City of Westminster - Staying independent and well

Staying independent and well And how to get help doing so. Including a guide to Personal Budgets from your council.

Quality Support for You at Home

Call Now for a Free No Obligation Consultation in Your Own Home WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?

SERVICES Home Instead Senior Care is the UK’s, independently rated, Number 1 provider of quality support at home. We provide: Companionship Home Help Personal Care This includes; conversation, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication prompts, errands, local transportation, personal care and much more, from just a few hours a week to 24/7 support.

Call us on

We send the same, carefully matched, CAREGiver each time The time of our visits is set by you We always arrive on time Personal Introduction of CAREGivers to you No visits under two hours We only employ people who we would be happy to support our own family members We will help you maintain your independence longer We never compromise upon our standards We offer free family dementia training

0203 701 2862

Home Instead Senior Care, 175-177 Borough High Street London, SE1 1HR

www.homeinstead.co.uk/westminster Each Home Instead Senior Care© franchise office is independently owned and operated. Copyright © Home Instead 2017.

WELCOME We all want to be in control of our own lives. This booklet gives you information to help you stay independent and healthy, and do the things that are important to you. If you do feel you need some help with managing, there’s information also about where to go for help.

CONTENTS PART ONE - STAYING INDEPENDENT AND WELL Chapter 1:

Health and Wellbeing

page 4

Chapter 2:

At Home

page 8

Chapter 3:

Maintaining and Adapting your Home

page 11

Chapter 4:

Looking After Someone

page 13

Chapter 5:

Staying Safe

page 14

Chapter 6:

Getting Out and About

page 15

Chapter 7:

Requesting an Assessment from the Council

page 20

PART TWO - A GUIDE TO PERSONAL BUDGETS Chapter 1:

An Assessment from your Council

page 21

Chapter 2:

Setting Up and Managing your Care

page 23

Chapter 3:

Reviewing your Care

page 26

We hope you have found this information useful. Whilst we have taken every care in compiling this booklet, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. The inclusion of any advertisement in no way endorses the services or products sold. Please do let us know if there is any information that you would like included, or anything we could do better.

Contact us on/at: Renrows Marketing Consultants Ltd (01253) 716400

3

PART ONE Staying independent and well Chapter 1 - Health and Wellbeing Good health is about the mind as well as the body - feeling physically fit, and feeling good about ourselves means that we can achieve more of the things we want to do in life. Of course, sometimes it’s difficult to find the motivation, or the time and the energy to make a few changes in our lives. We’re all human! However, a bit of effort can pay off in many ways.

Even if you already have a health problem or disability there are lots of things you can do to stay as healthy as possible and to remain as independent as possible

GETTING A HEALTH ‘MOT’ NHS Health Checks are free for anyone between 40 and 74. They only take between 20 and 30 minutes. It is a set of simple tests and questions and is a great way to find out how healthy you are and how to prevent some serious health conditions. Ask your GP about a Health Check. You can also find out more on the NHS website: www.healthcheck.nhs.uk Health trainers can support you to change aspects of your lifestyle such as giving up smoking, reducing alcohol intake, improving your diet, losing weight etc.

Contact the London Health Trainers Service on: 020 7099 3333

DIET AND EXERCISE Having a balanced diet with plenty of fluids and an active lifestyle can dramatically improve health and well-being and reduces the risk of getting a large number of diseases.

For advice on a good diet, talk to your GP who can refer you to a dietician for specialist, free advice. If you are having trouble being able to afford food, there are organisations that can help – the Trussell Trust can tell where you can obtain food locally from a food bank. Call them on: 01772 580180.

Taking exercise is vital to staying healthy. It can reduce your risk of major illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer by up to 50%, and lower your risk of early death by up to 30%.

Exercise is good for mental as well as physical well-being. Regular exercise can help to reduce the effects of anxiety and depression.

There are plenty of opportunities for taking exercise whether it’s walking or playing a sport in your area. Talk to your GP for information and leaflets on what’s available and if you have access to the internet, check the local People First website: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk or NHS Choices website: www.nhs.uk

4

Help with losing weight. For advice on losing weight, talk to your GP who can refer you to a dietician for specialist, free advice. Health trainers can also support you to lose weight etc). Contact the London Health Trainers Service on: 020 7099 3333 The NHS Change4Life campaign offers hints, tips, tools and offers to reduce weight and be active, whatever your fitness level.

Phone: 0300 123 4567 or see the website: www.nhs.uk/change4life The NHS Choices website has a big range of tools and valuable information to help you lose weight.

Visit the website: www.nhs.uk/LiveWell/loseweight

STAYING HEALTHY IN OTHER WAYS It’s important to look after your feet. No matter how mobile you are. Keeping feet healthy means less stress for the rest of your body. Foot problems can lead to other problems like back pain. If you have painful feet or any other foot problem, talk to your GP who can arrange for you to see a podiatrist (a specialist who looks after feet).

Stopping smoking is essential if you want to live a healthier life and prevent major diseases.

Smoking is the primary cause of preventable illness and death with 100,000 people dying every year in the UK. But we all know it can be difficult to quit – nicotine is a drug.

Kick It is a local, free service to support people who want to stop smoking. You will receive six weeks of 1 to 1 support from a specialist stop smoking advisor who can be available during the working day and evening and at weekends.

Call Kick It on: 020 3434 2500 or email: hello@kick-it.org.uk You can also contact your GP for a full range of information and advice on how to stop smoking.

Getting a good night’s sleep is very important to overall health. Most people at some point in their lives will have times when they’re not getting as much sleep as they need.

Sleep patterns can be affected if you are worried about something.

5

WORRIED ABOUT YOUR MEMORY? It can be worrying if you or someone you know notices that you are becoming more forgetful or confused. It’s important to understand that, if your memory seems to be getting worse, it does not necessarily mean that you are developing dementia. If you or someone you know are worried about memory, you should first consult your GP. There are things which you can do to reduce the chances that you will develop dementia as you get older: • Exercising your brain Evidence suggests that keeping mentally active can help to prevent or slow down memory problems. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, word searches and jigsaws are all good ways of keeping the mind active. You could also look into adult education courses at your local college or community centre, or find clubs and organisations that offer activities you enjoy, like board games, book discussions, music or art.

• Staying fit and healthy Exercising helps the mind stay alert. You could try going for walks or to your local gym if you can manage it. Plenty of fruit, vegetables and protein in your diet will help to keep your body and brain healthy. A vitamin or mineral supplement might also be useful, particularly for older people.

Check the People First website for a full list of events and activities happening near you: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk.

• Keeping an eye on your blood pressure People with high blood pressure are at greater risk of developing vascular dementia.

Make sure you have your blood pressure checked regularly by your GP. upport for people with dementia. Dementia describes a number of different conditions S that can affect our brains, usually as we get older, and can cause a variety of symptoms including memory loss, confusion and increased problems in looking after ourselves (not everyone with memory loss has dementia though).

Having dementia does not mean that you cannot have a say in how you are cared for. There are a number of services that can support people living with dementia and carers who look after them.

The Dementia Advisory Service offers practical guidance on living well with dementia for residents and carers in Westminster including ways of helping maintain your memory, recreational activities and ways of remaining active, managing symptoms of memory loss.

Phone: 0370 192 4265 or 0754 050 2379 or email: jasmine.scott@housing21.co.uk

6

MENTAL HEALTH Good mental health is about feeling well in your own mind. It’s just as important as good physical health. Our mental health can change over time, because of life events which cause distress or unhappiness, or sometimes with no apparent cause. These changes can lead to mental health difficulties or illness. Mental health difficulties are very common and affect one in four of us at some point in our lives.

If you feel a bit down, alone, finding it difficult to be motivated or make decisions, this can be a sign that you have some issues that can be helped by talking to someone. Speak to your GP if you have any concerns about your mental health. You can also contact the national mental health charity MIND on: 0300 123 3393 or text: 86463, or your local MIND office: Wandsworth & Westminster Mind, Basement, Hopkinson House, 6 Osbert Street SW1P 2QU Phone: 020 7259 8100 or email: admin@wwmind.org.uk

LEARNING DISABILITY A Learning Disability affects the way someone understands information and how they communicate. They can have difficulty understanding new or complex information, learning new skills and coping independently.

A person with some form of learning disability may find that everyday activities like work, education and jobs around the house can be a challenge. Sometimes they may feel lonely because they don’t have anyone to talk to about how they are feeling. Learning disabilities range from mild to being quite severe.

Your local council and health services will have a team of professionals dedicated to providing and arranging support for people with learning disabilities.

Your local Learning Disability Team: Westminster Learning Disability Team, 2nd Floor, 215 Lisson Grove, NW8 8LW Phone: 0207 641 7411 or email: wldp@westminster.gov.uk

ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE If you are worried about how much you are drinking, or about your drug use, the best place to first seek help may be your GP. Your GP can discuss your concerns with you, assess the nature of your problems, and help you choose the most appropriate treatment. Your GP may offer to treat you, or may refer you on to another service.

You can also contact the local Drug and Alcohol Wellbeing Service who offer a full range of advice and support: Westminster Drug and Alcohol Wellbeing Service, 32A Wardour Street, Soho, W1D 6QR. Phone: 020 7437 3523. Email: daws@turning-point.co.uk The Alcohol Service run by CGL offers local advice and support for those with issues around alcohol misuse for anyone aged over 18.

Phone: 0800 014 7440 or email: thealcoholservice.info@cgl.org.uk

7

Chapter 2 - At Home If you have a health problem or disability, or perhaps just getting a bit older, you might be finding it more difficult to get around your home and safely do everyday tasks such as washing, dressing, cooking, cleaning and going out.

Most of us want to stay in our homes and there are many things you can do to maintain your independence and safety in your home. You might be surprised at how many people are able to stay in their own homes for most or all of their lives by taking a few measures to ensure their well-being and safety.

HELP WITH WALKING AND MOBILITY Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness or disability by using movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice. Depending on your situation you may be offered the chance to see a physiotherapist following a spell in hospital, or after seeing a GP, district nurse, social worker or other health and social care professional.

You can also hire a physiotherapist by contacting the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists who can advise on ‘physio’s’ in your area. Phone: 020 7306 6666 or visit their website: www.csp.org.uk. The NHS Choices website also has a lot of information on physiotherapy services and how to access them. Visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions/physiotherapy Walking aids and equipment. Specialist equipment, including walking sticks and walking frames, can enable you to walk more safely, steadily and independently.

You can buy equipment online or by phone. The Disability Living Foundation are an independent organisation offering impartial advice and guidance on what will meet your needs and can advise on where you can buy specific items of equipment. Contact them on: 0300 999 0004 or visit their Living Made Easy website: www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk Medequip are a company that supply walking aids and equipment and you can contact them on: 0800 910 1864 or visit their website: www.manageathome.co.uk. There are a number of other companies who sell mobility equipment (visit the People First website for more information: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk) including high street retailers such as Boots and Argos.

Worried about falling. Trips, slips and falls are among the most common types of accident to occur in the home. As you get older or less mobile, trips and falls can be more dangerous.

Falling heavily can lead to serious injuries such as sprains or broken bones and sometimes people find it difficult to get up again.

The NHS runs a free local Falls Prevention Service who can give advice, help and even special classes to help you stay on your feet. Specialist staff will look at your individual situation and refer you to the most appropriate service to help you avoid falls.

Phone: 020 8102 5494.

8

ALARM SERVICES AT HOME It’s reassuring to know that by simply pressing a button on a pendant round your neck or wrist, help will quickly arrive if you suddenly become unwell at home, or have had a fall or accident and can’t get up. An alarm alerts a central team who will check that you are alright or contact named relatives or friends to check that you are okay. The central team or your named friend/relative will then come and help you if you trigger the alarm.

There are other gadgets that can help, such as falls detectors and other sensors in the home to detect potential risks, burglar alarms and other safety devices etc.

You can buy these gadgets online or by phone. The Disability Living Foundation are an independent organisation offering impartial advice and guidance on what will meet your needs and can advise on where you can buy specific items of equipment. Contact them on: 0300 999 0004 or visit their Living Made Easy website: www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk There are a number of other companies who sell gadgets (visit the People First website for more information: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk) including high street retailers such as Boots and Argos.

SUPPORT IN YOUR HOME – ‘HOME CARE’ As we get older it can become more difficult to complete some everyday tasks. There might be other reasons, such as a disability, why we can have problems with day-to-day living.

Ideally everyone wants to carry on being independent, and staying in our own homes is good for us physically and mentally. Sometimes that means accepting that we need someone else to assist us with certain essential tasks. Perhaps family and friends can help, or maybe it means paying for someone to provide the support you need.

There are a large number of care agencies who can provide trained staff to help you with everyday tasks. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates care agencies.

You can search for care agencies and read the CQC’s reports about them to make sure you choose the agency that is appropriate for you at: www.cqc.org.uk or phone: 03000 616161.

You can also search for care agencies on the NHS Choices website: www.nhs.uk

9

MEALS AND SHOPPING If you are finding it difficult to prepare a hot main meal for yourself, and you are able to use an oven or microwave, you could consider buying ready meals. A number of companies will deliver ready meals on a regular basis, though you would need a freezer to be able to store them safely. Some companies also do daily hot meal deliveries.

The following companies can deliver batches of frozen meals to your door.

Sodexo deliver frozen meals, hot daily meals, and daily tea-time snacks in Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Kensington and Chelsea. Call them on: Sodexo, 61 Harewood Avenue, Marylebone, NW1 6PA. Phone: 0207 402 7896 or 0207 402 0785.

Email: homeservicemeals.triborough.uk@sodexo.com Or visit their website: www.uk.sodexo.com/home/services/personal-home-service Wiltshire Farm Foods deliver batches of frozen meals to your home on a regular basis, and provide a wide variety of options for people with different tastes or dietary needs.

Call them on: 0800 077 3100 or visit their website: www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com Appetito deliver hot daily meals, or frozen meals in batches, to your door.

Call them on: 01225 560732 or visit: www.uk.sodexo.com/home/services Shopping if you are not very mobile As we get older, or have problems with mobility, going to the shops can be more difficult.

There are services in your area to help you get to the shops, even if you are struggling to walk as well as you used to.

Your local community shopping service will collect you from your home in a minibus, will take you and others to a local supermarket, and provides an escort to ensure that you can get about once you arrive there.

Westway Community Transport offer a Community Shopper service.

Contact them on: 020 8960 9020 between 1pm and 4pm or visit their website: www.westwayct.org.uk/services/transport

HAVING A PET Pets can provide companionship if we are lonely, and can encourage us to take more physical exercise. Petting an animal has been shown to decrease blood pressure and heart rate, providing a calming effect; even watching fish in an aquarium can be beneficial.

There are many organisations to help you if you’re thinking about getting a pet. Many also help rescued animals find new homes.

Animal Rescue is a directory of animal rescue web sites grouped by location and animal with lost and found pets and pets needing new homes.

Visit their website at: www.animalrescuers.co.uk The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is the leading animal welfare charity. They have animals who are looking for new homes. Phone the local West London branch on: 020 7272 2264 or visit their website: www.rspca.org.uk

10

Chapter 3 - Maintaining and Adapting your Home Living in your own home and remaining safe, independent and comfortable can be made much easier by making changes to your surroundings that suit your needs. You may have heard of people who have installed a stair lift, ramp or accessible shower in their home. Of course, these cost money. But there is often money available to help you to pay towards the cost of any work needed.

ADAPTATIONS TO CONSIDER To make adaptations to your home you will need to seek specialist advice from trained health and social care professionals, equipment providers, or qualified builders and tradespeople.

The following adaptations could make your home more suitable for you.

Stairlifts

Powered chairs which run on tracks up and down your stairs and enable you to carry on using both floors of your home.

Age UK provide advice on installing a stair lift, and can put you in touch with a reputable supplier. Phone them on: 0800 566 8435 or visit their website: www.ageuk.org.uk/products The Stairlifts Reviews website has easy to understand information on stairlifts for people with mobility issues and aims to make the process of buying a stairlift easier.

Phone them on: 020 7175 1380 or visit their website: www.stairliftsreviews.co.uk/

Access ramps and wheelchair lifts

If you use a wheelchair and have steps within your home you could consider installing an access ramp. There are many companies who provide access ramps, including The Ramp People – phone them on: 01372 478960 or visit their website: www.theramppeople.co.uk For some wheelchair users a wheelchair lift may help to negotiate steps - particularly useful if you have a flight of steps up to your front door.

Stannah is one of the many websites offering specialist provision on lifts for wheelchair users. Phone: 01264 339090 or visit their website: www.stannahstairlifts.co.uk

PAYING FOR ADAPTATIONS – THE DISABLED FACILITIES GRANT Depending on your situation, including your financial circumstances, you may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant to help with the cost of making adaptations to your home.

For more information phone: 020 7641 3897 For more information on maintaining and adapting your home and grants that may be available to help you with the cost, visit the People First website: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk

11

HELP WITH REPAIRS AND DIY Keeping your home well maintained can sometimes be difficult, particularly if you have health problems or are short of money. But a well-maintained home can help you to stay in better health and to avoid accidents.

Westminster’s Home Improvement Agency offer a handyman service to people over the age of 60, or those under 60 and on a disability benefit. They can assist with household repairs, replacing lightbulbs, putting up shelves etc. The cost is £40 per hour plus the price of materials. A discount can be offered to people on benefits.

Phone: 020 7385 9689 or visit the website: www.creightonhouse.org.

IF YOU ARE A BIT OF A HOARDER Every now and again most of us will get the feeling that we’ve gathered too much ‘stuff’ and will have a clear out or spring clean to create some space. But for some people gathering possessions and then not wanting to let some of them go, can become a problem.

The Help For Hoarders website was set up by the daughter of someone who has problems with hoarding, and provides information and advice to anyone affected by hoarding issues.

Visit the website: www.helpforhoarders.co.uk The Counselling Directory allows you to search for specialist counsellors and therapists who can support you with a hoarding problem.

Phone them on: 0333 3447 990 or visit their website: www.counselling-directory.org.uk

12

Chapter 4 - Looking After Someone Many people do not see themselves as carers: they are mums and dads, husbands, wives, partners, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbours. They are simply doing what anyone would, caring unpaid for a loved one or friend. A carer is someone who looks after someone who cannot manage on their own.

SUPPORT FOR CARERS Carers Network is the main organisation in Westminster providing information, advice and support to help carers. They provide telephone, one-to-one and group support, grants and breaks. They also offer home visits.

Phone them on: 020 8960 3033, or email: info@carers-network.co.uk or visit their website: www.carers-network.org.uk/category/westminster

REQUESTING A CARER’S ASSESSMENT If you are providing support to an adult with a disability or health problem you may be entitled to a carer’s assessment from your local council. This might enable you to receive a wide range of support which will help you in your caring role. Contact the local council to request an assessment.

The Adult Social Care team on: 020 7641 1444 or 020 7641 1175 or email: adultsocialcare@westminster.gov.uk

CARER’S PERSONAL BUDGET Following a carer’s assessment you may be entitled to receive a Carer Personal Budget.

This is a sum of money which you can use to pay for support and activities which will help you to manage the demands of being a carer.

Taking a break

Taking a short break from your caring role can allow you to recharge your batteries and focus a bit more on yourself. If the person you look after has had an assessment from the local council, you may be entitled to support in taking a break. Contact your council using the details in the section ‘Requesting a Carer’s Assessment’ above.

13

Chapter 5 - Staying Safe Everyone is entitled to live their life in safety without being mistreated, hurt or exploited by others. Some people’s situations may make them less able to protect themselves from harm or mistreatment. This may be as people get older, or because they have a mental health issue, a disability, an impairment or some form of illness.

Mistreating someone is known as ‘abuse’ and if someone fails to properly look after another person in their care this is known as ‘neglect’. Both abuse and neglect of people are never acceptable.

Looking after the safety and rights of an abused or neglected person is known as ‘safeguarding’.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK SOMEONE IS AT RISK OF ABUSE

IF THE PERSON IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER you should call the emergency services by dialling:

999

GETTING HELP FROM YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL If you don’t think you need immediate help from the police or are worried about calling them, then call social services.

It is important to remember that if you are being abused, it is not your fault. Please don’t worry about telling others that you think you are being abused - it is important that you get help.

If you want, you can ask someone else to contact the council on your behalf.

Calls can remain anonymous.

Phone the ‘safeguarding’ helpline: 020 7641 2176 or 020 7641 6000 (out-of-office-hours) or email: adultsocialcare@westminster.gov.uk

14

CHapter 6 - Getting Out and About Being able to get out and about in the local community, whether to catch up with friends, do the shopping, or do things of interest is important for all of us, and vital for our physical and mental well-being.

If you have a health problem or disability, or are becoming frailer as you get older, then getting out and about can be a challenge. But this does not mean that you are not entitled to lead an active life away from home.

HELP WITH TRANSPORT Dial-a-Ride is a free door-to-door service for people with mobility problems who can’t use buses, trains or the underground. You can use Dial-a-Ride to make it easier to go shopping, visit friends and family, or travel to other recreational activities. Friends can accompany you, and the vehicles are adapted for wheelchairs.

There are some things you can’t use Dial-A-Ride for, like hospital appointments or to travel to work. To find out more about Dial-a-Ride and to ask for an application form, phone: 0845 999 1 999 or visit the Dial-a-Ride website: www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/dial-a-ride

Community Transport

If you’re part of a group of people who need transport for an event or a trip, Westway Community Transport, serving Westminster, offer a Group Transport Service. They have a fleet of minibuses available for use by voluntary and community groups. It has both standard and especially accessible vehicles to cater for the needs of all sections of the community.

If you or your group members want to travel in a wheelchair, or find getting up and down steps difficult, then a tail-lift bus will be best for you. If nobody in your group has mobility difficulties, you will probably find a standard minibus will be ideal.

You will need to be a member of Westway Community Transport before you can book a minibus and driver.

If you are already a member, to book a vehicle and driver call: 020 8964 4928.

Volunteer cars

Westway Community Transport can find a car with a trained volunteer driver who, for a small charge, can take you where you want to go, such as on a trip to the shops or to see friends. This car scheme enables you to get to almost any occasion.

Phone: 020 8964 4928 to find out more.

15

Motability Scheme

The Motability Scheme provides an affordable, worry-free way for people with disabilities to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair in exchange for their mobility allowance.

Phone: 020 8964 4928 to find out more

Blue Parking Badges

If you have a disability, the Blue Badge scheme helps you park closer to your destination.

You can generally park for free in pay-and-display and parking meter spaces with no time restrictions, and on single and double yellow lines for up to 3 hours as long as there isn’t a loading ban and you aren’t creating an obstruction. You don’t need to be able to drive to apply for a Blue Badge – you can specify a ‘nominated driver’ who can be someone other than you.

However, eligibility criteria apply, and you will need to supply relevant evidence, and possibly take part in a mobility assessment.

Westminster Council do not operate a Blue Badge Scheme because of congestion and the high demand for parking spaces in the borough. However, they do operate a White Badge scheme which allows certain parking privileges.

Phone: 020 7823 4567 or visit: www.westminster.gov.uk/disabled-parking

Taxicards

The Taxicard scheme is for people with serious mobility difficulties who find using public transport very difficult or impossible. It allows people to travel in designated licensed London radio taxis at a reduced rate. You can qualify for the Taxicard scheme even if you have a Freedom Pass or use other mobility or door-to-door services.

Eligibility criteria apply and you will need to supply relevant evidence.

To apply, phone: 0207 934 9791 or emaIl: taxicard@londoncouncils.gov.uk

Wheelchairs

Some people find that they need a wheelchair to get around all the time. Others may need one at least some of the time, perhaps when they go outside, or when they are feeling particularly tired or unwell.

The local Wheelchair Service is run by AJM Healthcare on behalf of the local NHS and provides assessments, provision of wheelchairs, specialist seating and repairs and maintenance.

You can contact the service yourself or be referred by a doctor, social worker or nurse.

Phone: 0808 164 2040 or visit: www.ajmhealthcare.com/wheelchair-services/

16

THINGS TO DO Going out, having fun and meeting people are an important part of our lives, but doing these things can be more difficult as we get older or if we have significant health problems.

But there are plenty of things for you to do in this part of West London that could suit your particular needs.

What’s On in London

The People First website has a handy summary of resources that can help you find things to do in the capital.

Visit: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/going-out,-staying-in/things-to-do/whats-on-in-london.aspx

Drop-in Centres and Community Hubs

Drop-in centres and community hubs provide various activities and opportunities for older adults, and adults with learning disabilities, mental health problems or physical disabilities.

They don’t require membership or booking - you can just turn up.

Drop-in centres and hubs are a great way to meet other people, to join in a variety of activities if you want to, and to try new things and have fun.

They often provide a range of services such as: • • • • •

Hot or cold food and drink A range of activities including outings to parks or local events Exercise and fitness sessions, including Tai Chi, dance and aerobics which are tailored to be accessible for people of varied abilities Support with transport to the centre and to local events Educational classes

Some of these services may incur a small charge To find out about drop-in centres and hubs in your area, visit the People First website: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/going-out,-staying-in/things-to-do.aspx

17

Day Centres

Day centres are friendly, welcoming places offering a variety of leisure, educational, and health and well-being activities. There are centres for older people, people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or mental health problems.

Day centres are usually for people who need quite a lot of support whilst they are there, with trained staff being on site to offer this support as required.

They often provide a range of services such as: • • • • •

Hot or cold food and drink A range of activities including outings to parks or local events Exercise and fitness sessions, including Tai Chi, dance and aerobics which are tailored to be accessible for people of varied abilities Support with transport to the centre and to local events Educational classes

To attend a day centre, unlike drops in and hubs you usually need to have been assessed as being eligible by your local council.

To find out if you are eligible: Phone: 020 7641 1444 or 020 7641 1175 or email: adultsocialcare@westminster.gov.uk To find out about drop-ins and hubs in your area, visit the People First website: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/going-out,-staying-in/things-to-do.aspx

Things to do – Black and Minority Ethnic Groups

West London is a very cosmopolitan area; there are plenty of social and cultural groups for people of all cultures and ethnicities.

Whether you’re looking for art, music, history, sport or just a chance to spend time with people who share your background, there is bound to be something out there for you.

For a list of local community organisations visit the People First website: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/going-out,-staying-in/things-to-do/black-and-minorityethnic-activity-and-social-groups.aspx

LGBT+ Activity and Social Groups

Being a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person can sometimes feel isolating, particularly if you are older, have a disability, or are a carer for someone else. There are a wealth of organisations and groups which offer advice, support or the opportunity to meet other local LGBT+ people.

For a list of local LGBT+ community organisations visit the People First website: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/going-out,-staying-in/things-to-do/lgbtplus-activityand-social-groups.aspx

18

EXERCISE AND SPORT Exercising is vital to staying healthy. It can reduce your risk of major illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer by up to 50%, and lower your risk of early death by up to 30%. And exercise is good for mental as well as physical well-being. Regular exercise can help to reduce the effects of anxiety and depression.

No matter what your age, ability or level of fitness, there’s an exercise activity for you.

Exercise is often free and easy to do, and can have immediate benefits.

A full list of opportunities for exercise and sport is on the People First website along with individual activities day-by-day in your area www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk. It also includes information about sporting and leisure activities for people with a disability.

For more information on sports and leisure activities: Phone: 020 7641 6000 or visit the Westminster Council website: www.westminster.gov.uk/sports The NHS Choices website has a lot of useful information and ideas on exercise: www.nhs.uk/livewell/fitness/Pages/Fitnesshome.aspx

19

Chapter 7 - Requesting an Assessment from the Council If you feel you need a little more help or would like to discuss the options available to you, you can ask for an assessment from your local council.

The assessment must be carried out by a trained assessor, for instance a social worker, who will consider a number of factors: • • •

our needs and how they affect your wellbeing - for instance, you might need y help getting dressed or support to get to work things you want to do in your life which extra support could help you achieve for example to make new friends, or to stay clean and well-dressed any other factors - for example, whether you live alone or whether someone supports you.

As a result of the assessment, the council will use national guidelines to work out if you have needs that the council can help with. Not everyone who completes an assessment will be eligible to receive care and support from the council. Even if you are not eligible to receive support from the council they will give you advice and information about what support is available in the community to help you. They will also offer you advice on ways in which you can remain as independent, active and healthy as possible.

In Part Two, we explain the full process of what happens during the assessment, and what happens if you are eligible for support from the council.

TO REQUEST AN ASSESSMENT Contact the council on: Phone: 020 7641 1444 or 020 7641 1175 or email: adultsocialcare@westminster.gov.uk

20

PART TWO A Guide to Personal Budgets Chapter 1 - An Assessment from your Council WHAT IS AN ASSESSMENT? If you think you need some support to manage, it can be useful to talk through your situation with a qualified person. They can look at the difficulties you are experiencing and offer suggestions and advice on things that will help to make things easier. This process is called an assessment.

It doesn’t matter what your age is or what you think your issues are – everyone is entitled to ask for an assessment, whether you have physical problems, issues with your mental well-being, or just coping day-to-day.

Different organisations can help with assessments. You can apply for an assessment from your local council, or you can approach a private assessment agency.

If you’ve been in hospital

You may also have an assessment if you have had an incident affecting your health or been admitted to hospital, and are ready to go home. In these situations, you may have a period of ‘reablement’ for up to six weeks at home to get you feeling better, and then you will be assessed as a matter of course to see if you require further help.

AN ASSESSMENT FROM THE COUNCIL Everyone’s needs and the ways they affect their well-being are different. Identifying your needs and the things you want to achieve will help the council to decide if they can help.

You can ask your council for an initial assessment if you feel you need support to do normal day-to-day activities. This is your legal right.

The initial assessment will be a conversation with you and a social worker from the council to understand what problems you are having. If it looks like you need a little extra help with things, they with then complete a fuller assessment with you and discuss in more detail: • • •

our needs and how they affect your wellbeing - for instance, you might need y help getting dressed or support to get to work things you want to do in your life - for example to make new friends, or to stay clean and well-dressed any other relevant factors affecting your wellbeing

You can of course ask a relative, friend or some else you trust to be present with you. Both the initial assessment and the full assessment are free of charge

Requesting an assessment

You can ask your council yourself, or someone else who knows you can request an assessment for you - a friend, relative or professional who is already involved in your care, such as your GP. If someone else asks on your behalf, they should have discussed and agreed this with you in advance.

21

If you look after someone

If you care for someone, perhaps a relative or close friend, you can also ask for an initial assessment to see if you are eligible for help in your caring role. This is independent of whether the person you look after has also had an assessment.

How your council decides if you are eligible for support

Not everyone who is assessed will then be eligible to receive support from the council.

Your council uses national regulations to determine whether you are eligible. These regulations are set out in the Care Act 2014. If you’d like to find out more about the Care Act and how it says councils should determine eligibility, visit the People First website at: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/money-and-legal/care-act-2014. The government’s website also has information at www.gov.uk or you can ask the council for more information – they can give this in written form for you to keep.

If you are not eligible for support from the council

If the council determines that you do not qualify for help from them, they will nonetheless offer you full information and advice about other ways of getting support, with contact details of other agencies or individuals who may be able to help you.

If you are eligible for support from the council

Your Personal Budget and Support Plan If you have been assessed as qualifying for help, your social worker will discuss with you how this help can best be given to you, so you have as much choice and control as you want over what happens.

As part of the process of the assessment, the amount of help that you have been identified as needing is converted into an hourly rate and then added up as one total figure – this is called your Personal Budget. Your Personal Budget is the total cost of the care you need, and is available to you to spend on your care.

Note that even if you are eligible for support from the council, your financial situation will be assessed to determine if you should contribute to the cost of that support. This will be fully explained to you by your social worker.

Your social worker will talk through your support needs and preferences with you, and help you consider the options available to you, taking into account how much you have in your Personal Budget, helping you identify specific services that match your requirements, and then once you have talked these ideas with you, they will complete and agree with you a Support Plan.

The Support Plan will have full details of your conversation and describe: • • • •

what your current situation is, including things you need help with what support you have agreed you will receive to meet your needs what you want to achieve whilst receiving support a breakdown of how your Personal Budget is being spent

If you also receive help from relatives, friends or from health professionals, or anyone else, this will be shown on the support plan.

It will also include details and tips on ways in which you can remain as independent, active and healthy as possible. Your social worker will talk with you about resources in your area you may not be aware of, and which you might be able to take advantage of – perhaps community events or activities, or services provided by charities.

22

Chapter 2 - Setting Up and Managing your Care Now you have agreed with the council how you will spend your Personal Budget on your care, the next step is to actually set up that care, and manage it. There are three ways of doing this: 1. You can arrange and manage your care yourself. This is a good option if you would like complete choice and control over who your carers are - you make all the decisions.

If you choose this option, bear in mind that you will have to handle arrangements for setting up and managing the care yourself (although there are organisations that can help you do so, or you can nominate a trusted person - a relative for instance - to do this for you if you wish). This option is called a Direct Payment.

2.

You can ask an independent organisation to arrange and manage your care for you. This is a good idea if you would like choice and control over who your carers are but don’t want the bother of setting up and running your care, day-today. Organisations who do this are usually charities or other organisations who are officially registered to do so, and will have lots of experience to sort out the best care for you. This option is called an Individual Service Fund.

3. You can ask the Council to arrange and manage your care. This is a good option if you don’t want the bother of doing any of the legal and financial arrangements yourself – the council will handle all aspects of your care for you. However, you will have less choice over who your carers are - the council will choose them for you. This option is called Council Arranged Services.

Your social worker will fully discuss with you how these arrangements work and which one you would like to do - you can have a combination of these arrangements if this suits you best.

23

MORE ABOUT THE THREE WAYS OF USING YOUR PERSONAL BUDGET Direct Payments

With a Direct Payment, the council will give you your Personal Budget as money, and you choose the care which suits you best. This gives you maximum choice. You can choose an agency of your choice, or hire someone privately to provide your care. The carers and support organisations you choose should meet your needs as agreed in your support plan.

There are a number of things you cannot spend your Direct Payment on.

Money is paid into a separate account which must be used for your Direct Payment. You then pay the agency or private carer from the account. You can also have a ‘pre-paid’ payment card to manage your account.

Whilst this option gives you the greatest choice and flexibility over who your carer is, you should be aware that you have to take responsibility for setting up and running the care yourself. You are responsible for choosing care that meets your needs, in particular: • • • •

choosing and arranging your support making the necessary payments to your care provider keeping track of what’s left in your budget showing the council on a regular basis how you are spending your money

Hiring Someone Privately

A considerable advantage of having a Direct Payment is that you can hire a private individual to care for you, known as a Personal Assistant (PA). This may be someone you know, or it may be someone you feel you will be able to relate to well, perhaps because they speak your language, or understand your culture or family history.

Whilst it is a very flexible way of choosing your care, it is also an option for which there are some legal and management considerations – the person is entitled to a contract, a fair wage, holiday pay, sick pay and a pension for instance.

If this sounds like a lot of bother, there are ‘payroll’ companies who can help you with this aspect of hiring a PA. They will charge a small fee, but they will help you with practical advice and support with employing the person of your choice, though they won’t do it all for you.

Nominating a Trusted Individual to Manage your Direct Payment

You may really like the option of a Direct Payment so that you can choose the agency or private carer of your choice, but feel you don’t wish to handle the financial and legal management yourself; in which case you can ‘nominate’ a person – a relative or trusted friend perhaps – to do this for you.

If you feel you don’t have the ability to make the appropriate choices and decisions about your care because, for instance, of forgetfulness, you can appoint an ‘authorised person’ to manage your Direct Payment for you.

24

Direct Payments for Carers

If you look after someone, you are entitled to have an assessment to see if you are eligible for support from the council (see Part One, Chapter 4) to help you in your caring role.

Should you be eligible for help, you may receive your Personal Budget in the form of a Direct Payment as described above. This is completely independent of whether the person you care for receives support from the council and has a Personal Budget.

Find out more about Direct Payments for carers on the People First website here: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/looking-after-someone/support-to-look-after-someone Having a Direct Payment is a good way of having complete control and choice over your care, but it can mean that you will be responsible for the ‘paperwork’.

You can find out more about Direct Payments by visiting the People First website here: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/money-and-legal/paying-for-support.

There is also lots of information and practical help about hiring a Personal Assistant on the Skills For Care website: www.employingpersonalassistants.co.uk

INDIVIDUAL SERVICE FUNDS With an Individual Service Fund, the council gives your Personal Budget to an independent agency. You choose who this agency is (but they must be registered with the Care Quality Commission).

The agency will work with you to design and manage the support you want, based on what was agreed in your support plan, and the agency then sets it up. The council pays your Personal Budget to the agency and they create a fund to look after the money for you. You don’t have to handle any of the financial or legal aspects.

The agency has to make sure that you’re happy with your care and is responsible for the support you receive and that it meets your needs. If it’s not working, you can change the arrangement in agreement with your social worker.

Having an Individual Service Fund is a good way of making sure you have choice and flexibility over what your care is, without the bother of having to handle the financial and legal management of your care.

You can find out more about Individual Service Funds on the People First website here: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/money-and-legal/paying-for-support

COUNCIL ARRANGED SERVICES With Council Arranged Services, the council takes responsibility for organising your care and manages your Personal Budget for you. You don’t have to worry about any of the financial and legal obligations. However, you won’t have very much control over who provides your support.

Of course, the council will work with you to makes sure your care meets your needs and you are happy with it, but it will use providers with whom it has contracts to provide care in your area.

It’s a good option if you are happy for the council to take care of everything and you do not mind who the agency or carers are that come to see you – of course the council will monitor that care to make sure it appropriately meets your needs.

You can find out more about Council Arranged Services on the People First website here: www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/money-and-legal/paying-for-support

25

Chapter 3 - Reviewing your Care WHY IS MY CARE BEING REVIEWED? Most people want to be as independent as possible, and if they can, regain skills and abilities. There may be other ways in which your circumstances change over time. Once your care has been set up, your council will review your care annually to make sure that it is still meeting your needs appropriately; if it isn’t, they will talk to you about changing the level of care you receive.

The council has a legal duty to do this at least annually, and you have a responsibility also to take part in the process, even if you think everything is working well. The review in some cases may take place earlier.

The council will let you know in good time when the review will be. It will ideally take place in your home.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE REVIEW? The review discussion will typically involve: • You • The reviewer (from the council’s Social Services department) • If you wish, a family member, trusted friend or someone you have chosen to speak on your behalf (an ‘advocate’) • A representative from the agency(s) that provide your care • If you have chosen to have your Personal Budget managed by a ‘nominated’ or ‘authorised’ person, that individual will be asked to attend, or if you have chosen to have it managed as an Independent Service Fund, someone from the organisation will be invited to attend Not all of these people may be present, it depends on the type of care you receive.

As part of the discussion, the reviewer will ask you about how well you are coping and any problems, issues or concerns you have, as well as asking you what you think is working well.

The other people at the review will also be asked to add their comments.

26

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE REVIEW? As a result of the discussion, three things may happen: •

Your care is meeting your needs and does not need to be changed.

The reviewer will create a new support plan in agreement with you indicating that there is no change in the amount of care, and let you know the date of the next review.

•

Your care is not meeting your needs because there are aspects of your needs which have changed, and are not being addressed. The type of care you receive could change to better suit your needs (for instance a regular outing to a lunch club might help if you have not had this before), the provider of your care could change (if your current provider is not providing the level of care you need), or the amount of care you receive may increase. There might be a combination of these things.

The reviewer will create a new support plan in agreement with you and as a result, your Personal Budget will be recalculated to take into account the different amount of help you require. Depending on how you have agreed to receive your Personal Budget, your care will change accordingly. The new plan will show the date of the next review.

•

our care is now more than you actually need because your ability to manage Y independently has improved. In this case, in discussion with you, the level or type of care will change to better suit your improved ability to cope and be independent.

The reviewer will create a new support plan in agreement with you and as a result, your Personal Budget will be recalculated to take into account the decreased amount of help you require. Depending on how you have agreed to receive your Personal Budget, your care will change accordingly. The new plan will show the date of the next review.

27

Directory of Local Services These pages contain details of companies and organisations whose services you may find relevant and helpful.

City of Westminster Council would like to thank all the various advertisers for their participation in this guide.

However, these companies should not be seen as being either recommended or endorsed

by City of Westminster Council.

Page Home Care, Home Support & Respite Care Live in Care

2, 30 - 34, 40, 48 31, 33, 36 - 39, 48

Complex Care 36 Learning Disabilities

40 - 41

Non-Profit Social Enterprise 33 Charities

35, 40, 47

Assisted Technology 42 Payroll and Related Services

44 - 45

Insurance 46 Physiotherapy 46 Podiatry 46

We hope you have found this information useful. Whilst we have taken every care in compiling this booklet, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. The inclusion of any advertisement in no way endorses the services or products sold. Please do let us know if there is any information that you would like included, or anything we could do better.

Contact us on/at: Renrows Marketing Consultants Ltd (01253) 716400

28

Directory of Advertisers Action on Disability Page 40 Age UK

Page 35

Alzheimer’s Society

Page 47

Andrewjon’s Ltd

Page 32

Ashbourne Healthcare Services

Page 34

Barrie Bookkeeping and Payroll Solutions Ltd

Page 44

Brain In Hand

Page 42

Canary Care

Page 42

Care In Finance Ltd

Page 45

Caremark Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

Page 48

Christies Care Ltd

Page 36

Elder Page 37 Feelcare Domiciliary Services Ltd

Page 30

Fish Insurance

Page 46

Home Instead Senior Care Westminster

Page 2

Immediate Social Care Ltd

Page 40

Lifecare CIC

Page 33

Paypacket Page 44 Promedica24 UK Ltd

Page 38

Skills for Care

Page 43

Solo Support Services

Page 34

Sprint Physiotherapy Ltd

Page 46

SuperCarers Page 31 Tetra Live - In Care

Page 36

The Good Care Group

Page 39

Yarrow Housing

Page 41

29

Support to help you live an independent lifestyle in your own home Feelcare was founded in order to serve our community with the highest standard of care that can truly make a difference.

We provide a highly-personalised range of services. Each of our packages is tailored to meet your individual needs enabling you to remain comfortably independent in your own home.

We respect your individuality, privacy and dignity and Feelcare pride ourselves on facilitating and nurturing that sense of independence and control in every aspect of day to day living.

Call our friendly team today on 020 7034 7112 and find out how we can help you Feelcare Domiciliary Services Ltd 83 Baker Street, London W1U 6AG Tel: 020 7034 7112 Email: info@feelcareuk.org Website: www.feelcareuk.co.uk

Sometimes, independence needs a helping hand Discover a new, simpler model for care which reduces costs while rewarding carers

SuperCarers is an introductory service which matches families and individuals who need help with trusted, experienced and fully vetted carers in their area.

We’ll then provide you with the tools you need to work with the carers directly. This removes the need for an agency middle-man, as well as the associated costs. As a result, your budget goes further, while the hard-working care professionals earn more.

How it works We shortlist a selection of compassionate, experienced and vetted carers based on your needs and interests, then let you interview them to choose who you want to work with. So not only do you know you’ll get the same familiar faces every visit, you know they are the perfect carers for you.

DAY-TIME CARE

NIGHT-TIME CARE

LIVE-IN CARE

from

from

from

£14

£110

To ensure high quality, personal care, visits are a minimum of 3 hours

To provide peace of mind.

If carers need to be awake and on call it’s £145

per hour

per night

£750 per week

A more comfortable and affordable alternative to residential care

To find out more visit supercarers.com or call 020 8629 1030, and use code WINTER10 for 10% off your first two weeks Connecting people who care

Andrewjon’s Ltd. Recruitment Solution “We help our people to live healthier.

Happier and wealthy in our communities”

ABOUT US Andrewjon's Ltd is committed to supporting vulnerable people so that they can continue their lives with dignity and independence and be participating members of their own communities. Andrewjon's Ltd is committed to meeting the needs of those people entrusted to our Care. Usually we see no conflict between meeting the needs of Service Users and those of workers. Where such conflict exists, the needs of Service Users must take precedence.

The basic principles underlying our support to vulnerable people include: • Privacy • Confidentiality of Information • Fulfilment of Aspirations • Consultation • Personal Choice • Review • Services Information • Legal Rights • Medication

OUR STAFF Before a carer can become registered with us, we have to receive and verify the following: • Full Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) – including POVA (Protection of Vulnerable Adults) • Two references from previous employers • Copies of all qualifications • Copies of right to work documents.

All staff are invited for a face to face interview and suitability assessment. We get to know our staff personally so that we can match them with the right clients to help create more bond between our clients and care providers.

The staff allocated to support you will be chosen in order to match their skills with your needs.

Care staff work on a rota system which ensures that the service is staffed by the appropriate number and skill mix, including weekends and public holidays.

All other employees receive the training appropriate to their work, for example food hygiene for catering staff. All employees receive annual training in health and safety matters such as moving and handling, fire awareness and procedures, adult protection issues, and a range of other matters.

OUR AIMS • Offer skilled care to enable people supported by us to achieve their optimum state of health and wellbeing.

• Treat all people supported by us and all people who work here with respect at all times.

• Uphold the human and citizenship rights of all who work and visit here and of all Service Users.

• Support individual choice and personal decision-making as the right of all Service Users.

• Respect and encourage the right of independence of all Service Users.

• Recognise the individual uniqueness of Service Users, staff and visitors, and treat them with dignity and respect at all times.

• Respect individual requirement for privacy at all times and treat all information relating to individuals in a confidential manner.

• Recognise the individual need for personal fulfilment and offer individualised programmes of meaningful activity to satisfy the need of Service Users and staff.

SERVICES OFFERED The following services are provided by Andrewjon’s Ltd: • Community healthcare service • Care home service with nursing • Domiciliary care service The following regulated activities apply to services provided by The Agency: • Personal care • Learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder older people • Adults & younger adults mental health • Physical disability sensory impairment • Dementia • People detained under the Mental Health Act • People who misuse drugs and alcohol • People with an eating disorder • Whole population • Palliative care • Day care Service User Care Plans are reviewed on an individual basis, according to assessed need, but at least every month.

ANDREWJON'S LTD PHILOSOPHY OF CARE Andrewjon's Ltd aims to: • Offer skilled care to enable people supported by us to achieve their optimum state of health and well-being.

• Treat all people supported by us and all people who work here with respect at all times.

• Uphold the human and citizenship rights of all who work and visit here and of all Service Users.

• Support individual choice and personal decision-making as the right of all Service Users.

• Respect and encourage the right of independence of all Service Users.

• Recognise the individual uniqueness of Service Users, staff and visitors, and treat them with dignity and respect at all times.

• Respect individual requirement for privacy at all times and treat all information relating to individuals in a confidential manner.

• Recognise the individual need for personal fulfilment and offer individualised programmes of meaningful activity to satisfy that need of Service Users and staff.

7 R EDAN HOU SE , 27 R E DA N P L AC E , LO N D O N W 2 4 SA T/F: 020 3638 8893 M: 07411 842 604 / 07947 330 871 E: fatmata@andrewjonslimited.com W: www.andrewjonslimited.com Registered with Care Quality Commission - Certificate number: CRT1-4109292792

170x123.5 SOLO ADVERT

copy.pdf

1

28/09/2017

09:44

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

LOOKING FOR EXTRA SUPPORT AT HOME? Ashbourne Healthcare Services has been providing dedicated, tailor made support to individuals in their own homes for over 20 years. We work directly with private families, Social Services and Hospitals.

Our trained care team provide all levels of support depending on your needs, including: • Personal Care / Support • Domestic Support • Medication Assistance • Meal Assistance • Escort and Social Support

Call now for a friendly, no obligation Consultation in your home 0207 736 5200

KENSINGTON : HAMMERSMITH : FULHAM : CHELSEA : WESTMINSTER : KNIGHTSBRIDGE : NOTTING HILL

BY YOUR SIDE EACH STEP OF THE WAY 34

Registered charity no. 1018300

We deliver a wide range of services, which reduce ďŹ nancial hardship, disadvantage and social isolation for older people in our local community.

Befriending

Information & Advice

Digital Inclusion

Older Volunteering

Outreach Activities

Christmas Lunch Project

Our one to one Befriending service matches isolated older people with friendly, local volunteers who commit to visiting them on a weekly basis.

We organise relaxed, IT drop in sessions, for older people who want to learn how to use the internet and their digital devices more effectively.

We organise regular social events and facilitate creative projects, that bring together isolated older people within our local community.

- Specialist welfare beneďŹ ts/pensions advice - Support applying for discretionary grants, beneďŹ ts and holistic services (Taxicards etc)

We encourage Westminster residents aged 50 plus to stay active and connect with their local community, by providing suitable volunteering opportunities.

Every year we provide a Christmas lunch and gift to over 300 lonely older people on Christmas day. The deliveries are made by local school children and their families.

Contact us: Enquiries line - 020 3004 5610 (Mon - Fri 10am - 2pm) enquiries@ageukwestminster.org.uk

35

H e l p i n g y o u ta k e c o n t ro l o f yo u r ca r e f o l l ow i n g a s p i n a l c o r d i n j u ry Tetra Live-in Care offers bespoke care packages to support you at home and work with you to build a team of dedicated personal assistants.

• • • • • •

Care solutions to suit your preferences Experienced management team Specialist spinal care training for personal assistants Focussed on delivering continuity of care Free assessment Supporting your independence

Get in contact to find out more about our services and how we can help you

020 7729 8488 hello@tetraliveincare.com www.tetraliveincare.com Direct Payment Guide Advert_201708_Layout 1 31/08/2017 14:30 Page 1

Finding it difficult to live alone? Christies Care can help you.

Christies Care is a ‘CQC outstanding’ rated care agency that has provided trained and vetted carers across the UK for over 30 years Christies Care are a family owned and run agency.

We can provide long term live-in, respite, reablement and end of life care.

With a live-in carer, you have one-to-one help, letting you lead the life you want to lead.

You decide how you wish to live your life and our fully trained Carer will help you to achieve your goals by giving you the levels of independence that you require.

www.christiescare.com Email: care@christiescare.com Telephone: 01728 605107

Member of the United Kingdom Home Care Association, Registered with the Care Quality Commission, Telephone calls are recorded for information and training.

Our offices are open from Monday to Friday, 9.00am until 5.00pm, and a Duty Manager is available out of hours.

Christies Care Ltd. Rose House, Street Farm Road Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1AL

36

Happier at home with live-in care to a residential care home

To book an assessment, or to discuss our services in more detail, please get in touch with our friendly team on:

020 3745 7554 Email: info@promedica24.co.uk or visit: www.promedica24.co.uk Find us on Facebook & Twitter

Promedica24 UK Ltd is registered and licensed by the Care Quality Commission to provide live-in care services. Registered provider ID 1-1207211344.

Promedica24 UK Ltd, Cassiobury House, 11-19 Station Road, Watford, WD17 1AP.

Live life well at home “It’s not just about the care, it’s about the companionship” Our live-in care service offers great peace of mind to families as it allows your loved one to stay in the home they know, while receiving professional, round the clock care.

• A real alternative to residential care • Personalised one-to-one care in your home, 24 hour live-in care ongoing or respite • We take a holistic and person-centred approach by encompassing medical, emotional and social needs • Professional carers who are employed, experienced and expertly trained

• Specialist care of conditions - Dementia, Parkinson’s, MS, Stroke Rehabilitation, Cancer and Palliative Care • We care for our carers which means you get continuity • Unrivalled local management with 24/7 service support

Call one of our expert care advisors today: 0808 250 0975 www.thegoodcaregroup.com londonenquiries@thegoodcaregroup.com @goodcaregroup 7

WINNER Domiciliary care provider of the year

DISABILITY CONNECT WESTMINSTER This project supports deaf and disabled people between 18 and 60 years old who live in the borough of Westminster to access services and opportunities in the community Getting Out and About in the Community Supporting those who would like to build their confidence in travelling so they can pursue leisure and social activities they are interested in.

Referring People to Appropriate Services Providing details of where people can access advice and information.

Education and Training – Support with accessing training courses and help with enrolment and accessing any additional support needed.

Peer Support Groups An opportunity to meet other service users, share information and ideas and offer each other support.

Workshops We plan to run workshops on Confidence building and knowing your rights, benefits and financial advice, crime and fraud prevention, health and nutrition.

If you are interested in the service and would like more information or know someone who might benefit from the service, please contact Yasmin Mian N 0203 080 0385 E yasmin.mian@actionondisability.org.uk  www.actionondisability.org.uk F www.facebook.com/ActiononD T www.twitter.com/@Act Registered charity no: 1091518

IMMEDIATE SOCIAL CARE LIMITED - TOTAL PEACE OF MIND, 24/7 Immediate Social Care provides advice, guidance, psychological support (such as DBT and trauma therapy) and care services in the community to customers aged 18 and over who have: • Mental health difficulties • Physical disability in need of rehabilitation • • Long term illness • Dementia • End of life care • Living in care • Respite • Waking night care • • Sensory impairment; and those who require enablement support to stay living safely and happily in their own home for as long as possible, with choice, independence and reduced hospital admission • All our assessments are conducted by qualified social workers • Our staff are professional carers with years of experience, which means that you can be assured of high quality, continuous care delivered by expertly trained staff, with whom you can build a good working relationship.

• The service you receive is fully managed by us, which means you and our staff have access to high quality support and expertise, at any time— giving you total peace of mind.

With all our services we are able to offer our customers the highest levels of care, support, guidance, expertise and advice that will truly make a difference to an individual’s life.

Immediate Social Care: • Consistency of care wherever possible, whether customer's have long term or short term care needs. Staff supporting customers with intensive specialist care needs will work a short rota pattern, to ensure they have enough rest time; this is extremely beneficial to both our carers and our customers.

• Experienced and highly trained staff. They receive market-leading professional development and on-going training. Uniquely, all our assessments are conducted by qualified Social Workers to ensure we are delivering the best possible care and maintaining best practice.

• We aim to ensure that customers’ cultural needs are adequately met from day one, including carer introductions before the start of any service.

• 24/7 fully managed service, giving customers peace of mind and reassurance that they can contact us at any time.

Immediate Social Care understands that social service has changed, and planning care is not an easy process for any family, friends or carer. We are here to help you every step of the way through this process: from initial consultation to advice and guidance on financing care, through to our comprehensive assessment of need and the development of our personalised care plan.

For more information please call:- Office: 020 8638 0778 Mobile: 07843 630761 email: claudia@immediatesocialcare.co.uk or visit: www.immediatesocialcare.co.uk

At Yarrow it is all about you and your life.We want you to achieve your ambitions no matter how big or small.

You and your family are in control. Our personalised service will help you to:  Decide and plan how you want to spend your outcomes. 

to achieve your

who will support you to do things important to you for example, making friends, having a job, going to college.

 Choose a , live with people you get on with and live in your local community near your family and friends. , enjoy good health and have support to develop your

 Stay

 Get the help you need from for example the benefit office, social services, the local GP practice.  Choose to if you want to.

Call us on: 020 8735 4600 or email us: info@yarrowhousing.org.uk www.yarrowhousing.org.uk

Our services include support to people with learning disabilities and acquired brain injury: ●In their own home ●With ‘floating support’ ●In independent living flats ●In individual supported living flats ●In small shared supported living homes ●In registered care homes

Yarrow, 214-16 Goldhawk Road, London W12 9NX

Brain in Hand software makes a big difference to the lives of people with autism, mental health conditions or learning difficulties. It’s packed with features to help never forget events, reduce anxiety, feel supported… and achieve your goals! Travel or live independently, attend work or just learn how to deal better with life’s ups and downs.

NEVER FORGET

REDUCE ANXIETIES

FEEL SUPPORTED

A diary ensures vital elements of your day are not missed

Quick access to your own coping strategies when faced with problems

A traffic light system monitors your anxieties and lets you request additional help

Get in touch and we’ll work with your coordination team to include Brain in Hand in your personal budget. Call 01392 247909.

Supporting independence at home

“Using Canary Care is great. I know that

mum is OK and she feels better knowing I’m keeping a discreet eye on her.”

If you’re • Worried about memory loss • Thinking about a pendant alarm • Wondering if they eat enough

• Concerned about complications from minor ailments • Dreading a fall

Canary Care is a simple, smart home monitoring system that helps you prevent and pre-empt mishaps and problems. Real peace of mind, better care, better relationships.

From

£149.00 £178.80 incl. VAT

VAT relief

+ £26

Instant alerts via text or email about anything out of the ordinary

monthly monitoring fee

Support independent living and be sure they’re doing well.

Call the team on 01865 408 366 or visit canarycare.co.uk

42

MM11643_170x123.5_UnforgettableCatPageAd_AW.indd 1

11/09/2017 15:34

Take control of your care and support

Employ your own personal assistants: toolkit to help Using your personal budget to employ a personal assistant (PA) can give you more choice and control over the care and support you receive - they work for you so you can decide what you want them to do and when you want them to work.

This can range from low level support such as transport or cleaning, to long term social or health care. Skills for Care’s Employing personal assistants toolkit can help you employ your own PAs, including ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

recruiting a PA, including advertising, interviews and doing the right checks before your PA starts, including writing a contract, providing a pension and insurance managing your PA, including supervision developing your PA, through training and qualifications sorting out problems.

Visit www.employingpersonalassistants.co.uk Email marketing@skillsforcare.org.uk for a paper copy

43

Are you responsible for paying a carer?

Would you like someone to manage this for you?

Paypacket’s comprehensive payroll and pensions support service includes: Calculating wages ● Ensuring statutory returns are completed ● Providing carers with detailed wage slips ● Paying carers direct by BACs ● Pension Auto Enrolment covered ●

To find out more, give us a call and we’ll take care of the rest.

Direct Payments made easy

0800 848 8998

PayPack£t

Visit us at: www.paypacket.co.uk

help that pays

7447_Half page advert_Council Publication.indd 1

Barrie Bookkeeping & Payroll Solutions Ltd

22/08/2016 11:00

B •Barrie B •Bookkeeping P •Payroll S •Solutions

We provide a bespoke Direct Payments payroll solution, designed around the needs of the client. This is done by offering options of 4 accounts, each with different service levels, including: • • • • • • • •

Payroll management Fund management Paying 3rd party agencies on your behalf Signposting to staff training & insurance Employer support Contingency build up 24/7 online access to client portal Maintain audit reports for local authority & HMRC We guarantee a personal, professional service, so that your personal assistant’s get paid on time, every time & you, our clients, are our main priority.

At Barrie Bookkeeping & Payroll Solutions, we know that it is YOUR CARE, YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR CHOICE

0800 599 9353 | dp@barriebookkeeping.co.uk | www.barriebookkeeping.co.uk

44

Managed Accounts

Payroll Service

Managing your own Direct Payment can be a daunting prospect. Let Care in Finance take away this stress and worry and manage the account on your behalf. In summary, Care in Finance will:

At Care in Finance we understand that payroll can be confusing. Let our dedicated team help you.

Care in Finance will:

• Collect your Direct Payment from your Authority • Add to it any ILF or personal contribution • Manage your fund in its entirety • Calculate and pay your carers (PAYE) • Make payments to HMRC • Pay other invoices • Provide statements to you and your Local Authority as required

• Register you as an employer with HMRC • Calculate pay based on agreed hours, whether variable or static.

• Provide you with payslips for your employee(s) • Provide summaries for your records • Provide month end reports • Provide advice and guidance • Produce all required end of year returns Operating a PAYE Scheme brings a number of responsibilities. Working as your Agent, Care in Finance will take care of these statutory requirements on your behalf.

Care in Finance Ltd Suite 10, Lantern House 39-41 High Street Potters Bar Herts EN6 5AJ

Contact Us at T: 0845

241 0 999

E: info@careinfinance.co.uk © Care in Finance 2014

Get personal advice and practical support from our Dementia Support service Find one-to-one personalised support in the City of Westminster Face-to-face, over the phone or in writing we can help you Get in touch today 0300 222 11 22 enquiries@alzheimers.org.uk

Alzheimer’s Society operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Registered charity no. 296645

Here for everyone affected by dementia

®

The mark of excellent care

ARE YOU CONSIDERING HOME CARE FOR YOURSELF OR A LOVED ONE?

Caremark (Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster) is a local home care service that provides quality, personalised care to people of all ages. Caremark allows you to live a full and independent life in the familiar surroundings of your home, with support ranging from 30 minute visits to live-in care.

OUR SERVICE INCLUDES:

• Personal Care • Respite Care • Domestic Tasks • Shopping and Meal preparation • Medication assistance • Palliative Care• Live in Care • Social activities • Companionship FLEXIBLE CARE TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS, FROM 30 MINUTE VISITS TO LIVE-IN CARE CALL NOW FOR A FREE, NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION IN YOUR HOME

Tel: 020 3621 2253 Email: Kensington@caremark.co.uk www.caremark.co.uk/kensington-chelsea-and-westminster