What is community care?
Community care is about making available a range of services to help you go on living in your own home. When required, it can also offer residential or nursing home care.
Who are community care services for?
These services are for older people with disabilities, or who have mental health problems and who need help in coping with their circumstances.
What kind of response can I expect when I ask for help?
If it is an emergency situation we will take urgent action to meet your immediate needs.
If you need advice we will always try to offer that advice immediately.
In all cases we will decide what sort of assessment you require by asking you about your needs and considering these against the eligibility criteria.
This will show us whether you require:
- advice only; or
- an assessment for a standard service; or
- a full community care assessment.
We use the above eligibility criteria to establish whether people are eligible to be considered for services and to ensure that people with the greatest needs are given the highest priority.
What is a full community care assessment about?
Firstly, we will ask for your agreement to us carrying out the assessment. We will then work with you and other people who know your situation to find out and agree on a statement of your needs. Finally, we will plan with you what services will best meet your needs.
Who will be responsible for carrying out my community care assessment?
An assessment will be carried out by an senior care manager, sometimes with the assistance of a care manager. Other people may help with parts of the assessment. This could be by giving us information or their opinions on your needs. They may help by finding the right service for you.
How can I be sure of their identity?
All social services staff who visit people at home carry a North Lincolnshire Council plastic identity card. This has a colour photograph of the person, name, job title and the words "Social & Housing Services".
Always ask to see their identity card.
What sort of questions will be asked in my assessment?
The senior care manager will need to ask you and certain other people about your health, any disability you may have, your present circumstances and the effect these have upon your day-to-day living.
You may also be asked for details of your personal finances including income, capital and savings. This will be necessary if you require assistance with the cost of residential or nursing home care or to determine whether any charge will be made for any home care services you may need.
If I have a disability, will my assessment check whether I have a need for any disability service?
Yes, your need for these services will be checked as part of your assessment.
What if I do not want to disclose my personal financial details?
Should you require any residential or nursing home care but you do not wish to disclose financial information, you will be asked to sign that you are not willing to disclose your financial details and are prepared to pay the full cost.
Can I obtain residential or nursing care without social services being involved?
If you have sufficient funds available from income, capital and/or benefits you can make your own arrangements with a residential or nursing home.
If you have less than £16,000 savings and your capital is tied up in your home, it may be to your financial advantage to apply for social security benefits and make your own arrangements. You should seek independent financial advice in this case.
What happens next?
After your community care assessment is completed your senior care manager will work with you to draw up an individual care plan.
This will be discussed with you. You will then be asked to sign that you accept it.
Should you require residential or nursing home care to be provided, you will be asked to sign that you agree to pay an assessed contribution towards the cost.
Services will then begin. Your care plan will be reviewed with you at regular intervals.
What can I do if I do not agree with my community care assessment or the care plan?
Your senior care manager or care manager will write down any differences between your view of your needs and the senior care manager’s view. There is a section in the assessment form for this.
If you then find that you do not agree with the care plan that is produced following your assessment, tell your senior care manager or care manager. They will then discuss the differences with you and seek ways to overcome these differences.
If, however, agreement cannot be reached, you have the right to ask for a social services manager to arrange a review of the assessment and care plan. Your senior care manager or care manager will give you full details about this.
You can have help from a friend or relative to put your point of view. Sometimes an independent advocate can be appointed to speak on your behalf, should you require it. The Advocacy Service (Rethink) and local voluntary organisations may be able to help.
Will I know how my assessed financial contribution has been worked out?
You will receive written notification from the Social and Housing Services income advice and collection team giving a detailed statement of how your contribution has been calculated.
What do I do if I do not agree with my assessed contribution?
The written notification tells you which income advice and collection officer you should contact if you have any queries. Your financial assessment will then be reviewed.
Allowance can be made for exceptional living costs if you are going to receive short term residential care. These are to cover the costs of maintaining your permanent home where these are more than is usual. You may wish to make sure that these are taken into account.
If you are still not satisfied with the outcome you can ask to use the official Complaints Procedure.
Confidentiality and consents
Who will be told about me and my situation?
Social and Housing Services must keep all information it holds about you confidential except where it is necessary to share information in order to carry out the work it is legally required to do.
North Lincolnshire Social and Housing Services therefore will keep information about you confidential. This is except where it is necessary to share information with other people who will be involved in providing the help you need. They will only be told what they need to know.
What will I be asked to give my consent to?
Before a community care assessment begins you will be asked to give your written agreement as follows:
- to the senior care manager carrying out the assessment.
- to other people and organisations (for example your doctor or the Department of Social Security) being asked to give information about your needs and situation.
- to North Lincolnshire Council checking on your behalf whether you are entitled to any Social Security benefits and assisting you to obtain them.
- to your Social Security benefits forming a part or the whole of your assessed financial contribution to your care.
The senior care manager or care manager will explain the consent form to you and answer any questions you may have.
It is your right to be fully informed and to understand what you are asked to give your consent to.
Can I see what is written about me?
You will receive a copy of your care plan. If you have problems reading this tell your senior care manager who will give whatever assistance you may need.
All other information and records are held on your personal file which you have a right to see.
If you have any other questions about confidentiality or any other matter, do not hesitate to ask your senior care manager or care manager. They will be pleased to help.
Please note that the law can restrict you seeing some personal health information.
If you wish to see your personal file ask your senior care manager or care manager, who will be happy to make the arrangements for you.
Other useful contacts
Carers Support Centre
11 Redcombe Lane
Brigg
DN20 8BE
Tel. 01652 650585
Rethink
42 Frances Street
Scunthorpe
DN15 6ER
Tel. 01724 870597
Specialist support for people from ethnic minorities communities:
Apna Sahara
230 Frodingham Road
Scunthorpe
DN15 7NW
Tel. 01724 330073
Crosby Local Link (including multi-racial advice)
146 Frodingham Road
Scunthorpe
DN15 7NJ
Tel. 01724 296876
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