Issue 2 south staffordshire

Issue 2

Staffordshire

Health & Social Care Signposting Directory 2014

Covers services within the districts: 3 Lichfield 3 South Staffordshire 3 Tamworth

CONTENTS Contents About Healthwatch Staffordshire Have Your Say on Health & Social Care Healthwatch Champions Clinical Commissioning Group Expressing Complaints & Concerns Choose Well Healthy Living Choosing a GP GP Surgeries Pharmacies Dentists Opticians & Hearing Centres Complementary & Alternative Medicine Advice on Funding for Healthcare Personal Health Budgets Advice on Funding for Social Care Telecare & Telehealth Services Independent Living at Home Are you a Carer?

Care in your Own Home Choosing Between Residential, Nursing & Independent Living Residential Care Costs Choosing the Right Care Home Residential & Nursing Care Help & Advice From Healthwatch Staffordshire Partners

Disclaimer This Directory has been compiled to signpost primary health and social care providers throughout Staffordshire.

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 can be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

All signposting services are up to date as of August 2014.

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 or Healthwatch Staffordshire of any product, service or supplier should be implied.

Another quality publication by Healthcare Publications

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

ABOUT HEALTHWATCH STAFFORDSHIRE Healthwatch Staffordshire is the independent consumer champion for health and social care in Staffordshire. Our job is to argue for the consumer interests of those using health and social care services across the county, and give local people an opportunity to speak out about their concerns and health care priorities.

Healthwatch Staffordshire is delivered by Engaging Communities (ECS) 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 powers does Healthwatch have?

• Healthwatch Staffordshire has a seat on the Staffordshire Health and Wellbeing Board - the body that oversees health and social care in the county and therefore can influence how services are set up and commissioned • We have statutory powers to Enter and View health and social care services using our trained Healthwatch authorised representations. All our reports can be found on our website • A place on the Quality Surveillance Group which monitors the quality of health provision • Healthwatch Staffordshire is backed by the national body Healthwatch England

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 in Staffordshire • Passes information, issues and concerns to health and social care regulatory bodies and escalates recommendations to Healthwatch England

What have we done so far?

Below is a testimonial which highlights some of the work we have done as Healthwatch in your local area.

‘‘Working in partnership with Healthwatch has been a crucial part of our engagement model as South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula Clinical Commissioning Group. The Healthwatch membership scheme is an excellent way to share our key messages and also gain feedback from patients to feed into our strategy and influence decisions…We have commissioned independent work such as the survey of A&E services at Good Hope Hospital and these findings can be triangulated with responses from other A&E surveys to ensure key themes can be looked at.”

Fleur Fernando, Engagement and Partnership Manager from South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Contact us

There are lots of ways people can get in touch with Healthwatch Staffordshire:

Write to us at:

Healthwatch Staffordshire, Suite 2, Opus House, Priestly Court, Staffordshire Technology Park, Stafford, ST18 0LQ

Freephone:

Call us: 0800 051 8371

Email us:

enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk

Visit our website:

www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk

Follow us on

@HWStaffordshire

Like us on Facebook at Healthwatch Staffordshire

Staffordshire

HAVE YOUR SAY ON HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE What matters is making your voice count and your local health and social care services are guided and shaped by your feedback. We need your experiences to inform best practice and highlight issues so that something can be done quickly.

The Healthwatch Staffordshire Experience Exchange is a new feedback centre which allows you to review any health and social care provision in Staffordshire. Search for the name of the establishment or click through using the simple service button and area filters. You can then leave your feedback about your experience on a number of aspects of service by whether your experience was negative, neutral or positive.

You can choose from a range of health and social care organisations in your local area.

Including:• • • • • • • • • • • •

Care in your own Home Providers Community Services Dentists GP Out of Hours/ 111 GP Surgeries Hospices Hospitals Mental Health Hospitals Opticians Pharmacies Residential Homes Walk-in Centres

Below is an example of how the Experience Exchange will appear.

Sir Robert Peel Hospital

One of the Hospitals covering Tamworth Borough Council, Lichfield District Council and East Staffordshire Borough Council.

Address:

Contract Details: External Reviews:

Plantation Lane, Mile Oak Tamworth, B78 3NG 01827 263800 www.burtonhospitals.nhs.uk Quality Care Commission

Tell us how you feel about Sir Robert Peel Hospital Cleanliness of Staff and Facilities Staff Attitude Waiting Time

The Quality and Variety of Food

Staff Communications before, during and after Treatment

To find out more join us on our website and visit our new feedback platform at www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk/x2/

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.

The role of a Champion includes:

• 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 • Visit health & social care providers, as part of our Enter & View portfolio and activities

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 us 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.

Staffordshire

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, to receive regular updates and bulletins.

CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUP The CCG has brought together feedback from member practices, stakeholders and the public to determine a number of key priorities that reflect the needs of the local population.

These priorities are as follows:

Priority 1: Frail Older People

The CCG’s ambition for frail older people is for them to live a fulfilled and active life and be supported to make decisions throughout their life.

Priority 2: Long Term Conditions

South East Staffordshire & Seisdon Peninsula Clinical Commissioning Group CCGs are GP led organisations; there are 31 member practices catering for a population of around 212,000 across two localities.

STAFFORD & SURROUNDS CCG

EAST STAFFORDSHIRE CCG

CANNOCK CHASE CCG SOUTH EAST STAFFORDSHIRE LOCALITY (TAMWORTH OFFICE)

SELSDON LOCALITY

(CODSALL OFFICE)

We are committed to working in partnership with local people and organisations to ensure the services we commission are in line with the needs of the community, as demonstrated by our recent ‘Call to Action’ events, through which we sought the views of local people to contribute to our planning.

The CCG’s ambition is to ensure that the entire pathway from prevention through to end of life is addressed for patients with long term conditions and deliver high quality patient centred care in a cost effective way, by well trained staff, promoting self-care and independent living.

Priority 3: Quality Improvement

The CCG’s priority is to review and amend existing approaches to quality.

These priorities are considered as we plan for the future of healthcare across our two localities, and inform the programmes of work we embark upon as we strive to improve health outcomes for patients.

CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUP Getting Involved with the CCG

South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula CCG is committed to providing high quality healthcare that genuinely reflects the needs of the local population. It is therefore vital that we listen to what the community has to say about healthcare services. As such we are committed to genuine and proactive engagement with anyone who wants to work with them to achieve their aims.

We encourage anyone with an interest in healthcare across Staffordshire to join Healthwatch, as this is the best way of staying in touch with local healthcare issues, and find out how you can have your say.

If you wish to become more involved in how the views of local people are heard within the CCG, you may wish to consider joining the Patient Participation Group (PPG) of your local surgery.

27 of our 31 practices now have PPGs, either physical groups who have regular meetings, or virtual groups where the conversation flows online.

The PPGs are represented at a local level by the District Engagement Groups (DEGs), of which we have one representing Seisdon Peninsula, and one concerned with the issues in South East Staffordshire.

Finally, members of our DEGs are elected to form part of our Patient Council. This group is chaired by our Lay Member for Patient and Public Involvement, and gives patients a voice in the planning of the CCG.

For more information about South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula CCG visit: www.sesandspccg.nhs.uk

Our CCG now has a single Point of Contact

Our single point of contact is a central email address that anyone can use to give us feedback on the services we commission. You can also use our telephone or fax number, or our postal address.

What can I use it for?

The single point of contact is primarily intended to collect information about the services we commission, both positive and negative experiences allow us to build up a clearer picture of the quality of services and patient opinion, helping us to commission services more effectively and identify areas of concern that may need investigation.

When to contact PALS

If you have a complaint about services you have received, you should in the first instance contact the PALS or complaints service of the NHS Trust who provided the service. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can use our single point of contact to escalate the issue.

You can contact our Single Point of Contact:

NHS South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula Clinical Commissioning Group, Merlin House, Etchell Road, Tamworth Staffordshire, B78 3HF Tel: 01827 306148 Email: sessp.ccg@nhs.net Follow us on twitter: @sessp_ccg

EXPRESSING COMPLAINTS & CONCERNS

If you have attended Good Hope Hospital you should contact.

Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust PALS Tel: 0121 424 0808 Email: patientservices@heartofengland.nhs.uk

If you want to make a complaint or express a concern about any aspect of treatment or care received from any of the providers in your local area, the following pages outline who you should contact.

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 and are willing to receive complaints. 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

To express a concern you should contact Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust PALS. 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 Tel: 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 have attended any of the Hospitals which are part of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust you should contact: The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust PALS Tel: 01902 695362 / 07880 601085 Email: rwh-tr.pals@nhs.net

If you have attended any of the Hospitals which make up The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust you should contact: The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trusts PALS Tel: 0800 073 0510 / 01384 244420 Email: pals@dgh.nhs.uk

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

EXPRESSING COMPLAINTS & CONCERNS

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 Tel: 0800 318850

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/contact-us/complaint Email: England.contactus@nhs.net

NHS Complaints Support Service The NHS Complaints Support Services 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 from an NHS service.

Delivered by POhWER, their 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

If you are unhappy with the way in which the NHS has handled a complaint you can contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman at: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW19 4QP. Tel: 0345 015 4033 Web: 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

• 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

POhWER Unit 25 & 32, Staffordshire University Business Village, Dyson Way, Staffordshire Technology Park, Stafford, Staffordshire ST18 0TW Tel: 0300 456 2370 Email: pohwer@pohwer.net Web: www.pohwer.net

Your health, your choices

CHOOSE WELL A&E 999

Accident & Emergency Department is for ambulance traffic and critical or life-threatening situations only, and you should only go there or call 999 if immediate emergency care is needed.

GP Urgent Care NHS WALK-IN CENTRE

Walk-in centres treat minor illnesses and injuries that don’t need a visit to A&E.

Walsall Walk-in Centre 19-20 Digbeth, Market Square, Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 1QZ Tel: 01922 605730 Open 8.00 - 20.00 7 days a week, 365 days a year

GP SURGERY

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.

PHARMACIST

Go to a pharmacist if you have the symptoms of a cough, cold or think you’ve got the flu.

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 nearest A&E departments are:

• QUEENS HOSPITAL Belvedere Road, Burton upon Trent, DE13 0RB

• GOOD HOPE HOSPITAL Rectory Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B75 7RR

MINOR INJURY UNITS

LICHFIELD - Samuel Johnson Community Hospital Trent Valley Road, Lichfield, WS13 6EF Tel: 01543 412900

TAMWORTH - Sir Robert Peel Hospital Plantation Lane, Mile Oak, Tamworth, B78 3NG Tel: 01827 263800

SEISDON PENINSULA - Holly Hall Clinic Stourbridge Road, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 2ER Tel: 0330 123 9225 OUT OF HOURS URGENT CARE If you live in Lichfield or Tamworth you should contact Staffordshire Doctors Urgent Care on 0300 7900 247 If you live in the Seisdon Peninsula you should contact the NHS 111 service on 111.

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.

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.

Stop smoking for good

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.

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.

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 non-urgent health problem or query, you can contact a nurse by ringing 111 at any time.

What if I have a complaint or concern about my GP or Practice?

First raise it with the staff member concerned or the Practice Manager.

It may just be an issue of poor communication.

Ask at your practice for a copy of their Complaints process to follow.

If you are not happy with how they respond to your concerns then you can write to NHS England and they will allocate someone to look into your complaint.

Write to NHS England PO Box 16738, Redditch, B97 9PT. Tel: 0300 311 22 33 Email: england.contactus@nhs.net

If you want to help improve services in your GP practice you can join a Patient Participation Group.

Ask at the practice for details of how to join yours.

GP SURGERIES Lichfield Surgeries

Address

Telephone

Seisdon Peninsula Surgeries

Address

Telephone

Tamworth Surgeries

Address

Telephone

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 with 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.

Make sure you have repeat prescriptions

If you or someone you care for requires medicines regularly, make sure you order and collect repeat prescriptions in good time to ensure you or your family have enough medicine to last i.e. weekends, Bank holidays and breaks away.

Many of the calls to out of hours health services are for emergency repeat prescriptions when people have run out of their medication - a situation that could be avoided with some forethought and planning. By thinking ahead for your regular medication you are helping our busy out of hour’s doctors and nurses.

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

PHARMACIES Lichfield Pharmacies

Address

Telephone

Seisdon Peninsula Pharmacies

Address

Telephone

Tamworth Pharmacies

Address

Telephone

DENTISTS Lichfield Dentists

Address

Telephone

Seisdon Peninsula Dentists

Address

Telephone

Tamworth Dentists

Address

Telephone

NHS DENTAL CHARGES Band 1 course of treatment

£18.50

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

£50.50

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

£219.00

This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures and bridges.

OPTICIANS & HEARING CENTRES Lichfield Opticians

Address

Telephone

Seisdon Peninsula Opticians

Address

Telephone

Tamworth Opticians

Address

Telephone

Hearing Centres

Address

Telephone

Regular eye tests are important because your eyes don't usually hurt when something is wrong. A sight test is a vital health check for your eyes that can pick up early signs of eye conditions before you're aware of any symptoms – many of which can be treated if found early enough.

What your eye test will show

A sight test will show if you need to: Get glasses for the first time or change your current glasses

A sight test will also include a general health check that can pick up early signs of eye disease before you’re aware of any symptoms. Some health conditions can affect the eyes such as: Diabetes, Macular Degeneration or Glaucoma

Your Sight Test

It’s recommended that adults have their eyes tested every two years, unless their ophthalmic practitioner advises them to have a sight test more often than that.Your employer may pay for this test for you so ask for advice on this, and if you are over 60 your test is free of charge.

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COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE If you're thinking about whether or not to use a complementary or alternative medicine, the first step is to learn as much as possible about the treatment.

The availability of complementary and alternative treatments on the NHS is limited. Some, such as acupuncture, may be offered by the NHS. You should find out:

What is the evidence that this treatment is safe for you to take? For example, Ginseng has been associated with higher blood pressure and may be inappropriate if you already have raised blood pressure (hypertension).

If you are using complementary or alternative medicine to treat a health condition - what is the evidence that the treatment works for your condition?

Acupuncture

There is no one health condition or set of conditions that acupuncture is meant to treat.

Instead, Acupuncturists use the treatment for an extremely wide range of health conditions.

Sometimes, patients combine acupuncture with conventional treatments that have been prescribed by a GP or Hospital Consultant. If you are being treated by an Acupuncturist for a health condition, it is advisable to discuss this with your GP. Acupuncture is often used to treat musculoskeletal conditions (of the bones and muscles) and pain conditions, including: • • • • • •

Headache and migraine Chronic pain - including neck and back pain Joint pain Dental pain Post-operative pain Post-operative nausea and vomiting

• Slipped discs • Leg pain and sciatica • Pain or problems with hip, knee, ankle and foot joints • Pain or problems with elbow, wrist and hand joints • Fibromyalgia

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is used for an extremely wide range of health conditions. Among the most common conditions that people seek homeopathic treatment for are: • • • • • • • •

Asthma Ear infections Hay fever Mental health conditions, such as depression, stress and anxiety Allergies, such as food allergies Dermatitis (an allergic skin condition) Arthritis High blood pressure

Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a way of detecting, treating and preventing health problems by moving, stretching and massaging a person’s muscles and joints.

Conditions commonly treated with osteopathy: • • • • • • •

Lower back pain Neck pain Shoulder pain Arthritis Problems with the pelvis, hips and legs Sports injuries Problems with posture caused by driving, work or pregnancy

Hypnotherapy

Chiropractic

Hypnotherapy is a type of complementary therapy that uses hypnosis, an altered state of consciousness.

Conditions commonly treated by chiropractors could include:

• • • •

Chiropractic treatments are often used for musculoskeletal conditions (affecting the muscles, bones and joints).

• Lower back pain • Neck pain • Shoulder pain and problems

When might it be helpful?

Irritable bowel syndrome Losing weight and quitting smoking Skin conditions Anxiety, pregnancy and childbirth

ADVICE ON FUNDING FOR HEALTHCARE 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.

The main sources of support are the NHS and your local Social Services department, depending on your circumstances.

NHS care

The NHS is responsible for funding certain types of healthcare and equipment you may need. In some situations, the NHS is also responsible for meeting care needs. This is usually when someone’s need is mainly for healthcare rather than social care. NHS care could be provided in hospital but it can also be in someone’s own home or elsewhere in the community.

When care is provided through the NHS there is no financial assessment and no care charges to pay.

However, people are only eligible for NHS care in certain circumstances.

NHS continuing healthcare

If the person you care for has very severe and complex health needs, they may qualify for NHS continuing healthcare. This is an ongoing package of care that’s fully funded by the NHS.

Nursing care

If someone goes into a residential care home but needs some element of nursing care, they’ll get a payment from the NHS to help pay for their nursing care. This is called a registered nursing care contribution (RNCC).

Intermediate care

Some people can be eligible for intermediate care from the NHS. This is provided on a short-term basis and is intended to help people recover from an injury or illness and stay independent.

Intermediate care is often provided to elderly people who are being discharged from hospital, and may help someone to keep living in their own home rather than moving into a care home.

Aftercare

People who were previously detained in hospital under certain sections of the Mental Health Act will have their aftercare services provided free.

PERSONAL HEALTH BUDGETS Personal Health Budgets

Personal health budgets are being introduced by the NHS to help people manage their care in a way that suits them.

They have been piloted in a number of places across England and, from April 2014, anyone receiving NHS continuing healthcare will have a right to ask for a personal health budget.

What is a Personal Health Budget?

A personal health budget is an amount of money to support your identified health and wellbeing needs, planned and agreed between you and your local NHS team. The aim is to give people with long-term conditions and disabilities greater choice and control over the healthcare and support they receive.

Personal health budgets work in a similar way to the personal budgets that many people are already using to manage and pay for their social care.

Together with your NHS team (such as a GP) you will develop a care plan. The plan sets out your personal health and wellbeing needs, the health outcomes you want to achieve, the amount of money in the budget and how you are going to spend it.

You can use a personal health budget to pay for a wide range of items and services, including therapies, personal care and equipment. This will allow you more choice and control over the health services and care you receive.

You don’t have to change any healthcare or support that is working well for you just because you get a personal health budget, but if something isn’t working, you can change it.

Who can have a personal health budget?

The first group to be able to ask for a personal health budget, from April 2014, will be people getting NHS continuing healthcare, which is NHSfunded long-term health and personal care provided outside hospital.

Local NHS organisations will be free to offer personal health budgets to other people if they think an individual will benefit. It is the Government’s long-term aim, to introduce a right to a personal health budget for people who would benefit from it.

Can I have a personal health budget as well as a personal budget for social care and support?

Yes. If you already have a personal budget for care and support from social services and your NHS team agrees, you can also have a personal health budget and ask for both to be combined.

Do I have to have a personal health budget?

No. If having a personal health budget does not work for you, your local NHS will provide the care you need as it has always done.

What is the difference between a personal health budget, a personal budget, an individual budget and a direct payment?

A personal health budget is for your NHS healthcare and support needs.

A personal budget is for your social care and support needs.

An individual budget includes your social care and support needs plus other funding, such as independent living.

A direct payment is one way of managing these budgets, where you get the cash to buy the agreed care and support you need.

Key points

• Personal health budgets should help people get a better service from the NHS. They should not make things worse.

• You do not have to have a personal health budget if you do not want one.

• You should have as much control over decisions as you want.

• NHS and social care organisations should work in partnership with you and with each other.

• If you are not able to have a personal health budget, you can still speak to your NHS team about how your needs can be met in another way that is more personal to you.

ADVICE ON FUNDING FOR SOCIAL CARE If someone isn’t eligible for free care from the NHS, their main source of support will be social services. In this case, there are rules that determine whether or not they have to make a financial contribution. These rules vary depending on whether the care is provided in a care home or in their own home.

Direct payments

If you or the person you're looking after has difficulty with their personal care, they should consider getting support from social services by having a community care assessment of their needs.

Direct payments are part of a move towards ‘personalised’ social care so that people have more choice and control over the support they get, letting you choose and buy the services you need yourself, rather than having it arranged for you by social services.

Local authority community care

Your income (including any benefits) and capital will be taken into account when calculating whether you have to pay anything towards the care that you or they will receive.

In some cases a person may have a mixed package of care, including some that is NHS-funded and some that is provided by social services, for which they may be charged.

Normally, an assessment is carried out before a service can be provided by the social services department of a local authority. However, if the services are needed urgently, the local authority can provide a service without carrying out the assessment.

The local authority uses the community care assessment to decide whether a person needs a community care service and, if they do, whether it can be provided by the local authority.

The assessment considers what types of services are needed by the person being assessed.

A wide range of services could be needed, from aids and adaptations in the person's own home to care workers or residential care.

Where there are disputes about the process of the assessment or the care plan, there are ways that decisions can be challenged. For more information, please speak to your local Healthwatch team.

The local authority is obliged to carry out a community care assessment when they become aware that someone may be in need of community care services. This may mean that an assessment is offered even if you or the person you look after have not specifically requested one.

If you are assessed as needing community care services and qualify for social services funding, they must offer you direct payments as an option.

If someone isn't able to manage their own direct payments, it's possible for another person to manage the direct payments on their behalf.

It's important to know that if you receive a direct payment to pay a care worker or personal assistant, you become an employer and have legal responsibilities.

Direct payments can be made to: • Disabled people aged 16 or over (with short or long-term needs)

• Disabled parents for children’s services

• Carers aged 16 or over (including people with parental responsibility for a disabled child) • Elderly people who need community care services

Choosing direct payments

The choice of direct payments is voluntary. If you decide to have direct payments, you can change your mind about this at any time. If you no longer want direct payments, contact your local social services and ask them to arrange services instead.

It's possible to try direct payments by asking social services for a direct payment for some of your support while you continue to get your other support directly from social services.

Direct payments can only be spent on things that will meet the assessed needs of the person getting them. If you spend a direct payment on something that doesn't meet your needs, social services can recover the money from you.

Everyone who gets support from social services should have their needs reassessed at least once a year.

To contact your Local Authority Department for an assessment or to be re-assessed please call: 0300 111 8010 Email: staffordshirecares@staffordshire.gov.uk

TELECARE & TELEHEALTH SERVICES Telecare is a service that enables people, especially older and more vulnerable individuals, to live independently in their own home. 90% of people say that that is their wish and telecare allows it to happen. Equally it gives peace of mind to family, friends and carers, knowing that when they are unable to watch over their loved ones, telecare will.

Telecare is as much about the philosophy of dignity and independence as it is about technology and services. The service package, and choice of technology, is provided to support the individual in their home and is tailored to meet their needs. It can be as simple as the basic social alarm service, able to respond 24/7 in a given situation, it can include sensors and triggers such as motion or fall detectors and fire and gas alarms, that trigger a warning to a response centre staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It can also include location devices that can be used to enable an individual to have security outside of their home.

As well as responding to an immediate need, telecare can work in a preventative mode, with services programmed to monitor an individual's health or well-being. Often known as lifestyle monitoring, this can provide early warning of deterioration, prompting a response from family or professionals.

Telehealth equipment is used to monitor your health in your own home. It can be equipment to measure your blood pressure, blood glucose levels or your weight. This can reduce the number of visits you make to your GP and unplanned visits to the hospital. You’re taught how to do the tests on yourself and the measurements are automatically transmitted to your doctor or nurse, who can then see the information without you having to leave home. They can let you know if they have any concerns.

Telecare and telehealth can be used on their own or in combination in order to best meet the needs of the individual and get the best fit with local services, including those provided by family and friends. The services need to balance technology with other forms of care and support and be reviewed in the same way as all other packages of health and social care.

For more information about telehealth and telecare services, visit www.telecare.org.uk or speak to your GP, social worker or local authority

Telecare & Telehealth can be of benefit to:

• Older, frail or disabled people or those temporarily unwell after perhaps an operation • People who have been discharged from hospital and need to be able to get help at home if needed • Vulnerable people of any age living alone

• Reassurance to partners, family and carers of people with dementia, medical conditions or disabilities be that physical, mental or sensory

To benefit from the service all you need is a phone line and modern electric plug socket. This range of technology offers extra independence and peace of mind. Pictured overleaf are some of our most popular devices, however, many more are available.

TELECARE & TELEHEALTH SERVICES Examples of Telecare Equipment: These can be carried with you around the home and in your garden (within 50 metres). In an emergency simply press the alarm button and a message is sent directly to the Lifeline Control Centre.

Falls Detector Will sense if you fall and automatically alert us. We will get help to you quickly.

Flood Detector Will alert you and us when a bath or sink is overflowing.

Smoke Detector Will alert you and us if smoke or fire is detected in your home. Your house is safe even when you are not in it.

Exit Alert Will detect and alert us if a door is opened, and can help should a person be at risk of wandering.

Bed Sensor Will alert you and us if a person does not return to their bed. This could indicate a fall has occurred.

Telecare Panic Button This system offers reassurance to anyone at home alone. The pendant is linked into an on site telecare alarm unit. If you are concerned about any situation, you simply need to press the button. If support is required operators will raise an alarm should the incident be critical.

INDEPENDENT LIVING AT HOME Suggestions for making life easy: External Adaptations

• Handrail at front or rear entrance of dwelling • Provision of whirly clothes line or path leading to clothes line • Widening of paths around the property • Defining steps for people with visual impairments • Outdoor lighting • Paved areas for wheelchairs

Around one in five adults in the UK is disabled, and more than 1 million of those live alone. With the right support and facilities, leading an independent life with a physical or learning disability is now more achievable than ever.

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 are 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 on 0300 111 8010 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.

General Internal Adaptations • • • • • • • • • • •

Additional stair rail Changing door knobs to lever handles Lowering of Yale locks Re-siting of electrical sockets at a convenient level Additional power points Provision of intercom & door unlock systems Provision of rocker light switches Adjustments to or additional lighting Relocation of clothes hanging rails Accessible window openings Provision of letter cages or delivery shelves in entrance hall

Kitchens and Bathrooms

• Lowering or replacement of high wall hung cupboards • Additional storage space in kitchen • Lowering of cooker mains switch • Installation of extractor fan with accessible controls • Level access shower • Overbath shower • Provision of non-slip/tactile surface • Provision of storage space for wheelchair • Ramps • Special baths • Special toilets • Step in shower • Widening doors for wheelchair access

Major Adaptations

• Bathroom extensions (ground floor showers & W.C’s) • Bedroom extensions • Hardstandings • Major internal rearrangements • Re-design or re-organisation of existing kitchen • Stairlifts • Vertical through floor lifts

ARE YOU A CARER? A carer is anybody who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty or disability. All the care they give is unpaid and about one in ten of us is a carer. Many carers don't see themselves as carers and it takes carers an average of two years to acknowledge their role as a carer.

It can be difficult for carers to see their caring role as separate from the relationship they have with the person they care for, whether they are a parent, son, daughter, sibling or friend and many people do not see themselves as carers. They simply may think of themselves as a friend or family of the person they care for.

It is because of this that they often don’t realise that there is help available to them as well, such as how to get: • Assessments • Direct payments • Home care • Housing adaptations • Funding for short breaks or respite Some carers can suffer from poor health because of the demands of their caring role. For example, back pain can result from lifting or moving the person being cared for. It may also be difficult to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine while caring.

Without the right support, being a carer can be an extremely stressful role.

• 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 and their needs. Your 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.

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

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.

A list of the care agencies registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which are located in Lichfield, Seisdon Peninsula and Tamworth can be found on the following page.

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?

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

Are your carers trained? Are you registered with the Care Quality Commission?

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

CARE IN YOUR OWN HOME Lichfield Care Providers

Address

Telephone

Seisdon Peninsula Care Providers

Address

Telephone

Tamworth Care Providers

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Telephone

CHOOSING BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL, 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 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 & INDEPENDENT LIVING 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 are your choices?

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.

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

RESIDENTIAL CARE COSTS In some cases the residential care needed by the person you're looking after may be paid for by the NHS under the NHS continuing care scheme. The care may also be provided free of charge because it is 'intermediate care'. It may be free because the person you're looking after has previously been a mental health inpatient. If this is the case, the services are funded under the Mental Health Act. Residential care is also free if the local authority could charge but decides not to do so. This can occur if the stay in residential care is only temporary (normally less than eight weeks), or if the residential care is for a child. If none of the above applies, the person you're looking after will be given a financial assessment. This is also known as a means-tested assessment. They will be required to give information about their income and capital. There are rules that determine how income and capital are treated. Some types, including benefits, can be disregarded. The financial assessment will work out how much the person you're looking after will be expected to contribute towards the cost of their care home fees.

Owning Property

There are rules that explain how the property of the person you're looking after will be taken into account In some cases it can be disregarded, this is the case if a partner is still living in the property.

The capital limit for residential care is ÂŁ23,250.

Local authorities will investigate if they believe that the person you're looking after has deliberately reduced their capital to avoid paying care home fees. There is a scheme called the deferred payment scheme which allows someone who goes into care to keep their property and still get help from the local authority with paying care home fees. The local authority recovers the fees from the proceeds when the property is sold. This scheme can also be used if there is a delay in selling a property.

Self-funders

After the means-tested assessment, the person you're looking after may receive a decision that they will have to pay their own care home fees.

People paying their own fees are referred to as self-funders. Self-funders will still receive advice about the arrangements for residential care. Once a self-funder's capital reaches ÂŁ23,250 the local authority is responsible for helping out with the care home fees. This will require another assessment.

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 in a care home, it’s important to seek advice tailored to your individual needs.

The cost of your care will vary depending on its type, intensity, specialisation, location and duration. For example, a place in a residential care home will cost hundreds of pounds a week.

Decisions that have such financial implications should be made with advice and only after considering the costs of alternatives.

For example, the cost of a care home needs to be weighed against the cost of care and support that may help you remain in your existing accommodation.

The costs of long-term care can be significant and how you may wish to arrange to pay for it is a big financial decision for most people. Cost can vary across the country and different care homes will charge different amounts based on the level of care needs, the quality of the accommodation, or the area of England it is in.

Few of us will have the income or ready access to the cash to pay for their ongoing care needs. Often people find that they need to sell or remortgage their home to pay for care or enter into an equity release scheme. Before taking such significant financial steps it is advisable to get proper independent financial advice. For advice on selffunding care, visit the Money Advice Service or the Society of Later Life Advisers. You may also have previously arranged an investment or insurance plan to fund your care. Again, it is worth taking independent advice on these potentially significant financial arrangements.

Find out more about paying for care on the websites of: www.ageuk.org.uk www.carersuk.org www.findmegoodcare.co.uk www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk www.societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CARE HOME All care homes vary in their quality, and it can be hard to know what qualities to look for when choosing a home.

A good care home will probably do the following:

• Offer new residents and their families or carers a guide (in a variety of accessible formats) describing what they can expect while they’re living there. Ideally, residents of the home would have helped to produce the guide • Have a majority of staff who've worked there for a long time. They know the residents well, and are friendly, supportive and respectful • Involve residents, carers and their families in decision making, perhaps through regular meetings with staff

• Support residents in doing things for themselves and maximising their independence, including keeping contact with the outside community • Offer a choice of tasty and nutritious food, which residents may have helped to prepare

• Take into account the needs and wishes of all residents, and provide a variety of leisure and social activities

• Be in a clean, bright and hygienic environment that's been adapted appropriately for residents, with single bedrooms available. A good environment encourages residents to personalise their room • Have staff who respect residents’ privacy and knock before they enter someone’s room

• Be staffed by well-trained people, for example, nurses trained in dementia care • Respect residents’ modesty and make sure that they look respectable, while recognising residents’ choice about what they wear • Be accredited under the Gold Standards Framework for end of life care

A bad care home might do the following: • Have a code of practice and a set of aims, but doesn’t make them a priority • Offers little opportunity to listen to residents, with most decisions made by staff

• Have residents’ care plans that are out of date, and don’t reflect their needs accurately. This means that some residents aren't getting the support they need with their healthcare and personal care

• Give residents little privacy. Staff often enter residents’ rooms without knocking, and they talk about residents within earshot of other people • Have staff who don’t make an effort to interact with residents, and leave them sitting in front of the TV all day • Be in a poorly maintained building, with rooms that all look the same and have little choice in furnishings • Need cleaning, with shared bathrooms that aren't cleaned regularly

• Deny residents their independence, for example, by not allowing someone to feed themselves because it takes too long As a resident in a care home, you should expect: • The right to be treated politely and with dignity • The right to privacy for yourself, and your relatives and friends when they visit

• The right to deal with your own finances and spend your money how you choose

• The right to eat food that's prepared in line with your faith, and to worship when and where you want to

• The right to choose the food that you eat, and to be given the time and space to relax and enjoy your meal • The right to choose when you get up in the mornings and go to bed at night

• The right to complain if you're unhappy with your care

RESIDENTIAL & NURSING CARE Lichfield Residential Homes

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Seisdon Peninsula Residential Homes

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Tamworth Residential Homes

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RESIDENTIAL & NURSING CARE Lichfield Nursing Homes

Address

Telephone

Seisdon Peninsula Nursing Homes

Address

Telephone

Tamworth Nursing Homes

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Telephone

HELP & ADVICE FROM HEALTHWATCH STAFFORDSHIRE PARTNERS Age UK South Staffordshire Information and Advice Service Information and advice officers are trained to provide information on a vast range of topics from benefit entitlement to housing and home safety to long term care.

General advice on how to deal with issues with utility companies, telesales calls and doorstep callers, or simply find a tradesperson, is also available.

Covers Lichfield, South Staffordshire and Tamworth.

Penkridge Resource Centre, The Roller Mill, Teddesley Road, Penkridge, Stafford, ST19 5BD Tel: 01785 788 477 or 01785 788 499 Email: info@ageuksouthstaffs.org.uk • Website: www.ageuk.org.uk/southstaffs Approach Approach provides specialist support and advice for older people and their carers and families.

Dementia Awareness Sessions • Do you or your family support a person with a diagnosis of Dementia?

• Would you like more information to assist you in this role?

• Free Dementia awareness sessions are available in your local area.

• The sessions are designed to support you when caring for someone with dementia. The information is delivered in a friendly, easy to understand, sensitive manner and may help you to understand how a person with dementia can live well with the illness.

Cauldon Chambers, 10 Stoke Road, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DP Tel: 01782 214999

Carers Association Southern Staffordshire The Carers Association Southern Staffordshire (CASS) supports 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, Austen Friars, Stafford, ST17 4AP Advice Line: 01785 606675 • Admin: 01785 222365 Email: enquiries@carersinformation.org.uk • Website: www.carersinformation.org.uk St Giles Hospice St Giles Hospice is a registered charity, offers specialist care in a variety of settings for patients with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and helpers. The care is provided free of charge, irrespective of personal circumstances.

Fisherwick Road, Whittington, Lichfield, WS14 9LH Tel: 01543 432031 • Email: enquiries@st-giles-hospice.org.uk Website: www.stgileshospice.com

Alzheimer’s Society West Midlands Area Office The Alzheimer’s Society provides information and support to people with dementia and their carers/families across Staffordshire Units 8 & 9, Windsor Business Park, Windsor Court, Trent Valley Road, Lichfield WS13 6EU Tel: 01543 255955 • Email: wwm@alzheimers.org.uk

MS Society Tamworth and Lichfield Branch The MS Society is the UK’s leading Multiple Sclerosis charity. The Tamworth & Lichfield branch is one of over 300 MS Society branches run by volunteers working alongside local staff. We offer a range of services including providing equipment, providing information on benefits, helping with funding or simply providing a listening ear. We also raise funds every year to help people affected by MS. Tel: 01827 895 719 Email: tamandlichms@talktalk.net

South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health is a mental health charity 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.

Mansell House, 22 Bore Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6LL Tel: 01543 301139 • Email: sunetwork@ssnmentalhealth.co.uk Website: www.ssnmentalhealth.co.uk

Staffordshire Neurological Alliance 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.

4 Bracken View, Brocton, Stafford, ST17 0TF Website: www.staffsneurologicalalliance.org.uk

Rockspur Rockspur is a service for adults with learning difficulties - a user-led service, it aims to develop skills and independence within individuals. They offer very flexible support across the week, including activities on the weekend, such as day trips through to supported holidays and much more.

Carter Avenue, Bilbrook, South Staffordshire, WV8 1HQ Tel: 01902 844925 Email: therockspurhouse@yahoo.co.uk • Website: www.rockspur-house.co.uk British Red Cross The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are.

It provides a wide range of services throughout the Staffordshire, West Midlands and the Warwickshire areas.

West Midlands Head Office: Bradbury House, Wheler Road, Seven Stars Estate, Coventry, CV3 4LB Tel: 02476 304 200 • Website: www.redcross.org.uk

For Local Support at home, Event first aid, Ambulance support and Providing loans of medical equipment you can also contact: Red Cross House, 13-14 Parker Court, Staffordshire Technology Park, Beaconside, Stafford, ST18 0WP Tel: 01785 279840

Macmillan Staffordshire Macmillan Staffordshire aims to try and improve the lives of people affected by cancer locally. We provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support and push for better cancer care.

Tel: 0808 808 00 00 • Website: www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx

Staffordshire Parent Partnership Service The Staffordshire Parent Partnership Service is a free, impartial and confidential service for parents and carers of children (0-19) with special educational needs.

It provides information and support on all aspects relating to a child’s education.

Training for parents is offered through the SkillShare project.

Tel: 01785 356921 Email: spps@staffordshire.gov.uk www.staffordshire.gov.uk/education/welfareservice/SpecialEducationalNeeds/spps/ The Family Information Service The Family Information Service can provide you with the information you need to make important family decisions. Whether it’s a quick call to check something, or a more detailed discussion to find the right type of childcare.

Staffordshire County Council, Tipping Street, Stafford, ST16 2DH Tel: 0300 111 8007 • Email: fis@staffordshire.gov.uk Website: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/education/childcare/families/homepage.aspx

(SPAN) Staffordshire Parent Action Network The Staffordshire Parent Action Network helps parents and carers of disabled children under the age of 18 make a difference to the services offered to them in Staffordshire. We are a group of Staffordshire parents and carers and we want to collect your ideas and opinions. We meet on a monthly basis and also attend the meetings of many service providers where we pass on your comments to assist them in providing better services for disabled children.

Website: www.span-info.co.uk

Community Together CIC Community Together CIC is a not for profit community interest company based in Tamworth which aims to promote community cohesion, volunteer and learning opportunities, bre aking down barriers between generations through social activities and signposting of local services.

Tel: 01827 260246 / 01827 59646 Email: communitytogethercic@gmail.com Website: www.communitytogethercic.org.uk

OPAAL UK (Older People’s Advocacy Alliance) OPAAL is the only national UK membership based organisation supporting, promoting and developing the provision of independent advocacy services for older people. It aims • To provide the strategic lead on advocacy with older people • To ensure that older people have access to advocacy • To support the development of new national advocacy projects to meet the needs of older people Tel: 01782 844036 • Email: jo@bjf.org.uk

Staffordshire Buddies Staffordshire Buddies offers specialist and confidential advocacy, advice, information and support on all aspects of living and being affected by HIV as well as around good sexual health. We also provide the latest local information around services, as well as support and regular updates on HIV, Health and well-being.

Staffordshire Buddies main centre is based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. They also have centres in Lichfield and Burton.

Tel: 01782 201251 • Email: ask@staffordshirebuddies.co.uk Website: www.staffordshirebuddies.co.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau Citizens Advice Officers provide free confidential, impartial and independent advice. We can offer help with a range of problems, including debt, benefits, housing, employment, consumer, relationships and discrimination.

South Staffordshire Citizens Advice Bureau Civic Centre, Gravel Hill, Wombourne, Staffordshire, WV5 9HA Tel: 01902 897757 • Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/sscab.htm South East Staffordshire Citizens Advice Bureau – Lichfield Office 29 Levetts Fields, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6HY Tel: 08444 111 444 • Website: www.ses-cab.org/lichfield/ South East Staffordshire Citizens Advice Bureau – Burntwood Office Wade House, 7 Cannock Road, Burntwood, Staffordshire, WS7 1JS Tel: 08444 111 444 • Website: www.ses-cab.org/burntwood/ Tamworth Citizens Advice Bureau The Philip Dix Centre, Corporation Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7DN Tel: 01827 305950 / 08444 111444 • Website: www.tamworthcab.org.uk/ Support Staffordshire (South Staffordshire) Support Staffordshire (South Staffordshire) provides practical advice, information and support on all aspects of setting up and running voluntary and community groups.

Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, South Staffordshire, WV8 1PX Tel: 01902 851 675 • Email: info@sscva.org.uk Website: www.sscva.org.uk/info/home Support Staffordshire (Lichfield & District) Support Staffordshire (Lichfield & District) provides services for voluntary and community groups in Lichfield and the surrounding area and works in partnership with statutory agencies to promote, support and encourage community and voluntary action throughout Lichfield.

Mansell House, 22 Bore Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LL Tel: 01543 303030 • Email: info@ldcvs.org.uk • Website: www.ldcvs.org.uk/ Support Staffordshire (Tamworth) Support Staffordshire (Tamworth) is a local support agency which is there to support voluntary and community groups in Tamworth who are looking for development or funding advice and support.

Carnegie Centre, Corporation Street, Tamworth, B79 7DN Tel: 01827 709657 • Email: enquiries@tamworth-cvs.org.uk

Staffordshire Cares Staffordshire Cares is an easy way to find information, in one place.

Through a specially developed website, single telephone number and face-to-face contacts across the county, Staffordshire Cares can direct you to hundreds of services and organisations to make your life easier and help you remain independent for longer.

Staffordshire Cares is a partnership between Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, members of the public and the private and voluntary sectors, you can be sure that all your options are here, in one place.

Tel: 0300 111 8010 Email: staffordshirecares@staffordshire.gov.uk Website: www.staffordshirecares.info

Staffordshire

Healthwatch Staffordshire Have your say on Health and Social Care.

Suite 2, Opus House, Priestly Court, Staffordshire Technology Park, Stafford, ST18 0LQ Telephone: 0800 051 8371 • Email: enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk Website: www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk

Staffordshire

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