If you are caring for a relative or friend who has an illness or disability you are a carer.
If you are providing most of the care which your friend or relative needs it is important that you are properly supported by Neighbourhood, Communities and Children's Services so that you don't have to cope on your own. While it has always been government policy to consult carers, it has not always happened in practice. From April 1996 there is a new law to help you called the Carers Recognition and Services Act which aims to make sure that the Neighbourhood, Communities and Children's Services listen to you and offer you the help you need.
The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 places responsibilities on Local Authorities for the people living in their own home or for those needing home care.
In order to obtain Community Care Services it will be necessary for the person being cared for to be referred to the Local Authority Social Services Department. An officer of the department will discuss with them and anyone who cares for them what their circumstances are and complete an assessment of need.
To make a referral contact:
The Neighbourhood, Communities and Children's Services Adult Contact Team
P.O. Box 251
The Council House
College Road
Doncaster
DN1 3DA
Tel: 01302 737 391
Fax: 01302 736 939
OR
one of this service's area teams at:
Council Offices
1 Main Street
Mexborough
Tel: 01302 735 700
OR
Council Offices
Vermuyden Centre
Thorne
Tel: 01302 735 979
OR
Council Offices
Cooke Street
Bentley
Tel: 01302 735 465
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Assessment
The assessment of need will be led by a key worker. The "Key worker" will contact other agencies and organisations which may already be concerned with the persons care, for example their Doctor, Health Visitor, or District Nurse, Housing Warden etc., in order to assist in the assessment (an assessment is where your individual needs and care that your relative needs are discussed, agreed and recorded).
The person you care for will be a full participant in the assessment process and will have access to information and assessment documents prepared by the Key Worker.
They will be able to express their choice of services and receive a copy of the care plan at the completion of the assessment.
Your needs are about what you require to enable you to achieve, maintain or restore an acceptable level of social Independence or quality of life.
Ask for anything you need.
Services should be flexible and adapted to fit your needs i.e. services should be arranged at times to suit you and the person you care for.
Care Plan
When Neighbourhood, Communities and Children's Services decide what to provide they have to take into account the results both of your assessment and the person you care for.
They will then draw up an individual care plan for the person you care for and should give you both a copy (a care plan is simply a written record of what services, help you need as identified in your needs assessment).
Where your choice of services is not available or cannot be met the 'Key Worker' will discuss with you and the person you care for alternative ways in which your needs can be met within available resources.
Services which are important to the person you care for cannot be reduced or stopped because there is a shortage of money.
While there is no charge for the assessment itself, it is legal for councils to charge for services.
The Social Services has a comments and complaints procedure in operation.
If you wish to make a complaint you may write or telephone the Chief Inspector's Office at:
Customer Care Manager
Directorate of Social Services
P.O. Box 251
The Council House
College Road
Doncaster
DN1 3DA
Tel: 01302 737 788
Fax: 01302 736 654
Minicom: 01302 737 796
E-mail: coments&complaints@doncaster.gov.uk
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Benefits
There are two main benefits for carers:
- Carer's Allowance
- The Carer Premium
Carer's Allowance
This benefit paid by the Department of Works and Pensions (Benefits Agency), is for carers who are 16 or over and under the age of 65.
To get Carer's Allowance you must care for someone who gets Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher of the care component of the Disability Living Allowance for at least 35 hours a week. Carer's Allowance is 'earnings replacement benefit' so you cannot get it if:
- you earn more than £95.00 a week after deductions and allowable expences.
- you already get another benefit which compensates you for not being able to work. e.g. Incapacity Benefit.
- if your spouse is claiming certain Social Security Benefits like State Retirement Pension or Incapacity Benefits, they may be claiming extra money for you. This is called a dependant's addition. Your spouse cannot get a dependant's addition if you get Carer's Allowance in your own right. For some people, it is better to change from getting a dependant's addition to getting Carer's Allowance because of the Carer premium.
Carer's Allowance is counted as Income when other benefits are being calculated e.g. Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit.
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The Carer Premium
You will qualify for a Carer Premium if you or your partner are actually paid an amount of Carer's Allowance or have an underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance, but your entitlement to Carer's Allowance cannot be paid because of the overlapping benefit rules.
PAID Carer's Allowance
If you are actually paid Carer's Allowance there are no extra rules for getting a Carer Premium. However, the person you are caring for will be excluded from the Severe Disability Premium.
Right to Time off for Carers
The Carer's allowance rules allow breaks in care of up to 12 weeks within any 26 week period without affecting payment of benefit. Up to 4 of those 12 weeks can be for any temporary breaks in care such as a holiday or a short term stay in a care home for the person you look after. The remaining 8 weeks allows for either the carer or the disabled person to undergo medical or other treatment as an inpatient in hospital.
The New Home Care Charging System
- The stamp system of paying for home care has now been phased out.
- The new way of paying for home care is now by swipe card.
- Each individual will be financially assessed by Neighbourhood, Communities and Children's services.
- All income will be looked at but there will be some income disregards. For example, the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance is ignored and the night time rate for Attendance Allowance.
- In some circumstances savings will be looked at e.g. if they are over £13,500.00.
- Housing cost will be taken into consideration.
- Clients will not pay more than they can afford for home care.
Going into Hospital
If you are in hospital, your Carer's Allowance will stop after 12 weeks. It will stop sooner if you have been in hospital or had a break in care within the last 26 weeks.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995
The Act makes it unlawful for people who provide services to the public to discriminate against disabled people.
Service providers must treat disabled people the same way they would treat other people, when offering or providing a service or facility.
It does not matter if the service is free or whether it is paid for.
If you feel you have been Discriminated against contact:
DIAL DONCASTER on 01302 327 800.
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Support Groups for Carers
Care Together
c/o St. John's Information & Support Line
The Day Care Suit
St, John's Hospice
Weston Road
Balby
Doncaster
Tel: 01302 796 853
E-mail: info@caretogether.co.uk
Website: www.caretogether.co.uk
Help and support for those who care for someone at home with a life threatening illness.
Doncaster Partnership For Carers
St. Wilfrid's
74 Church Lane
Bessacarr
Doncaster
DN4 6QD
Tel: 01302 531 333
Fax: 01302 536 645
E-mail: dpfc@doncastercarers.org.uk
A local independent organisation offering support and advice to all carers.
Asian Carers Advocacy
Tel: 01302 531 333
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MORE USEFUL GROUPS
Doncaster Relatives & Residents Association
Contact: Bernard Routhwaite
Tel: 01302 744 459
or
Jim Endicot
Tel: 01302 782 697
Doncaster Communities Live at Home Scheme
Carr House Wesley Methodist Church
Bentinck Close
Off St. James Street
Doncaster
DN1 3ST
Tel: 01302 769 898
Fax: 01302 769 898
Assists members of the community in their daily lives by providing a service whereby people in need of a good neighbour, good friend or companion who can in some way enhance their life such as help them with shopping, letter writing, accompanying them on outings and any task so long as it is not already provided by a statutory or voluntary body.
The office is open 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Monday to Friday with an answer machine at all other times.
Orchids
69 Tenter Lane
Warmsworth
Doncaster
DN4 9PE
Tel/Fax: 01302 570 729
E-mail: sarah.orchids@blueyonder.co.uk
Orchids offers one-to-one support to work alongside existing carers to provide support in the home and commnuity. Services range from light house duties, assistance with shopping and preparing meals, companionship, day trips, accompaniment to medical appointments and a sitting service. We also cover carers for Holidays and during sickness.
Cost: £10 per hour for the first two hours then £8 per hour.
Carers UK
32 - 36 Loman Street
Southwark
London
SE1 0EE
Tel: 020 7922 8000
Fax: 020 7922 8001
Carersline: 0808 808 7777
E-mail: info@ukcarersuk.org
Website: www.carersuk.org
Carers UK is the voice of carers and the leading campaigning, policy and information organisation for carers.
DIAL Disclaimer
Whilst all the information given in this fact sheet was correct at the time of going to press, DIAL Doncaster cannot be held responsible for any subsequent changes.
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