Adult Social Care - how to ask for care and support
Who do we help?
We support adults whose needs arise from, or are related to, a physical or mental impairment or illness. As a result of their needs the adult is unable to manage their daily life and there is likely to be a significant impact on their wellbeing.
We also offer help, where needed, to carers and young carers of anyone falling into the above categories who provides necessary care, whatever their age or wherever they live, provided the person they care for is a resident of Stockton-on-Tees Borough.
How can we help?
We can either provide care and support directly, and/or purchase services on your behalf from independent providers or work with you so you can manage your own care through a personal budget or/direct payment.
There is an increasing choice of care and support available including:
- preventative and early intervention services
- information directory and leaflets of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and local community services
- equipment and adaptations to assist with daily living
- reablement to help those recovering from a period of ill health
- Stockton-on-Tees joint working with health to offer community therapy and reablement in people's own home to sustain independent living
- personal care and support at home
- supporting people with long-term conditions and at the end of their life
- support for carers and young carers
- day services offering social contact, recuperation and the development of self-care skills
- specialist support and advice for people with visual and/or hearing impairment
- help into employment, education, training and volunteering
- advice on money and benefits
- safeguarding adults when there are concerns of neglect or abuse by another person or institution
Our aim is to maintain personal independence and help people live in their own homes for as long as possible.
In cases where it is no longer possible for someone to continue living at home in safety, we can advise about or arrange long term residential or nursing home care, which includes help with funding when appropriate.
How to ask for help
Anyone who needs care and support has a right to information, advice and an assessment of their needs.
Our First Contact Team will discuss in detail the help you require. A trained member of staff will use a screening tool to assess the adult's care and support needs and wellbeing. The screening ensures the adult is directed to the correct person or department to support them.
Making a referral
If you are a professional, you can make a referral by completing the adult social care referral for professionals form.
Complete the adult social care referral for professionals form
Am I eligible for care and support?
We have a duty to carry out a needs assessment in order to determine whether an adult has needs for care and support.
The assessment must be carried out by an appropriately-trained assessor, for instance a social worker, who will consider a number of factors, such as:
- the person's needs and how they impact on their wellbeing, for instance, a need for help with getting dressed or support to get to work
- the outcomes that matter to the person, for example, whether they are lonely and want to make new friends
- the person's other circumstances, for example, whether they live alone or whether someone supports them
The aim is to get a full picture of the person and what needs and goals they may have. The assessment must be:
- provided to all people who appear to need care and support, regardless of their finances or whether the local authority thinks their needs will be eligible
- of the adult's needs and how they impact on their wellbeing, and the outcomes they want to achieve
After the assessment, a Care Manager will determine whether the person is eligible for care and support. This is set out in regulations which will be consistent across England with a national minimum threshold for eligibility.
You could find out how likely you are to receive for care and support and whether or not if you would have to pay for some or all of any the support you may receive by using our eligibility calculator.
Information and advice from an Independent Advocate in Stockton-on-Tees
The Care Act 2014 requires us to arrange an independent advocate for adults who have substantial difficulty in being involved in assessments, care planning and care reviews, where the adult does not have someone appropriate to support them.
Independent advocates can:
- assist an adult who finds it difficult to have their say in their care and support or support if they are a carer
- support an adult to understand local authority information and assist them to express their views and wishes
Independent advocacy is about giving people as much control as possible in their lives.
Request a care assessment through our First Contact Team:
Your care records
Your care record holds information to be able to arrange the right care and support for you. It holds relevant information about you, such as your:
- name
- address
- date of birth
- next of kin
- the contact we have had with you
We must get your permission before we can share your information and you have a right to see your care record. The Data Protection Act 1998 allows you to find out what information is held about you on both computer and manual records. If you want to see your record from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council you will need to request this in writing, this is to ensure that we have the authority to disclose the information we hold.
For information about how your care record is stored and handled please visit our Data protection and access to information pages.
Occupational Therapy Services
Occupational Therapy Services provide information and advice for our residents. Our services assist adults with their care and support needs, wellbeing and help them maintain independence in their home and the community.
The Occupational Therapy Service focuses on helping adults regain skills and capabilities to reduce their needs through the use of therapy, equipment and adaptations. Providing information and advice, the techniques and guidance given gives the adult choice and control to manage their own care and support needs.
Find out more by contacting our First Contact Team:
Reablement
Reablement focuses on improving a person's wellbeing through a personalised approach in their own home and local community. If you have been ill or had an accident you may need help to re-learn some of the skills lost whilst unwell and to get your confidence back. Our reablement staff can work with you to help regain your confidence and do things for yourself that you did before you were unwell, so you can live as independently as possible.
These specialist support services may be available if you have experienced any of the following:
- a temporary illness or permanent disability
- a fall at home
- a crisis at home
- a change in circumstances relating to you or your carer
In the most recent Care Quality Commission inspection, our Reablement and Intermediate Care service was assessed as "Good". Read the full report for further information.
Find out more on our Reablement Service page.