East Staffs

Health & Social Care Support Directory 2013 - 14 Covers services within the areas: 3 Burton-upon-Trent 3 Uttoxeter

Contents Healthwatch Staffordshire - About us Have your say Expressing complaints & Concerns Healthwatch Champions East Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group Choose Well Healthy Living Directory Listings Choosing a GP GP Surgeries Pharmacies Dentists Opticians & Hearing Centres Are you a Carer?

Independent Living Advice on paying for Care Legal Terms Care in your home Nursing & Residential Care Residential & Nursing Homes Help & Advice

Disclaimer This directory has been compiled to cover health and social care options throughout the East Staffordshire CCG. Whilst we have taken every care in compiling this publication, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies.

All listings are supplied via the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and NHS Choices. Neither Healthwatch Staffordshire nor HealthCare Publications Limited can be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

A note on advertising: We offer businesses the chance to reach potential customers via this publication. It is our intention to clearly indicate that an advertisement is being displayed and no endorsement or approval by the promoters of any product, service or supplier should be implied.

All signposted services are up to date as of November 2013.

Another quality publication by Healthcare Publications Limited.

SIGNPOSTING LOCAL HEALTHCARE

If you require extra copies of this directory or interested in advertising in future editions please contact Healthcare Publications on 0333 444 0214

ABOUT US What is Healthwatch Staffordshire?

Healthwatch is the new, independent consumer champion for health and social care in Staffordshire. Our job is to argue for the consumer interest for all those who use health and social care services in the county. Replacing the Staffordshire LINk’s role, we are backed up by a national body, Healthwatch England.

What powers does Healthwatch have?

• Healthwatch Staffordshire has a seat on the local Health and Wellbeing Board the body that oversees health and social care in the country – and therefore can influence how services are set up and commissioned.

The Healthwatch network is a new kind of consumer champion in health and social care. We will make sure the voice of the consumer is heard and acted upon. With our independent statutory powers, the network as a whole has a fantastic opportunity to make a difference. Healthwatch England looks forwards to making sure the public’s voice is heard loud and clear by those who plan, run and regulate health and social care services.

Anna Bradley, Chair of Healthwatch England

• We have statutory powers to enter and view health and social care services using our trained Healthwatch Champion volunteers who undertake the role of authorised visitor.

• Has a place on the new Quality Surveillance Groups that have been set up in the NHS to monitor provider quality.

Healthwatch Staffordshire is delivered by Engaging Communities Staffordshire (ECS).

ECS is a community interest company that brings public engagement, consultation and consumer advice services together in a central organisation to create evidence and insight to help improve local health and social care services.

What does Healthwatch Staffordshire do?

• Gathers the views and experiences of people within Staffordshire, about their health and social care priorities.

• Produces reports which influence the way services are designed and delivered throughout Staffordshire.

• Provides information, advice and signposting about local services, as well as commissioning the NHS Complaints Support Service.

• Passes information, issues and concerns to health and social care regulatory bodies and escalate recommendations to Healthwatch England.

HAVE YOUR SAY Allowing the public to ‘have your say’ and ‘making your voice count’ are the fundamental roles of Healthwatch Staffordshire. Services should be and will be based on children, young people and adults needs and experiences and accountable to local people. Every voice counts when it comes to shaping the future of services and improving them for today.

We’re here, ready to get started, so come and talk to us. Your words will make a difference and by contacting us with your experiences we will make your voice count.

Healthwatch Staffordshire wants you to have your say in a variety of ways whether its by posting a comment on our website (www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk), following us on Twitter @HWStaffordshire, liking us on Facebook at Healthwatch Staffordshire,making a complaint using our independent NHS complaint support service, or, by using our Free phone number 0800 051 8371.

What matters is making your voice count and your local Health and Social care services are guided and shaped by your feedback.

Health related care is provided by the NHS. Social Care is the responsibility of the Local Authority and is provided by a range of organisations.

Healthwatch Staffordshire would like to know what Health and Social Care issues are important to you, your family and friends.

Tell us what you would like Healthwatch Staffordshire to do for you: 1. Are you happy with the Health and Social care you are receiving?

Healthwatch Staffordshire Call us on 0800 051 8371 Or visit our website www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk or email at enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk Follow us @HWStaffordshire or like us on Facebook at Healthwatch Staffordshire If you have any questions or queries with regards to Engaging Communities Staffordshire Visit our website at www.engagingcommunitiesstaffordshire.co.uk or email at contactus@ecstaffs.co.uk Follow us @ECStaffs or like us on Facebook

2. Do you have a relative or friend living in a Care Home? Are you/they happy with the care they receive?

Please tell us of your positive or negative experiences.

3. Can you get an appointment with your GP (Doctor) when you need to?

4. Have you had to stay in hospital recently, if so, what was it like?

5. Do you or a relative suffer from a long term illness; are you / they happy with the help and support you / they receive?

6. Do you know what services are available and how to choose the right one, when you need urgent care?

Thank you for giving us your feedback. This will help Healthwatch Staffordshire to continue to prioritise its work.

EXPRESSING COMPLAINTS & CONCERNS General Practitioners (GPs) If you want to make a complaint or express a concern relating to your GP Practice, your first port of call would be to contact your GP directly. If you wish to take your complaint or concern further, CCGs are also interested in knowing about patients’ concerns (as CCGs commission GP Practices) and are willing to receive complaints about the provider services they commission. These concerns would be directed to the Commissioning Support Unit (CSU) PALS service.

The CSU PALS will try to resolve concerns, will support patients to make formal complaints where necessary and will refer eligible patients to the NHS Complaints Support Service.

Please contact: Commissioning Support Unit PALS: Tel: 0800 030 4563 Text Phone: 075 406 68541 or Email: pals@staffordshirecss.nhs.uk or feedback@staffordshirecss.nhs.uk

If you are unhappy with any aspect of your care whilst attending any of the hospitals which are part of Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Queen’s Hospital in Burton, Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital in Tamworth, or Samuel Johnson Community Hospital in Lichfield) then you should contact Burton NHS Foundation Trust Provider PALS service. PALS is an impartial, welcoming, open and confidential service for people who would like information or advice, or would like to comment about any aspect of the services provided by the Foundation Trust.

Please contact.

Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust PALS. Telephone: 01283 593110 Email: pals@burtonft.nhs.uk You can make a formal complaint by writing to The Chief Executive, The House, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Belvedere Road, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 0RB.

If you want to express a concern or make a complaint about any aspect of NHS Treatment or adult social care you have received from the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Partnership Trust, please contact.

Complaints Team, Staffordshire and Stoke-onTrent Partnership NHS Trust, Morston House, The Midway, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 1QG Tel: 0845 602 6772 Email: complaints@ssotp.nhs.uk

If you want to express a concern or make a complaint regarding any aspect of NHS treatment or social care which you have received from the South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Please contact: South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, St George’s Hospital, Corporation Street, Stafford, ST16 3SR Telephone: 0800 318850

EXPRESSING COMPLAINTS & CONCERNS If you are not satisfied with the outcome of a decision taken, you can contact NHS England, who will try and do everything that it can to respond well. If you have a complaint concerning the treatment or service provided by the NHS please contact: NHS England, PO Box 16738, Redditch B97 9PT Tel: 0300 311 2233 (Mon-Fri 8.00 – 18.00) Web: www.england.nhs.uk/contactus/complaint/ Email: England.contactus@nhs.net If unhappy in the way which the NHS has handled a complaint you can contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, please contact by: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP Tel: 0345 015 4033 Website: www.ombudsman.org.uk Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk

If you are unhappy about the way Staffordshire County Council has delivered social care services, and would like to express a complaint or concern, please contact.

The Monitoring Officer, Staffordshire County Council, Peel Building, St. Chads Place, Stafford, ST16 2LR Tel: 0300 111 8000 Email: customer.feedback@staffordshire.gov.uk

NHS Complaints Support Service “The NHS Complaints Support Service is there to provide advocacy support to people who wish to make a complaint about the service – or lack of it – that they have received during a Health Service delivery circumstance.”

Delivered by POhWER, advocates will support an individual through the complaints process. They will explain the options available and support you to pursue your chosen course of action.

ECS/Healthwatch Staffordshire will be working alongside POhWER in order to provide the advocacy service to those who wish to engage with health care services in Staffordshire.

They do not however investigate or encourage complaints, nor do they offer legal or medical advice.

The NHS Complaints Support Service is free, independent and confidential.

What can they do?

• Provide individuals with a Self Help Information pack to help them find their own way through the complaints process • Explain how the NHS complaints procedure works • Listen to a complaint and discuss options available • Help individuals to write letters regarding complaints • Attend meetings and give support • Speak to other agencies on your behalf when requested • Provide information on other services an individual may wish to access • Help to obtain medical records Unit 25 & 32, Staffordshire University Business Village, Dyson Way, Staffordshire Technology Park Stafford ST18 0TW Email: pohwer@pohwer.net Website: www.pohwer.net Tel: 0300 456 2370

HEALTHWATCH CHAMPIONS Become Involved Anyone can become involved with Healthwatch and contribute to its activities because everyone’s views matter. You can do as much or as little as you like – from filling in a survey, attending the occasional meeting about an issue of personal interest, signing up as a Healthwatch Member or becoming a Healthwatch Champion

What are Healthwatch Champions?

Healthwatch Champions are volunteers who act as the voice of the local community. They talk to local people about the quality of health & social care in their area and are committed to supporting Healthwatch Staffordshire to improve services.

This role is vital to the improvement of local services by prioritising the issues that really matter to you in your own local area.

Healthwatch Champions can undertake as much or as little as they like from a range of Champion specific roles.

Role of a Champion include: • Be the eyes and ears of local people and raise issues of concern.

• Make recommendations on how to improve local services.

• Tell people about Healthwatch and encourage them to become involved.

• Promote Healthwatch events and projects to local people.

• Liaise with other people/groups involved with engagement work.

• Attend meetings, groups & events as a Healthwatch Member, representing your own views based on personal experience.

• Talk to patients about their experiences of using health and social care services.

• Visiting health & social care providers, as part of our Enter & View portfolio and activity.

How to become a Healthwatch Champion No qualifications are needed to become a Healthwatch Champion; just a willingness to listen and talk to a range of individuals, an open mind and a desire to raise the voice of local people.

Champions who are authorised by Healthwatch Staffordshire will undertake relevant training and some roles will require a Disclosure and Barring Service check (previously CRB check).

You can become a Champion by: Contacting Healthwatch Staffordshire on 0800 051 8371 or emailing at enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk From here we will send you an information pack with additional information about Healthwatch Staffordshire. This will include a role descriptor for Champions and an application form for you to complete and return to us.

It is only with your support that Healthwatch Staffordshire can make a difference to the quality of local services.

Anyone can apply to become a Healthwatch Champion, however if you wish to take a less active role you can sign up to be a Healthwatch Member where you receive regular updates and newsletters.

EAST STAFFORDSHIRE As part of the changes to the NHS brought about by the Health and Social Care Act 2012, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) ceased to exist on the 31 March 2013.

From April 2013, groups of General Practices known as NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) commission health services for their local populations. Commissioning health services involves identifying the health needs of the population and ‘buying’ the appropriate high quality services necessary to meet those needs within the budget allocated.

CCGs are membership organisations and therefore member GP practices will be central to our work as East Staffordshire CCG. There are 19 member practices catering for the population of around 135,000 in East Staffordshire/ • • • •

Uttoxeter Burton-upon-Trent Abbots Bromley Tutbury

The CCGs vision is that by 2016, people in East Staffordshire will live longer, healthier and happier lives. To do this the East Staffordshire CCG aims to...

• Develop a culture of genuinely Clinician-led commissioning, taking decisions in the best interests of the local population.

• Engage with patients and the public with respect to decisions taken about their health services.

• To ensure that all selected providers have the right level of capacity and capability to undertake the work specified by the CCG. • Focus on quality first by emphasising the importance of getting it right first time. From this efficiency and productivity will follow.

• Establish and strengthen working relationships with Local Medical Committees further enabling successful outcomes in commissioning.

• To work in partnership with other CCGs, the Health and Wellbeing Board and local authorities to improve outcomes for residents and to maximize efficiencies in commissioning.

CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUP Getting Involved with the CCG One of the first areas we have focused on, alongside business development, is engagement.

East Staffordshire CCG aims to communicate and engage with all its stakeholders including patients, carers and the public, commissioning and strategic partners, provider organisations, the voluntary sector, member GP practices and CCG staff, in order to provide high quality healthcare which reflects the needs of the local population. It is therefore vital that we listen to what the community has to say about their healthcare services.

There are a number of ways that you can support East Staffordshire GPs and the Clinical Commissioning Group to shape local healthcare services that meet the needs of local people.

The easiest way for individuals to get involved is to join the Patient Membership Scheme. Anyone is entitled to join if they are registered with a doctor within the East Staffordshire region. The patient membership scheme is designed to give people and organisations the opportunity to have more say in the NHS and actively participate in designing and shaping healthcare services.

East Staffordshire Patient Participation Groups Consisting of a group of volunteer patients, the Practice Manager and one or more of the GPs from a practice, Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) meet on a regular basis to discuss the services on offer and how improvements can be made to benefit all parties.

PPGs help practices to put both the patient and healthcare at the heart of everything they do.

Often the action taken by the PPG’s all depends on the local needs of individuals in the locality.

In East Staffordshire CCG many of our GP practices, have both patient participation groups and virtual patient representation groups. If you would like to know more about your practice Patient Participation Group and how you can become involved, contact your GP Practice directly for further details.

For more information about NHS East Staffordshire CCG visit:www.eaststaffsccg.nhs.uk Write to:NHS East Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group Edwin House Second Avenue Centrum 100 Burton upon Trent Staffordshire DE14 2WF Tel: 01283 507100

CHOOSE WELL

Choose Well Don’t be a time loser, be a time chooser, and make sure you get the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time. Your time is a precious thing. Hundreds of people spend hours at Accident and Emergency each week for minor illness and ailments when other services would have been more appropriate.

Choose Well – Facts and Figures • 51.4m GP consultations are for minor ailments alone, which would clear up by themselves, or with a little help from an over-the-counter remedy from a pharmacy, this is 18 percent of the GP workload nearly half of these consultations are generated by people aged 16 – 59 years.

• Up to 40,000 GP visits per year are for dandruff; 20,000 go to their local surgery for travel-sickness and 5.2 million with blocked noses.

• Two million people who go to A&E could either self-care or have been treated elsewhere in the community 12 percent of people admit to having used A&E in the past even when they knew there was nothing seriously wrong with them.

• The estimated cost of treating people who go to A&E but who could have either self-treated or gone else where, is £136 million a year this is the equivalent cost of 6,500 nurses.

The following pages will provide details of where and when to access the right health services in East Staffordshire and what your choices are.

CHOOSE WELL A&E 999 Open 24/7, 365 days a year.

The A&E department in East Staffordshire is at: Queens Hospital – Belvedere Road, Burton-upon-Trent, DE13 0RB

NHS WALk-IN CENTRE Walk-in centres treat minor illnesses and injuries that don’t need a visit to A&E. Derby Walk-in Centre London Road Community Hospital, Osmaston Road, Derby, DE1 2GD Telephone: 01332 224700 Open 8.00—20.00, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

GP

Our GP surgeries, also have trained nurses who can give advice, take tests, diagnose and be able to treat many illnesses that used to be only dealt with by doctors - making the level of service you can expect from your GP surgery even better than ever.

PHARmACIST

Go to a pharmacist if you have the symptoms of a cough, cold or think you’ve got the flu. A pharmacist is the best place to go as they can usually provide you with the help and information you need on the spot.

NHS 111 NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, and is free to call from landlines and mobiles and offers confidential health advice and information

SELF – CARE Ensure your medicine cabinet is well stocked with • Anti-diarrhoeal medicine • Paracetamol or aspirin • Rehydration mixture • Indigestion mixture • Thermometer • Plasters

ACCIDENT AND EmERGENCY The Emergency Department is for ambulance traffic and critical or lifethreatening situations only, and you should only go there or call 999 if immediate emergency care is needed.

mINOR INjURY UNITS The nearest Minor Injury Unit, for Burton-upon-Trent is at – Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, Trent Valley Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6EF Telephone: 01543 412900 The nearest Minor Injury Unit, for Uttoxeter is at:Haywood Community Hospital, High Lane, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 7AG Telephone: 01782 673500

OUT OF HOURS URGENT CARE If you live in East Staffordshire you should contact Staffordshire Doctors Urgent Care on 0300 7900 247 / 0300 123 0814

GP SURGERY Your local GP surgery provides a range of services including – • General medical advice and treatment for an illness or injury that won’t go away • Routine health checks – Travel advice – Prescriptions • Help managing long-term medical problems • Immunisations and tests • Referrals to a specialist or a hospital

PHARmACIST You can speak to any pharmacist for advice on how to treat lots of minor injuries and common complaints such as coughs, colds, bites, stings, aches and pains. They also offer help with healthy living issues such as losing weight or giving up smoking.

NHS 111 Is a new national telephone service if you need medical help fast, but it’s not life – threatening. NHS 111 provides a new way to ensure people receive the right care, from the right person, in the right time and place.

SELF CARE Many patients make appointments to see their Doctor or Nurse, when they could be using a well stocked medicines cabinet or visiting a pharmacist to treat their symptoms – and getting the same help or advice a lot quicker. Self care is the very best choice you can make for treating very minor illnesses and injuries.

HEALTHY LIVING The choices we make about how we live can have a significant effect on our health. Eating a healthy diet, doing regular exercise, not smoking and not drinking too much alcohol can help you stay well and enjoy a long life.

Keeping fit and healthy can be a challenge if you are living with a long-term condition, but it will make a big difference to your wellbeing. If you’ve been thinking about making changes to your lifestyle, such as stopping smoking, losing weight, eating healthily, drinking a little less alcohol, or doing more exercise, there’s plenty of help and support available.

Talking to your GP and other healthcare workers, including pharmacists, is the first step. They’ll help you look at your lifestyle and suggest changes that are suitable for your condition and any treatment you’re having. Your health or care worker can also let you know about local services that can help you.

Get active, feel fitter, live longer Whatever your age, there's strong scientific evidence that being physically active can help you lead a healthier and even happier life.

Adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. Young people (5-18) should do 60 minutes every day.

If you do this, it can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by up to 50% and lower your risk of early death by up to 30%.

Rethink your drinking Drinking too much alcohol could increase your risk of getting 14 major diseases, including mouth and throat cancers, liver cirrhosis, strokes and mental health problems.

Alcohol is believed to be responsible for as many as 22,000 premature deaths in England and Wales every year. But it’s not just binge drinkers who are at risk: regularly drinking more than the recommended limit can cause significant health problems.

Stop Smoking for good For example, if you want to start exercising but you're unsure how to, your GP can put you on the Exercise on Referral scheme. These schemes are run with local gyms and fitness centres and can include swimming. Ask at your GP practice for more information.

Your GP can also help you if you want to stop smoking, for instance by enrolling you in a clinic where you’ll get support from other people who are also trying to stop. Nicotine replacement therapy and other stop smoking treatments provided by your GP can also help you resist cravings and boost your chances of quitting successfully.

You're never too young or too old to switch to a healthier lifestyle. Children who learn healthy habits at a young age will benefit from them throughout their life. And giving up bad habits can improve your health at any age.

Giving up smoking is probably the best thing you can do to improve your health.

Research shows that smoking is responsible for almost one in five of all deaths in the UK. This means that smoking causes an estimated 110,000 deaths a year.

Smokers are almost twice as likely to have a heart attack as people who have never smoked.

Smoking also increases your risk of developing many cancers and lung disease.

CHOOSING A GP Choosing a GP can seem a daunting task, especially if you have just moved into an area and don't know anything about the local health services. But there are some easy ways to find the doctor to suit you. It's important to be registered with a doctor because you'll need them to refer you for specialist hospital and community treatment services.

A surgery may refuse an application to join its list of patients if: You don't reside in the surgery area It has formally closed its list of patients, eg when a practice has more patients than it can deal with or not enough doctors - this is less common than it used to be.

If your application is refused, the surgery must write to you and give the reasons for this How do I find a surgery?

Most surgeries operate a fairly strict catchment area system, and only those who live within the area may be able to register.

This isn't to be awkward, but ensures a GP can visit a person at home in an emergency in reasonable time.

How do I register?

This is straightforward and far easier than most people realise. Simply take your NHS medical card along to your chosen surgery. You will then be asked to sign a registration form.

Not all NHS trusts issue medical cards. If you don't have one, the receptionist will give you form GMS1 to fill in.

Once you've completed and returned the forms, your local NHS will transfer your medical records to your new surgery and write to you to confirm your registration as a patient with the surgery. Many surgeries ask a new patient to attend a ‘registration medical’ that checks your general health.

What if I can’t get an appointment?

If you can't get a doctor's appointment or have a nonurgent health problem or query, you can contact a nurse by ringing 111 at any time.

Try to avoid attending A&E for minor complaints

GP SURGERIES Your local GP surgery provides a range of services, including general medical advice and treatment for illnesses or injuries that just won’t go away.

Your local GP surgery provides a wide range of family health services, as well as advice on health problems they can also help with.

• • • • •

Vaccinations Examinations and treatment Prescriptions for medicines Referrals to other health services and social services Screening management of long term conditions preventative care

GP Surgery

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PHARMACIES

If you have the symptoms of a cough, cold, or think you’ve got the flu a pharmacist is the best place to go, as they can usually provide you the help and information you need on the spot.

They can also offer help with healthy living issues such as losing weight or giving up smoking.

For opening times and NHS SERVICES available from your Pharmacy Please scan the QR code with your smartphone or visit www.nhs.uk Pharmacy

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DENTISTS Emergency Dental Service Dental Access Centres are available to treat patients who need emergency treatment. This service gives priority to pain relief and urgent care. Not all dentists take on NHS patients, you should check before hand.

Emergency Dentist out of hours: 111 • Emergency Dentist normal working hours: 111 Dental charges depend on the treatment you need to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy. You will only ever be asked to pay one charge for each complete course of treatment, even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish it. If you are referred to another dentist for another, separate course of treatment, you can expect a second charge. Some minor treatments are free.

NHS dental charges from 1 April 2013 Band 1 course of treatment – £18.00 This covers an examination, diagnosis (eg X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if needed, and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant. If you require urgent care, even if your urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one Band 1 charge.

Band 2 course of treatment – £49.00 This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or if your dentist needs to take out one or more of your teeth.

Band 3 course of treatment – £214.00 This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures and bridges.

Dentists

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OPTICIANS & HEARING CENTRES Regular eye tests are important because your eyes don’t usually hurt when something is wrong. Many eye conditions can be treated if found early enough. A sight test is a vital health check for your eyes. It can pick up early signs of conditions that can affect the eyes before you’re aware of any symptoms, Including: Diabetes • macular Degeneration • Glaucoma

Opticians

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Hearing Centres

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ARE YOU A CARER? A Carer spends a significant proportion of their life providing unpaid support to family or friends. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who has a long term illness or disability including mental illness, alcohol or drug misuse or those that are elderly, forgetful or frail.

Caring can be a very difficult , demanding and all-consuming task, no matter how close you are to the person you care for.

Caring can affect your health making you feel tired, frustrated, stressed and feeling guilty leaving you with no time to yourself. In fact 52% of carers need treatment for stress related problems and many carers feel they have to give up work because of the effects caring has on their life.

You are not alone! It is estimated there are around 6.5 million Carers in the UK today. You are certainly not alone, but you still need to take care of yourself as well as the person you care for.

Thankfully, armed with the right support and information caring can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Just follow a few simple tips that can make a real difference.

• Ask for Help: We all need help from time to time and carers are no exception. Help is out there you only need to ask!

• know your rights: It sounds simple, but knowing what you’re entitled to and what support is available can help a great deal.

• Tell your GP: Your GP practice can record that you are a carer to ensure you get your annual flu vaccination and additional support as a carer.

• Have an assessment: This can sound a little daunting at first, but ensuring that you and the person you care for get an assessment of your needs through the Local Authority can give you access to a whole host of additional practical help and support.

• Be a little selfish! We all need time to ourselves, but it’s particularly important for carers.

This could be as simple as setting some me time aside for a relaxing bath or a night out.

There are an estimated 80,000 Carers in Staffordshire,help and support is available locally from the Carers Association Southern Staffordshire or Guideposts.

If you’re a carer and you need someone to talk to, contact: We support unpaid carers of any age in southern Staffordshire, who are looking after a friend or relative, who because of disability, illness or the effects of old age, cannot manage at home without help.

CASS is a registered charity, which provides confidential advice, information and emotional support and a range of other services to Carers living in the districts of Cannock Chase, East Staffs, Lichfield, South Staffs, Stafford and Tamworth. All of these services are free of charge.

The Carers Centre • Austin Friars • Stafford • ST17 4AP Advice Line: 01785 606675 • Admin: 01785 222365 • Fax: 01785 220665 Email: enquiries@carersinformation.org.uk Website: carersinformation.org.uk

INDEPENDENT LIVING Assistive Technology can help vulnerable people and their carers live more independently in their own homes.

Telecare which is part of assistive technology, can support people whose sight, hearing or cognition may have deteriorated. This could be due to physical or mental conditions which may have a long-term effect on their health and wellbeing.

There are many Telecare devices which automatically alert a 24-hour monitoring centre or your chosen carer, should you need assistance.

There are also Telehealth solutions which monitor medical conditions in your own home, speak to your GP to find out more about Telehealth.

Telecare Technology Can: • Raise an alarm in case of a fall or emergency.

• Raise alerts for floods, smoke, carbon monoxide.

• Support a medication regime.

• 24-hour reassurance for family and carers in the knowledge that they will be alerted in the event of an incident.

Telecare may be of benefit to: • Older, infirm or disabled people • People who have been discharged from hospital and need additional support at home • People with sensory impairments • Vulnerable people of any age living alone Telecare also offers support and reassurance to carers in the knowledge they will be alerted in the event of an incident. In this way, Telecare can be of assistance to carers of people with dementia, physical disabilities, learning disabilities and longterm medical conditions.

Aids and Adaptations If you or a member of your family has difficulty living in your home due to a long-term illness or disability, you may be able to get help by adapting your home to better meet your needs. You can apply to your local council for a disabled facilities grant. The grant helps you adapt your home to make it suitable for a disabled person. Depending on your income, you may need to pay towards the cost of the work to the property.

You could get a grant from your council if you’re disabled and need to make changes to your home, for example to: • widen doors and install ramps • improve access to rooms and facilities - eg stairlifts or a downstairs bathroom • provide a heating system suitable for your needs • adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use How can I find out more about the aids and adaptations that would help me?

Contact your social services department at your local council about what difficulties you are having at home. They will send an occupational therapist to carry out an assessment and provide advice on which equipment or housing adaptation needs suit you best.

ADVICE ON PAYING FOR CARE Care and support services are means-tested and are not free to everyone. most people have to pay something towards their own care and some will have to pay for all of the costs. Who pays depends on what your needs are, how much money you have, and what level and type of care and support you require.

You may need to pay for all of your own care, or you may be entitled to local authority funding, NHS care (free) or have entitlements to welfare benefits to help pay for your care and support.

For most people needing social care services, the first place to start is by asking your local authority for an assessment of your social care (care and support) needs. As part of this, the local authority may also carry out a financial assessment. This assessment will determine whether the local authority will meet all the cost of your care, or whether you will need to contribute towards your care cost or whether you will have to meet the full costs yourself. Some of the rules for this financial assessment are applied differently based on whether you need care in your own home or care in a residential home.

There are several options for funding care, and understanding them, and which ones apply to you can be complicated. These options depend on your need for care and support, as well as your personal and financial circumstances.

Get personal advice on care funding The cost of care and support is likely to be a longterm commitment and may be substantial, particularly if you opt for residential care. If you or a member of the family need to pay for care at home or in a care home, it’s important to understand the alternatives. This makes advice tailored to your individual needs vital.

You can get advice from: Your local authority – through an assessment of your care and support needs as well as advice on which services are available locally.

Financial advice from a qualified, independent source – there are independent financial advisers who specialise in care funding advice. They are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and must stick to a code of conduct and ethics and take shared responsibility for the suitability of any product they recommend.

LEGAL TERMS Every day people make decisions about lots of things in their lives. The ability to make decisions is called mental capacity. People may have difficulties making some decisions either all or some of the time. This could be because they have a learning disability, dementia, a mental health problem, or could be the result of a head injury or a stroke or a temporary condition such as an illness, accident or the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Listed below are details about some of the legal terms and topics you may come across. You may need to contact a solicitor who can give you impartial advice which you may have to pay for, or you can contact an advocate who can advise on your behalf.

Lasting Power Of Attorney: allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions about your personal welfare, including healthcare and your financial affairs.

The Court of Protection: can issue Orders directing the management of a person’s property and financial affairs if you are incapable of managing your own affairs and do not have a Lasting Power of Attorney.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards: protects people in residential care or hospital who are unable to make decisions for themselves due to a brain disorder. If any of these people need to be restrained, restricted or deprived, in order to give them physical care or keep them safe, a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisation may be required.

CARE IN YOUR OWN HOME If you are finding it difficult to manage at home you could consider using the services of a home care provider. Home care providers employ care assistants who can help you with bathing, washing and dressing.

The staff who work for these agencies are trained in personal care and safety procedures, moving and handling, hygiene and infection control. If you require nursing care at home, many agencies employ registered nurses.

This is only one option of supporting yourself with care at home. Another could be to employ a personal assistant.

A list of the care agencies registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who are located in the East Staffordshire CCG can be found on the following pages. .

Organising your own home care If you are thinking about arranging your own home care it is a good idea to ask any agencies you approach the following questions • • • • •

Are there different rates for weekends/evenings?

Are there any extra charges i.e. for the carer's travelling expenses?

What sort of services do you provide?

Will somebody visit me before the service starts?

If you provide me with a service, can I contact you out of office hours?

If so, how?

• Are your carers trained?

• Do you take up references on your carers?

• Are you registered with the Care Quality Commission?

To check up-to-date information on the providers of homecare in your locality visit www.cqc.org.uk or scan the QR CODE with your Smartphone.

CARE IN YOUR OWN HOME

Care Agency

Address

Telephone

NURSING & RESIDENTIAL CARE There are many types of residential care homes available.

These include permanent care homes for older people, homes for younger adults with disabilities and homes for children. They may be privately owned or run by the voluntary sector or local authorities. You may want to consider in detail the many options for residential care before you make a decision.

Older People Care homes for older people may provide personal care or nursing care. A care home which is registered to provide personal care (see the section on care home regulation, below) will offer support, ensuring that basic personal needs, such as meals, bathing, going to the toilet and medication, are taken care of. In some homes more able residents have greater independence and take care of many of their own needs.

Some residents may need medical care and some care homes are registered to provide this. These are often referred to as nursing homes. Some homes specialise in certain types of disability, for example, dementia.

Adults Aged 18-65 There are also residential care homes that provide care and support for younger adults with, for example, severe physical disabilities, learning disabilities, acquired brain injury, progressive neurological conditions or mental health problems. Care can be provided for adults with more than

one condition and some homes have expertise in providing care for adults with alcohol or drug dependency.

These homes offer permanent residence or provide care for a temporary period until the adult is able to live independently or move to a different type of accommodation.

Choosing between residential care and independent living Social services normally encourage younger adults who they assess for support to be as independent as their circumstances allow. The care plan for adults with disabilities will consider what independent tasks they can carry out and how they can be helped to achieve more. Even if adults have very severe disabilities their needs are reviewed from time to time to check whether residential care or a very high level of support is still appropriate.

Supported living may be an option for younger adults. This allows people to live independently in the community but with basic support. The support offered includes help with setting up a home and managing finances, and assistance with cleaning and shopping.

For older people there are various alternatives to residential care. These include sheltered housing and extra care housing schemes, which offer independence with an increased level of care and support.

For many people there is also the choice of living independently at home with community care support.

NURSING & RESIDENTIAL CARE

Choice of Accommodation The law says that where the local authority is funding accommodation it must allow the person entering residential care to choose which care home they would prefer. Social services must first agree that the home is suitable for the person’s needs and that it would not cost more than they would normally pay for a home that would meet those needs. If the person chooses to go into a more expensive home, a relative or friend may be able to ‘top up’ the difference in cost.

Choosing a Care Home Care homes may be arranged through the local authority but many people will want to arrange them independently. It is a good idea to visit several homes before making a choice. Make sure you spend enough time in each home to get a good idea of what it is like.

Respite and Short Term Stays Residential care home stays don't necessarily have to be permanent. Temporary stays can be arranged for respite care (in which you take a break from caring for somebody else), or as a trial period before a permanent stay.

Temporary stays can give you flexibility when covering unexpected events, such as: • Palliative care (which manages or reduces pain) after a hospital stay or illness • Support for newly disabled people and their carers • Enabling someone to continue living independently if they live alone and suddenly require care • Giving someone a chance to try potential future homes What your choices are: A list of all nursing and residential care homes within your locality can be found on the following pages. Every care home in England must be registered with the national regulatory body Care Quality Commission (CQC).

They inspect each care home on a regular basis and write an inspection report for you to read. It is advisable to read this report before making a final decision.

RESIDENTIAL & NURSING

Residential

Address

To check up-to-date information on the Nursing and Residential care homes within your locality visit www.cqc.org.uk or scan the QR CODE WITH YOUR SmARTPHONE

Telephone

RESIDENTIAL & NURSING

Nursing

Address

Telephone

HELP & ADVICE Services offered include • Information and Advice Service • Lunch Club – every Wednesday.

Covers Burton-upon-Trent (Only) Age Uk Burton Voluntary Services Centre, Union Street Car Park, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1AA Tel: 01283 510106

Services offered include • Information and Advice Service • Benefits Support Covers all of East Staffordshire except Burton-upon-Trent.

Age Uk South Staffordshire, Penkridge Resource Centre, The Roller mill, Teddesley Road, Penkridge, Stafford, ST19 5BD or Age Uk South Staffordshire, Uttoxeter, Uttoxeter Resource Centre, Holly Road, Uttoxeter, ST14 7DX Tel: 01785 788 477 or 01785 788 499 Providing information and support to people with dementia and their carers/families across Staffordshire • Community Support • Day Centres • Dementia Cafes Staffordshire Local Service Office, 8-9 Windsor Court, Trent Valley Road, Lichfield, WS13 6EU Tel: 01543 255 955 Helping people with a learning disability to speak up and make decisions about what is important to them Lines are open 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday 0808 808 1111 Call the Carers Direct helpline if you need help with your caring role and want to talk to someone about what options are available to you. If you are busy at certain times of day, you can send us a message to ask us to call you back for free at a time that is convenient to you.

This service is available for people living in or caring for someone in England. Lines are open 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays) 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines and mobiles or you can request a free call back. Call Carers Direct on 0808 802 0202 Free, confidential, impartial and independent advice.

We can offer help with a range of problems, including debt, benefits, housing, employment, consumer, relationships and discrimination East Staffordshire Citizens Advice Bureau, Suite 8, Anson Court, Horninglow Street, Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 1NG Tel: 01283 566722 or 0844 4111 444 Have your say on Health and Social Care.

Healthwatch Staffordshire Tel: 0800 051 8371 • Website: www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk Email: enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk

The South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health is a charity within mental health to champion service user involvement and to ensure that people with experience of mental illness have a say in how local services are developed and delivered. They provide up to date and useful information on local services and projects, signposting to services helpful to an individual. They also provide a volunteer programme, helping people to make a difference within their community, and challenge stigma and discrimination of people with experience of mental illness. Individuals can join for free to receive SSN Mental Health newsletter by post or email four times a year.

South Staffordshire Network for mental Health mansell House, 22 Bore Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LL Tel: 01543 301139 Website: www.ssnmentalhealth.co.uk Email: sunetwork@ssnmentalthealth.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/ssnmentalhealth • Twitter: @ssnmentalhealth The MS Society is the UK’s leading MS charity, who provides information and support to people with Multiple Sclerosis Free mS Helpline The helpline provides support to anyone affected by MS in the UK. Lines are open 9am – 9pm Monday – Friday 0808 800 8000 m.S Society – Burton-upon-Trent Branch, Burton-upon-Trent Telephone: 01283 812945 • Website: www.mssociety.org.uk/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mSSociety • Twitter: @mssocietyuk East Staffordshire Community & Voluntary Services offers information, advice and support to community and voluntary groups across the East Staffordshire district.

East Staffordshire Community & Voluntary Services Voluntary Services Centre, Union Street, Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 1AA Tel: 01283 543414 • Website: www.escvs-news.org.uk/ East Staffordshire Rights & Equality Council (ESREC) is a voluntary organisation which works towards the elimination of discrimination through the promotion of equal opportunities and good relations, between people of different backgrounds.

ESREC is a registered charity providing a service to victims of protected characteristics, primarily in East Staffordshire and surrounding areas.

East Staffordshire Rights / Racial Equality Council (ESREC) Voluntary Services Centre, Union Street, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1AA Tel: 01283 510456 • Website: www.eaststaffsrec.org.uk The Staffordshire Neurological Alliance exists to provide a united voice for those affected by any of the 80 or so neurological conditions and address the wide disparity in provision across the county.

Staffordshire Neurological Alliance 4 Bracken View, Brocton, Stafford, ST17 0TF Website: www.staffsneurologicalalliance.org.uk/ The Stroke Association is there to provide information, advice and support for people with strokes and their carers. This service is available for all individuals who live throughout East Staffordshire (Burton-upon-Trent, Uttoxeter etc) The National Stroke Hotline provides help and support to anyone affected by strokes in the UK. Lines are open 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday. 0303 3033 100 / 0845 3033 100 Stroke Association – Burton and District Stroke Club Henhurst Wood, Henhurst Hill, Burton-upon-Trent, DE13 9TB Website: www.stroke.org.uk/support/burton-district-stroke-club

Making your

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