Health & Social Care Support Directory 2013 - 14 Covers services within the districts: 3 Lichfield 3 South Staffordshire 3 Tamworth
Contents Healthwatch Staffordshire - About us Have your say Healthwatch Champions NHS Complaints Support Service South East Staffordshire & Seisdon Peninsula Clinical Commissioning Group Choose Well 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 & Support Care in your home Choosing between residential care and independent living Residential & Nursing Care Homes Help & Advice
Disclaimer This directory has been compiled to cover health and social care options throughout the South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula 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 May 2013.
Another quality publication by Healthcare Publications Limited. If you require extra copies of this directory or interested in advertising in future editions please contact Healthcare Publications on 0844 800 1214
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. • 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.
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
What does Healthwatch Staffordshire do? • Gathers the views and experiences of people within Staffordshire, about their health and social care priorities • Will produce 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 • Will pass 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.
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@engagingcommunitiesstaffordshire.co.uk Follow us @ECStaffs or like us on Facebook
Health related care is provided by the NHS. Social Care is provided by the Local Authority (Council) 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? 2. Do you have a relative or friend living in a Care Home? Are you/they happy with the care they receive? 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.
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 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.
NHS COMPLAINTS SUPPORT SERVICE 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.
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
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.
POhWER Unit 25 & 32, Staffordshire University Business Village Dyson Way Staffordshire Technology Park Stafford Staffordshire ST18 0TW E: pohwer@pohwer.net W: www.pohwer.net
Tel: 0300 456 2370
SOUTH EAST STAFFORDSHIRE & SEISDON PENINSULA 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 the South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula CCG. There are 31 member practices catering for the population of around 210,000 across the two distinct localities, including South East Staffordshire • Lichfield • Burntwood • Tamworth Seisdon Peninsula • • • •
Codsall Wombourne Kinver Penkridge
The CCG has established three key priorities which have been selected to address local health needs. These priorities are: • Frail Older People • Long Term Conditions • Quality Improvement As approximately 8% of the total CCG population is aged over 75, there is a need for them to support this group, to ensure that suitable decisions are made for these individuals in relation to their care. In the long term they wish to reduce both the number of hospital admissions and length of stay for this group. South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula CCG is committed to working in partnership with local people and organisations to ensure that the services they commission are in line with the needs of the community. Already they have begun to develop strong links with local authorities, other NHS organisations, local hospices, charities and other groups in and across Staffordshire and in the North Birmingham and Wolverhampton areas.
CLINICAL COMMISIONING GROUP Getting Involved with the CCG “One of the first areas the CCG have focused on, alongside business development, is engagement.” 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 they listen to what the community has to say about healthcare services. As such they are committed to genuine and proactive engagement with anyone who wants to work with them to achieve their aims. In order to engage with patients and the community they serve, they are currently establishing the ‘NHS In Touch’ scheme, which enables an individual to have a say in designing and shaping health services in their locality. By completing an ‘In Touch’ registration form, the individual’s details will be recorded on a confidential database. An In Touch newsletter will then be sent to keep members of the scheme up to date with developments in the CCG and let them know how they can get involved.
South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula 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 PPGs all depends on the local needs of individuals in the locality. In the South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula CCG the majority of practices already have an existing PPG. To get involved, contact your local GP Practice, and see if they currently have an existing group. If there isn't yet a PPG at your practice, ask if they are planning to set one up. For more information about NHS South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula CCG visit:www.sesandspccg.nhs.uk Write to:NHS South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula Clinical Commissioning Group Merlin House Etchell Road Tamworth Staffordshire B78 3HF Telephone: - 01827 306132 Email: - sessp.ccg@nhs.net
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 per cent 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 South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula and what your choices are.
CHOOSE WELL A&E 999 Open 8am - 10pm, 365 days a year. The A&E department in South East Staffordshire and the Seisdon Peninsula is at : Stafford Hospital Weston Road, Stafford ST16 3SA
NHS WALk-IN CENTRE
Walk-in centres treat minor illnesses and injuries that don’t need a visit to A&E. Burntwood Health and Well-Being Centre - High Street, Chasetown, Burntwood WS7 3XH, Telephone: - 01543 687440 (Appointment are needed). Open 8am - 10pm, 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.
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-diarrheal medicine • Paracetamol or aspirin • Rehydration mixture • Indigestion mixture • Thermometer • Plasters
ACCIDENT AND EmERGENCy The 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. mINOR INjURy UNITS Lichfield - Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, Trent Valley Road, Lichfield, WS13 6EF Telephone: 01543 412900 Tamworth - Sir Robert Peel Hospital, Plantation Lane, Mile Oak, Tamworth, B78 3NG Telephone: 01827 263800 South Staffordshire - Holly Hall Clinic, Stourbridge Road, Dudley, DY1 2ER Telephone: 0330 1239225 OUT OF HOURS URGENT CARE If you live in Tamworth or Lichfield you should contact the Staffordshire Doctors urgent care on 0300 7900247 If you live in the Seisdon Peninsula you should contact Primecare on 0300 5550277
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
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 and provide advice 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.
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.
Try to avoid attending A&E for minor complaints
GP SURGERIES Lichfield GP
Address
Telephone
South Staffs GP
Address
Telephone
Tamworth GP
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 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
The next time you or a family member needs healthcare advice or information, don't forget that you can pop into your local Boots pharmacy to access a range of services and checks. Your local Boots pharmacist can help answer your questions, give you advice and support or treatment and may just save you a trip to the doctor
Our in-store pharmacy services Whether it's a relatively minor problem, such as head lice in your children's hair, or more urgent problems, such as the need for emergency contraception, your Boots pharmacy team may be able to help.
PHARMACIES Lichfield Pharmacy
Address
Telephone
South Staffs Pharmacy
Address
Telephone
Tamworth Pharmacy
Address
Telephone
DENTISTS
Lichfield Dentist
Address
Telephone
South Staffs Dentist
Address
Telephone
Tamworth Dentist
Address
Telephone
Always ask your dentist whether the treatment they're recommending is available on the NHS and how much it will cost before you go ahead.
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: 07731 107470 Emergency Dentist normal working hours: 111
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 Lichfield Optician
Address
Telephone
South Staffs Optician
Address
Telephone
Tamworth Optician
Address
Telephone
Hearing Centres
Address
Telephone
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 a 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 some one 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 there 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 can also be of assistance to carers of people with Dementia, Physical Disabilities, Learning Disabilities and Long Term Care 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 stair lifts 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 long-term 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 AND SUPPORT 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.
The Mental Capacity Act: • The act’s purpose is to allow adults to make as many decisions as they can for themselves. • To enable adults to make advance decisions about whether they would like future medical treatment. • To allow adults to appoint, in advance of losing mental capacity, another person to make decisions about personal welfare or property on their behalf at a future date. • To allow decisions concerning personal welfare or property and affairs to be made in the best interests of adults when they have not made any future plans and cannot make a decision at the time. • To ensure an NHS body or local authority will appoint an independent mental capacity advocate to support someone who cannot make a decision about serious medical t r e a t m e n t , or about hospital, care home or residential accommodation, when there are no family or friends to be consulted. • To provide protection against legal liability for carers who have honestly and reasonably sought to act in the person’s best interests. • To provide clarity and safeguards around research in relation to those who lack capacity.
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. Speak to your local Healthwatch about finding out how to find a personal assistant. A list of the care agencies registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who are located in the South Staffordshire District localities 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
CHOOSING BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL CARE AND INDEPENDENT LIVING 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.
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.
Temporary stays can give you flexibility when covering unexpected events, such as:
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.
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).
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.
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.
• 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
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 & NURSING
South Staffs Residential
Address
Telephone
South Staffs Nursing & Residential
Address
Telephone
NURSING & RESIDENTIAL
Lichfield Residential
Lichfield Residential & Nursing
Address
Address
Telephone
Telephone
Tamworth Residential
Address
Telephone
Tamworth Nursing & Residential
Address
Telephone
HELP & ADVICE Information and Advice Service
Age UK South Staffordshire Penkridge Resource Centre, The Roller Mill Teddesley Road, Penkridge STAFFORD ST19 5BD Tel: 01785 788 477 or 01785 788 499
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
Providing information and support to people with dementia and their carers/families across Staffordshire. West Midlands Area Office 8-9 Windsor Court, Trent Valley Road Lichfield, WS13 6EU Tel: 01543 255 955
• Community Support • Day Centres • Dementia Cafés
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 8081111
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. Call Carers Direct on
0808 802 0202
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
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 South East Staffordshire Citizens Advice Bureau—Lichfield 29 Levetts Fields, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6HY Tel: 08444 111 444 South East Staffordshire Citizens Advice Bureau—Burntwood Burntwood Office, Wade House, 7 Cannock Road, Burntwood, Staffs WS7 1JS Tel: 08444 111 444 Tamworth Citizens Advice Bureau The Philip Dix Centre, Corporation Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 7DN Tel: 01827 305950
HELP & ADVICE
South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health Mansell House, 22 Bore Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LL Telephone: 01543 301139 Website: www.ssnmentalhealth.co.uk Email: sunetwork@ssnmentalthealth.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/ssnmentalhealth Twitter: @ssnmentalhealth
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.
The MS Society is the UK’s leading MS charity, who provides information and support to people with Multiple Sclerosis M.S Society - T Laurel Avenue, Polesworth, Tamworth, B78 1LT Telephone: 01827 895719 Website: www.mssociety.org.uk/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/MSSociety Twitter: @mssocietyuk
South Staffordshire Communitity & Voluntary Action 1 Stafford Street, Brewood, Stafford, ST19 9DX Telephone: 01902 851675 Website: http://www.sscva.org.uk/info/
Staffordshire Neurological Alliance 4 Bracken View, Brocton, Stafford, ST17 0TF Website: www.staffsneurologicalalliance.org.uk/
Rockspur, 2 Carter Avenue, Bilbrook, South Staffordshire, WV8 1HQ Telephone: 01902844925 Website: www.rockspur-house.co.uk/
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
South Staffordshire Community and Voluntary Action is a local independent registered charity that exists to promote, support and encourage community and voluntary action throughout the rural district of South Staffordshire
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.
Rockspur is an organisation with a difference; Rockspur is a service for adults with learning difficulties that is led by its members. Rockspur is a user led service developed with its members at the heart. Rockspur has enabled a group of adults to find their voices and realise their dreams.
Have your say on Health and Social Care. Healthwatch Staffordshire Call us on 0800 051 8371 Or visit our website www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk or email at: enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
Making your
voice count