Caring for Physically Disabled and Sensory Impaired People Together

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Welcome to Caring for Physically Disabled and Sensory Impaired People in North East Lincolnshire.  It tells you what you as a Carer can expect from North East Lincolnshire Community Care Directorate.  It includes information about your rights to assessment and about respite services.

Are You a Carer?

We call someone a Carer, who without payment, provides substantial and regular help and support to a relative, friend or neighbour, who would not otherwise be able to remain at home, because of frailty, illness or disability.  You must also want to be recognised as a Carer.

What does Substantial and Regular Care mean?

Substantial care relates to the nature of the task and degree of involvement.

Caring relates to the following tasks:

• Practical support e.g. laundry, shopping, domestic help
• Personal care/medication e.g. bathing, toileting, feeding
• Supervision/safety/risk management
• Emotional and social support to alleviate anxiety, depression, isolation.

Regular care relates to the frequency that care is provided.

• Regular care would be a carer living in the same household or, if living separately, providing care a minimum of twice a week for 20 hours or more.
• This may be cumulative if a carer is caring for more than one person.
• An individual may be being cared for by more than one person and each individual carer must meet the criteria.

What is a Carers' Assessment and how do I get one?

The Carers Act places a duty on Local Authorities to consider the carer's ability and willingness to provide care.  You are entitled to an assessment of your own needs as a carer; separate from the needs of the person you are caring for.

Please contact the Community Care Directorate on (01472) 325181 and ask to speak to an Advice Officer.

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Can I get practical help and support in my caring role?

North East Lincolnshire Council Community Care Directorate are committed to offering assistance and support to both Carers and the older person being cared for.  This can be provided in a variety of ways, advice about services, assessment, care in the home, day care services, short stay residential placements (Respite care).  For further information contact the Community Care Directorate on (01472) 325181 and ask to speak to an Advice Officer.

Can the physically disabled and sensory impaired person I am caring for have regular Respite Care?

As with all services provided by the Community Care Directorate a full assessment of need (Community Care Assessment) must be undertaken.  The individual being assessed must meet the eligibility criteria for the identified service.

The eligibility criteria for residential respite care is:

• The person must be eligible for adult social care services.
• The person must have a carer (as defined above)
• The Carer will normally have had a full carers' assessment which has identified that the carer needs regular breaks from their caring role.
• All options to provide regular breaks for the carer whilst maintaining the person in their own home have been explored. This could include day care, home care, sitters etc.

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Will we have a choice about where the placement will be?

North East Lincolnshire Council has a close and pro-active working relationship with Independent Sector Care Homes and you will be provided with a list of those establishments who are willing to offer a short-stay service.   Then you and the person you care for will be able to make a choice of home, subject to availability.

How much will the stay cost?

There will be a charge for Respite Care, based on the income and general financial status of the person being cared for.  Full information about costs etc. will be discussed by the person undertaking the assessment and making the arrangements for the stay.

How do I get in touch?

If you have any specific issues around your role as a Carer or concerns about the person you are caring for please ring North East Lincolnshire Council Community Care Directorate.

The number to ring is (01472) 325181. Ask to speak to an Advice Officer who will be pleased to give advice or direct you to the appropriate person or agency.

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