourcircle.org.uk

NHS – care and support

A guide for people who have care and support needs, their carers and people who are planning for their future care needs. Visit www.nhs. uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide

Department of Health and Social Care

Learn about Government’s latest reforms. Visit https://engage.dhsc.gov.uk/social-care-reform

Gloucestershire’s Community Wellbeing Service

Many things affect our health and wellbeing, such as where we live, how we spend our time, our financial situation and our relationships with friends and family. Sometimes, we need some extra help, for example, when coping with a short- or long-term health situation, or when life throws other challenges our way.

The Community Wellbeing Service enables people with non-medical needs to access local, community-based support. Non-medical needs can be social, emotional or practical concerns. It is available to anyone aged 16 plus living in Gloucestershire or registered with a Gloucestershire GP.

The service supports people in several ways. It offers telephone and web-based support in addition to face-to-face support. The service has extensive knowledge about groups and activities available locally. It helps clients connect with more people and provides information to help them make an informed choice. It can be helpful for people:

• In times of change, for example after redundancy, health issues or retirement.

• In times of emotional hardship, such as after a bereavement.

• Who are worried about debt or financial issues.

• Who don’t know where to turn for support.

• Who would like to volunteer in their community.

• Who would like to regain their confidence in building their social networks.

If you think the service could help you or someone you know, contact your local provider.

Cheltenham and Tewkesbury

Caring for Communities and People (CCP)

Web: www.ccp.org.uk/communitywellbeing

Email: cws@ccp.org.uk

Tel: 0300 365 6463

Cotswolds District

Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC)

Web: www.grcc.org.uk/what-we-do/ community-wellbeing-service

Email: cws.grcc@nhs.net • Tel: 07738 106384

Forest of Dean

Forest of Dean District Council

Web: www.fdean.gov.uk

(search ‘community wellbeing service’).

Email: community.wellbeing@fdean.gov.uk

Tel: 01594 812447 or 01594 812399

Gloucester Home Group

Web: www.homegroup.org.uk/media/2qconils/ gloucester-support-hub.pdf

Email: hgl.communitywellbeing.gloucester@nhs.net

Tel: 0300 131 0024

Stroud and Berkeley Vale Independence Trust Web: www.independencetrust.co.uk/ communitywellbeing

Email: communitywellbeing.stroud@NHS.net

Tel: 0345 863 8323

Contacting Gloucestershire County Council

The Adult Social Care Helpdesk can help if you are a Gloucestershire resident aged 18 plus, or you are caring for someone aged 18 plus who lives in Gloucestershire. If you are a carer, there are also organisations beginning on page 40 that can help you.

The Adult Social Care Helpdesk may also help if you are under 18 and want to think about how your care and support needs will be met as you move into adulthood. Visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk (search ‘information, advice and support’).

Gloucestershire County Council Adult Social Care Helpdesk

Web: https://forms.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ AdultSocialCareEnquiry (submit an enquiry).

Email: socialcare.enq@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Tel: 01452 426868

Your Circle is a directory to help you find your way around care and support and connect with people, places and activities in Gloucestershire. Visit www.yourcircle.org.uk

Home First

If your treatment is complete and you don’t need to stay in hospital, Home First can help you return home. The team will work with you to continue your recovery at home and regain your ability to live independently. The team will help you settle back at home, establish your routines and support networks; to live well and plan your next steps. It will work with you to establish what you can do yourself and what you would like to achieve, with or without support.

Reablement

Reablement supports people to remain living independently at home. Reablement can be helpful following a period of illness, disability or a lifechanging event that leads to an impact on your usual abilities. It is a short-term service, overseen by a therapist and designed to help you to regain the skills and confidence to do things independently. Reablement will work with you to establish what you can do yourself and what you would like to achieve, with or without support. You will agree a Reablement plan together to help you live well at home and plan your next steps.

Short stay residential rehabilitation

This may suit people who can benefit from a rehabilitation programme but who, in the short term, may not be safe at home on their own. Short stay residential rehabilitation gives you the chance to recover, rebuild your confidence and practise daily living skills, such as washing, dressing and preparing simple meals. There are several local residential units providing this service.

With Home First and Reablement you may get help with:

• Washing.

• Dressing.

• Cooking.

• Accessing community services.

• Arranging shopping or medication.

• Improving your mobility indoors and outdoors.

• Using transport.

You may have a hobby or interest that the team could help you get back to enjoying. Depending on your individual needs, you may receive support from therapists, reablement staff, community nurses and other community and voluntary services, who will work with you and anyone who supports you; your family, carers and informal support to help you achieve your goals and live well at home. Your Reablement or Home First plan will be regularly reviewed with you and updated as your situation changes and you progress.

If you are assessed as having eligible needs for ongoing care and support from the council after a period of reablement or rehabilitation, the council will ask you to have a financial assessment to find out whether you are entitled to financial help with your care costs. See page 38 for information on paying for care and support.

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