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OPTIONS A guide to care and independent living

Leaving hospital What’s next?

Cambridgeshire Summer 2019

CONTRIBUTORS: Age UK Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Alzheimer’s Society Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS FT North West Anglia NHS FT The NHS

SOCIAL CARE

tips

NHS continuing healthcare Who’s eligible?

Healthcare services

Choosing the right one

Contents How do you get help if you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health illness?....4 What to do in a mental health crisis?................................................................................ 5 Top tips for looking after your mental health.................................................................. 6 Integrated community and mental health services....................................................... 7-8 Hinchingbrooke Hospital – planning your discharge from hospital............................ 12-13 NHS continuing healthcare............................................................................................. 14-15 Personal budgets and direct payments.......................................................................... 16-17 NHS-funded nursing care..................................................................................................... 17 Paying for your own care (self-funding)........................................................................ 18-19 Help at home from a carer............................................................................................. 20-21 Driving and using public transport if you’re disabled.................................................. 22-23 Age UK Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Products and Services................................. 24-25 Alzheimer’s Society Cambridgeshire – Unite against dementia in Cambridgeshire... 26-27 The Care Quality Commission Social Care and GP top tips........................................... 28-29 NHS Hospitals and services in Cambridgeshire................................................................... 30 Useful contacts..................................................................................................................... 31

Welcome and

introduction

This guide is intended to help you, your carer and your relatives understand how your local health services can help you after discharge from hospital. Also information to help you to live independently or access support and care services in your area.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

NHS Foundation Trust

OCTAGON DESIG N & M A R K E T I NG LT D

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

NHS Foundation Trust

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) provides mental health, community, learning disability, substance misuse and social care services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough along with children’s community services in Peterborough. Every year, one in four of us will experience a mental health illness. The experience will be different for each of us, as will the type of support we need. But what mental health services are there? And how do they fit in with other health and public services? CPFT sees about 40,000 patients a year and employs more than 4,000 staff. We provide services from more than 90 sites across the county – our biggest bases are at Fulbourn in Cambridge and The Cavell Centre in Peterborough. CPFT’s services include: •C hildren’s mental health and community services • Adult mental health services •O lder people’s and adult community services • Forensic and specialist mental health services • Primary care and liaison psychiatry services • Substance misuse services • Specialist learning disability services • Learning disability services Our core purpose is to provide excellent community and mental health services to people of all ages across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and beyond this geographical boundary. We also provide some specialist services on a regional and national basis. 4

How do you get help if you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health illness? The help and support you receive will depend on what illness you have. Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health illnesses and this can be treated in primary care (your GP). If your illness is more severe, your GP may refer you on to one of CPFT’s mental health services. If you are suffering from anxiety or depression and feel you need help, you can contact our Psychological Wellbeing Service. This service allows patients to refer themselves (or your GP can refer you) and put you in direct contact with mental health professionals. Treatments include individual therapy, guided self-help, group sessions including training in Mindfulness, a range of psychotherapy courses and online options. Anyone registered with a GP in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area can access the Psychological Wellbeing Service by completing an online form that can be found on the Trust’s website www.cpft.nhs. uk. They will be then be contacted by someone from the Trust and talked through the options available to them. Alternatively, the service can be contacted by calling 0300 300 0055. The lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.

What to do in a mental health crisis? You might be in crisis if: •Y ou are thinking of hurting yourself or suicide seems the only option • S omeone you know has made threats to hurt you or someone else. •Y ou are experiencing extreme distress that seems overwhelming. If you believe you or a person you care for is in a mental health crisis and is in immediate need of help, there are several different avenues you can take. If you are already receiving support from mental health services, the first point of contact should be your care co-ordinator. Your care plan will contain information on how to contact them. If they are not available, ask to speak to the clinician on duty. If you are in crisis and need immediate help, then please contact The First Response Service (FRS). This is a service which puts your mental health first. It provides 24-hour access, seven days a week, 365 days a year, to mental health care, advice and support. If you are experiencing something that makes you feel unsafe, distressed or worried about your mental health you can now contact the FRS by dialling 111 and selecting option 2. The

phone will be answered by a trained mental health professional who will be able to listen to your concerns and help you get the support you need. With your permission, they can also access your medical records to better meet your needs and to avoid you repeatedly having to tell us your situation. They can offer advice over the phone, put you in contact with our crisis services or even refer you to a Sanctuary - safe places run by mental health charity, Mind in Cambridgeshire. The Sanctuaries offer shortterm practical and emotional support between 6pm and 1am, seven days a week. CPFT out-of-hours service is a phoneline available for CPFT’s service users who are experiencing a crisis in their mental health. The service is also available for carers who are concerned about the mental health of a service user. The out-of-hours telephone number is 0808 808 2121. This is available 7pm-11pm, 365 days a year. If you are feeling unwell and need a telephone health assessment, please call the NHS 111 service free of charge from any phone by dialling 111. If you are not able to obtain the support you need through the methods above, you can call 999 or go to your nearest A&E department. They will be able to assess your needs and contact mental health services to arrange an assessment or hospitalisation if necessary.

Top tips for looking after your mental health It is important to take care of yourself – both physically and mentally. Below are some tips to help you. •K eep active and get regular exercise – this helps you sleep, concentrate, look and feel better. Regular exercise is good for your mind and body. •D eal with practical problems when they arise – this prevents them from being overwhelming and unmanageable. •B uild and maintain friendships – friends and family give us support and comfort. •C are for and help others – this helps us to feel good about ourselves.

• Recognise the signs of poor mental health and ask for help – ignoring problems only makes them worse. None of us are superhuman. If things get too much, family, friends or health professionals can offer help. • Talk about your feelings – this helps us digest and process what’s going on so that we can begin to find solutions. Bottling up worries just makes things worse. • Accept who you are – this is an important part of valuing and taking care of yourself. • Take time to relax and unwind – this helps our resilience and helps us to get a good night’s sleep. • Do something you’re good at – enjoying yourself can help you fight stress and boost your self-esteem. • Eat and drink healthily – our brains and bodies need a mix of nutrients to stay healthy. A good, balanced diet is good for your physical and mental health. Drinking too much alcohol is not a good way to manage difficult feelings – once the drink wears off you’ll feel worse.

Useful contacts If you would like more information or support with a mental health issue, here are some useful contacts. •C ambridgeshire and Peterborough Psychological Wellbeing Service: 0300 300 0055 • Lifeline out-of-hours number for mental health service users: 0808 808 2121. This is available 7pm-11pm, 365 days a year. • CPFT website: www.cpft.nhs.uk •N HS 111 service: Dial 111 if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation. • Samaritans: Call 116 123 • Mind infoline: 0300 123 3393 (weekdays 9am - 6pm) • Saneline: 0845 767 8000 (everyday 6pm - 11pm) • Childline: 0800 1111

Integrated community and mental health services The wide range of health and social care services available to help people can sometimes be hard to navigate - partly because these are provided by lots of different NHS Trusts and organisations, depending on the type of help that people need, such as health, social care and housing. Most people’s first point of contact with the NHS is when they either visit their GP or have to go to hospital if they become very unwell. However, in many ways, the ‘glue’ that holds these services together are the integrated community services provided by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT). These provide care in people’s homes and focus on keeping them out of hospital, or supporting them to return home when they are leave hospital, but need extra support. CPFT brings together community and mental health services for adults and older people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. These are organised into 14 neighbourhood teams which are designed to improve joined-up working between primary care, community staff and mental health. This way of working makes it easier to keep people safe and well in their homes by joining up community resources for over 65 year olds and adults with longterm conditions requiring community services (does not include mental health services for people aged 18-64 years old). They work closely with GPs, primary care, social care and the third and independent sector to provide joined-up, responsive, expert care and treatment. They operate 365 days a year. Most referrals into these services come from GPs, hospitals and other health professionals. The multi-disciplinary teams include: • integrated care workers • district nurses • mental health nurses • occupational therapists • physiotherapists • multi-disciplinary team (MDT) co-ordinators. The Trust also provides a number of specialist services that support the neighbourhood teams with expert assessment, treatment and advice. These include:

• Diabetes • Respiratory • Tuberculosis (TB) • Heart Failure • Cardiac rehabilitation • Parkinson’s disease • Multiple sclerosis • CFS / ME • Epilepsy

• Tissue viability • Continence • Dietetics • Podiatry • Neuro rehabilitation • Speech and language therapy • JET and out of hours (OOH) services.

Helping you when you leave hospital What is intermediate care? Intermediate care is a multi-disciplinary service that helps people to be as independent as possible. It provides support and rehabilitation to those at risk of hospital admission or who have been in hospital. It aims to ensure people transfer from hospital to the community in a timely way and to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospitals and residential care. Intermediate care can also provide a stepping stone to independent living. When you are assessed for intermediate care, our staff will draw up a structured, individual care plan which will be agreed with you. Why might I need it? You can be offered intermediate care if we think it might be unsafe for you to return home without support. You might require this service because of your current level of mobility or you might need more time to rehabilitate and gain confidence. What kind of support can I receive? If you are staying in hospital and require additional support after you leave, you will be assessed by our staff. We want to make sure you can stay safe and well. Support can include specialist equipment, an individual rehabilitation programme and assistance with personal care. Who can refer me to intermediate care? Our referrals usually come from hospital staff. They can also come from GPs, social care, district nurses and other community service staff. What are the different parts of intermediate care? 1. Community rehabilitation – for people who do not need to go into hospital, or who are now well

enough to leave it, but require some rehabilitation to enable them to maximise their independence. This is a short-term service, for a maximum of four weeks. During this time, we will regularly review your progress so we can amend your care plan to meet your needs. We aim to support you to get back to your maximum level of independence. 2. Inpatient rehabilitation Units – for people who need 24 hour support and rehabilitation in a bedded unit, who need more care and rehabilitation that can be offered to support a safe discharge home. 3. Interim care home beds – for people who are not able to return home immediately. Local care homes can provide care for a short period of time. We aim to support you so you can return home as quickly and safely as possible. 4. End of life care – for people who have a lifelimiting condition and choose to remain at home rather than stay in hospital. What happens to me at the end of your service? During the time we are providing support we will work with you to decide on what care or support you might continue to need. We can help you, your family and carers, find this care or support. For example, you might choose a referral to social care if you will need longer-term care. You might also choose to have a referral to our community therapy team if you require a longer period of rehabilitation. Sometimes, for whatever reason, intermediate care does not meet all your health and care needs and you might need a hospital stay, hopefully for a short period of time.

JET continues to support patients The Joint Emergency Team (JET) continues to support more people at home. JET is an urgent two or four hour response service that supports people over the age of 18 in their home environment when they become very unwell and need urgent care, but do not need to go to hospital. It comprises a paramedic or nurse who will visit the person at home to assess and arrange care for them if they are unwell and need urgent care, but do not need to go hospital. It also links to more services, such as district nurses or occupational therapists.

Contact PALS The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) provides service users, their carers and families with help, information and support to resolve concerns quickly and efficiently. PALS achieves this by liaising with staff and managers, other PALS services and health-related organisations. We provide information about the Trust’s services and other health-related issues and we act as a gateway to independent advice and advocacy support from local and national sources, including Independent Complaints Advocacy Services. Your feedback is really important to us, and we also like to hear when our services are good. If you would like to compliment any of our staff please contact PALS and we will pass on your comments. Details about PALS information and complaints leaflets in languages including Bengali, Lithuanian, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Urdu, Portuguese and Slovakian, are available below. If you need information in a language not listed, please contact us. For more information contact: Suzanne Williams – Patient Experience Officer Telephone: 01223 219 444 (Office hours Monday to Friday) Freephone: 0800 376 0775 (Office hours Monday to Friday) Confidential email: pals@cpft.nhs.uk Postal address: PALS, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Elizabeth House, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge, CB21 5EF

More information about CPFT Web: www.cpft.nhs.uk Twitter: @CPFT_NHS Facebook: cpftnhs/ YouTube: CPFTvideo LinkedIn: CPFT 8

CAMMS - Your local meals on wheels service

Here at Camms Meals on Wheels Ltd, we pride ourselves in providing meals that are good quality and nutritious for the elderly, infirm and those who are temporarily unable to prepare meals for themselves and all at affordable prices. We are able to offer a tailored approach to your meal with vegetarian and most other dietary requirements catered for. Our meals are delivered by friendly and experienced drivers. You will have the same driver deliver to you for however many days of the week you choose to have your meals. You and your driver will get to know one another and you and your family have peace of mind knowing that you are receiving a regular visit from a familiar face â€“ as well as a nutritious hot meal. We deliver to Cambridge and all surrounding villages, St Neots, St Ives and the surrounding areas and throughout Cambridgeshire & Ely and surrounding towns and villages. We are continuously expanding our delivery areas through demand and we are always happy to deliver to you and begin a new route should there be enough demand â€“ please call and ask.

CAMMS Meals on Wheels Ltd, Cherry Trees Kitchen, St Matthews St, Cambridge, CB1 2LT

Telephone: 01223 314288 www.cammsmealsonwheels.org

Hinchingbrooke Hospital is part of the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which also runs Peterborough City and Stamford Hospitals. All our hospitals provide hospital care for patients who require emergency, medical or surgical services. Hospitals are the right place to be when you are in need of specific surgical or medical treatment. However, when your treatment is completed, it is important your stay is not delayed for the following reasons: • S taying in hospital increases your risk of infection, your muscles wasting and could result in loss of independence • S ome people find it harder to return home the longer they stay in hospital due to loss of confidence and worry about being able to manage •B eds are always needed for people who are very unwell and who may be waiting in the

Emergency Department for a bed on a ward to become available • People awaiting surgery, both urgent and nonurgent, may have their operations cancelled if a bed on a ward is not available For all the reasons above, our teams will start to plan your discharge from our hospital almost as soon as you come in. The considerations made in planning your discharge include: • Assessing what your needs might be when you are ready to leave hospital • Talking to relevant colleagues who can help in meeting any additional needs you have (such

as social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists or district nurses) • Making arrangements for any equipment or services which need to be in place when you are medically fit to leave hospital • Making sure that your carer is given any information, help or advice that may be needed to aid your recovery. Our staff will work with you, your relatives or your carer, to discuss your discharge with you. It is helpful if we can discuss any concerns you may have at the earliest opportunity. For example, you might be worried about your safety at home, or managing your personal care or domestic arrangements. You may have concerns about your ability to move around at home and need equipment to make this easier. By talking about this sooner rather than later, we can ensure you will have everything you need in place as soon as you are ready to leave hospital. You will be given a predicted date for your discharge, based upon when it is expected your treatment will be completed. All those involved in your care will be aware of this date and will be working towards it with you. Having this date will help us ensure all necessary arrangements for your discharge from hospital are made in time for you being ready to leave. Such arrangements may include: • Having suitable clothing ready to leave hospital, such as sturdy shoes and a coat • Having the key to your property available for you • Making sure there is adequate heating in your home • Making sure there is support in place if you need it from your family members or carer • Ensuring you have transport home. Patients will be expected to arrange their own transport when leaving hospital. Relatives, friends or carers coming to collect you are

welcome to meet you on the ward, or a nurse can escort you to our main reception area to await your lift home. A supply of your current medication will be ordered from the hospital pharmacy and delivered to you in time for you leaving hospital. If you have any questions or concerns about your medication, please ask to speak to the pharmacist who works on your ward, or to a member of the nursing team. We understand that any hospital stay can be stressful, which is why we support you and your relatives/carer as much as we can during your hospital stay. For most patients, being discharged from hospital back to their home is straightforward. Some may need information or advice or may need support from social care or the local council. Some people have ongoing health, care and support needs which require a more detailed assessment. Staff from health and social care will work together to plan and deliver services that support people after their hospital discharge. Sometimes it is necessary to move to an interim care setting while awaiting a home care package or a care home of your choice. It is not possible to stay in hospital until such arrangements are made. The hospital discharge team will arrange any interim care destination for you. If you, or your family or carer, have any questions or worries – or if you don’t understand what is happening at any stage of your hospital stay, please speak to your nurse, doctor or ward manager. They will be happy to discuss any aspects of your care to ensure that you are fully prepared for discharge. After you discharge, if you have any concerns about your condition, please contact your GP Surgery in the first instance. If you have any concerns about your medication, please speak to your local pharmacist. 13

NHS continuing healthcare Some people with long-term complex health needs qualify for free social care arranged and funded solely by the NHS. This is known as NHS continuing healthcare.

Where can NHS continuing healthcare be provided? NHS continuing healthcare can be provided in a variety of settings outside hospital, such as in your own home or in a care home.

Am I eligible for NHS continuing healthcare? NHS continuing healthcare is for adults. Children and young people may receive a “continuing care package” if they have needs arising from disability, accident or illness that can’t be met by existing universal or specialist services alone. To be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you must be assessed by a team of healthcare professionals (a multidisciplinary team). The team will look at all your care needs and relate them to: • what help you need • how complex your needs are • how intense your needs can be • how unpredictable they are, including any risks to your health if the right care isn’t provided at the right time Your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare depends on your assessed needs, and not on any particular diagnosis or condition. If your needs change then your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare may change. You should be fully involved in the assessment process and kept informed, and have your views about your needs and support taken into account. Carers and family members should also be consulted where appropriate. A decision about eligibility for a full assessment for NHS continuing healthcare should usually be made within 28 days of an initial assessment or request for a full assessment. If you aren’t eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you can be referred to your local council who can discuss with you whether you may be eligible for support from them. If you still have some health needs then the NHS may pay for part of the package of support. This is sometimes known as a “joint package” of care.

Information and advice The process involved in NHS continuing healthcare assessments can be complex. An organisation called Beacon gives free independent advice on NHS continuing healthcare. Visit the Beacon website or call the free helpline on 0345 548 0300.

NHS continuing healthcare assessments Clinical commissioning groups, known as CCGs (the NHS organisations that commission local health services), must assess you for NHS continuing healthcare if it seems that you may need it. For most people, there’s an initial checklist assessment, which is used to decide if you need a full assessment. However, if you need care urgently – for example, if you’re terminally ill – your assessment may be fast-tracked. 14

Initial assessment for NHS continuing healthcare The initial checklist assessment can be completed by a nurse, doctor, other healthcare professional or social worker. You should be told that you’re being assessed, and be asked for your consent. Depending on the outcome of the checklist, you’ll either be told that you don’t meet the criteria for a full assessment of NHS continuing healthcare and are therefore not eligible, or you’ll be referred for a full assessment of eligibility. Being referred for a full assessment doesn’t necessarily mean

Full assessment for NHS continuing healthcare Full assessments for NHS continuing healthcare are undertaken by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) made up of a minimum of 2 professionals from different healthcare professions. The MDT should usually include both health and social care professionals who are already involved in your care. You should be informed who is co-ordinating the NHS continuing healthcare assessment. The team’s assessment will consider your needs under the following headings: • breathing • nutrition (food and drink) • continence • skin (including wounds and ulcers) • mobility • communication • psychological and emotional needs • cognition (understanding) • behaviour • drug therapies and medication • altered states of consciousness • other signiﬁcant care needs These needs are given a weighting marked “priority”, “severe”, “high”, “moderate”, “low” or “no needs”. If you have at least one priority need, or severe needs in at least 2 areas, you can usually expect to be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. You may also be eligible if you have a severe need in one area plus a number of other needs, or a number of high or moderate needs, depending on their nature, intensity, complexity or unpredictability. In all cases, the overall need, and interactions between needs, will be taken into account, together with evidence from risk assessments, in deciding whether NHS continuing healthcare should be provided. The assessment should take into account your views and the views of any carers you have. You should be given a copy of the decision documents, along with clear reasons for the decision. You can download a blank copy of the NHS continuing healthcare decision support tool.

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you’ll be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. The purpose of the checklist is to enable anyone who might be eligible to have the opportunity for a full assessment. The professional(s) completing the checklist should record in writing the reasons for their decision, and sign and date it. You should be given a copy of the completed checklist. You can download a blank copy of the NHS continuing healthcare checklist from GOV.UK.

Fast-track assessment for NHS continuing healthcare If your health is deteriorating quickly and you’re nearing the end of your life, you should be considered for the NHS continuing healthcare fast-track pathway, so that an appropriate care and support package can be put in place as soon as possible – usually within 48 hours.

Care and support planning If you’re eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, the next stage is to arrange a care and support package that meets your assessed needs. Depending on your situation, different options could be suitable, including support in your own home and the option of a personal health budget. If it’s agreed that a care home is the best option for you, there could be more than one local care home that’s suitable. Your CCG should work collaboratively with you and consider your views when agreeing your care and support package and the setting where it will be provided. However, they can also take other factors into account, such as the cost and value for money of different options.

NHS continuing healthcare reviews If you’re eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, your needs and support package will normally be reviewed within 3 months and thereafter at least annually. This review will consider whether your existing care and support package meets your assessed needs. If your needs have changed, the review will also consider whether you’re still eligible for NHS continuing healthcare.

I have a local authority support package that works well. I’m now eligible for NHS continuing healthcare – will my support package change? If you’re concerned about changes to your care package because of a move to NHS continuing healthcare, your CCG should talk to you about ways that it can give you as much choice and control as possible. This could include the use of a personal health budget, with one option being a “direct payment for healthcare”.

Can I refuse an assessment for NHS continuing healthcare? If I refuse, will I be able to get services from my local authority? An assessment for NHS continuing healthcare can’t be carried out without your consent, so it’s possible to refuse. However, if you refuse, although you’ll still be entitled to an assessment by the local authority there’s no guarantee that you’ll be provided with services. There’s a legal limit on the types of services that a local authority can provide. If you refuse to be assessed for NHS continuing healthcare, the CCG should explore your reasons for refusing, and try to address your concerns. If someone lacks the mental capacity to consent to or refuse an assessment, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act will apply and in most circumstances an assessment will be provided in the person’s best interest.

Refunds for delays in NHS continuing healthcare funding

My relative is in a care home and has become eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. The CCG says the fees charged by this care home are more than they would usually pay, and has proposed a move to a different care home. I think a move will have a negative effect on my relative. What can we do?

CCGs will normally make a decision about eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare within 28 days of getting a completed checklist or request for a full assessment, unless there are circumstances beyond its control.

If there’s evidence that a move is likely to have a detrimental effect on your relative’s health or wellbeing, discuss this with the CCG. It will take your concerns into account when considering the most appropriate arrangements.

If the CCG decides you’re eligible, but takes longer than 28 days to decide this and the delay is unjustifiable, they should refund any care costs from the 29th day until the date of their decision.

If you’re not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare If you’re not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, but you’re assessed as requiring nursing care in a care home (in other words, a care home that’s registered to provide nursing care) you’ll be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care. This means that the NHS will pay a contribution towards the cost of your registered nursing care. NHS-funded nursing care is available irrespective of who is funding the rest of the care home fees.

If the CCG decides to arrange an alternative placement, they should provide a reasonable choice of homes.

Is it possible to pay top-up fees for NHS continuing healthcare?

No, it isn’t possible to top up NHS continuing healthcare packages, like you can with local authority care packages. The only way that NHS continuing healthcare packages can be topped up privately is if you pay for additional private services on top of the services you’re assessed as needing from the NHS. These private services should be provided by different staff and preferably in a different setting. 15

Personal budgets and direct payments You’ll be given a personal budget to spend if your local council decide you’re eligible for help with any social care and support you need. You can request an assessment from the council to establish your needs. The money in your personal budget can be paid to you, to help you make more decisions about how it’s spent. This is known as a direct payment.

What is a personal budget? Your personal budget is the amount of money your local council will pay towards any social care and support you need. The amount of money in your personal budget is decided by your local council after a needs assessment to work out: • what kind of care and support you need • how much it will cost • how much you’re able to afford yourself Carers and personal budgets If you’re a carer, you may be entitled to receive a personal budget after having a carer’s assessment to see what might help make your life easier. A carer’s assessment is free and anyone over 18 can ask for one.

Choosing how to receive your personal budget You can ask the council to either: • manage your personal budget for you • pay the money to another organisation – such as a care provider • pay the money directly to you or someone you choose – this is known as a direct payment You can also choose a combination of these options. For example, the council could arrange some of your care but send you the rest of the money. This is often called a mixed package or “mix and match”. If the council manages your money The money in your personal budget will be spent for you by the council. They will arrange all your care and support based on your agreed care plan. They still need to check you’re happy with the care they’re arranging for you. If your money is paid to another organisation The organisation you choose, such as your care provider, will speak to the council and arrange the payments. Sometimes other organisations charge you extra money to arrange payments from the council.

The benefits of direct payments Direct payments give you more flexibility over how your care and support is arranged and provided. For example, you could choose to hire care workers or personal assistants who: • are always the same people and available when you need them • speak the same language as you • have experience working with your care needs • are a speciﬁc person that has been recommended to you • can help you get to shops or social events There are many ways you could choose to use the money. It’s your choice as long as you’re spending your personal budget on things that meet your agreed care plan. Most councils will ask for evidence of how you’ve spent your 16

money every 3 months. When to consider other options You may decide direct payments are not helpful if: • you’re worried about managing money or the people you employ • you spend a lot of time in hospital • you would rather the council arranged your care If you’re not confident about keeping records or managing the people who care for you, your local council should be able to provide support. You could also consider having someone else manage your direct payments, for example a friend or family member. You’ll need to set up a trust for payments that are managed by someone else. The Money Advice Service has information about setting up a trust.

How to apply for direct payments You should be offered direct payments as an option after your needs assessment. You can also ask your local council’s social services department about direct payments.

How direct payments work If you choose direct payments, the council will send you the money in your personal budget by either: • paying it directly into a bank, Post Ofﬁce, building society or National Savings and Investments account • sending you a pre-paid card You can then choose how you spend the money on your own care and support, as long as it matches the care plan you’ve agreed with the council. Signing a direct payment agreement The council might ask you to sign a document called a direct payment agreement. This says: • how the council want you to record your spending – for example, keeping receipts • your responsibilities as an employer - if you’re paying for a care worker If you spend direct payments on something that isn’t agreed in your care plan, the council could take the money back or end the direct payments. If you’re struggling to manage your money Ask your local council for advice or call the Money Advice Service on 0800 138 7777. If you want someone else to receive the direct payment You could speak to the council and agree for the money to be sent to someone who will spend it for you. For example: • a carer • a friend or family member • someone else who speaks up for you (an advocate) You may need to write down how they will spend the money and which decisions they can make for you. This is known as a decision-making agreement.

Employing your own carer or personal assistant If you decide to hire a carer or personal assistant yourself, it’s important to know the responsibilities you’ll have as an employer. Although support from the council should be available, you may need to arrange:

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• background checks or references • tax • National Insurance • pension contributions Read more about employing someone to work in your home on GOV.UK. Disability Rights UK also have more information on getting a personal assistant. If you don’t want to become an employer You could choose to hire care workers through an agency instead. This removes the legal obligations of being an employer, but could: • cost you more money • remove some of the beneﬁts - such as having the same person provide your care

How to research a care agency When choosing an agency, decide what sort of service you’re looking for and the tasks you need help with. It’s a good idea to contact more than one agency, as they may offer different types of services. You can find out about local home care agencies by: • speaking to your local council’s social services department • contacting the UK Homecare Association There are also organisations that inspect care agencies to see how well they are doing. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all health and adult social care in England. You might see a CQC inspection rating when you search online for care home agencies. Their 4 ratings are: • Outstanding • Good • Requires improvement • Inadequate You could also search for care home agencies on the CQC website to see their full reports.

Telephone helplines If you would like support to help you manage your personal budget or direct payments, speak to your council or call: • the Disability Rights UK personal budgets helpline on 0330 995 0404 • the Age UK advice line on 0800 055 6112 (for older people)

How to complain about personal budgets It’s worth speaking to your council’s social services before making an official complaint to see if they can help. You still have the right to complain if you: • have been told you’re not eligible to receive money towards your care and support • don’t agree with the amount of money in your personal budget You could either: • speak to your social worker about being re-assessed • call your local council social services and request a complaints form Your council should also have a formal complaints procedure on its website. If you’re not happy with the council’s response Contact your Local Government Ombudsman. They investigate all

adult social care complaints.

More information about personal budgets and direct payments • Age UK have a detailed fact sheet on personal budgets and direct payments in social care • The Money Advice Service has a guide to direct payments.

NHS-funded nursing care NHS-funded nursing care is when the NHS pays for the nursing care component of nursing home fees. The NHS pays a ﬂat rate directly to the care home towards the cost of this nursing care.

Who is eligible for NHS-funded nursing care? You may be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care if: • you’re not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare but have been assessed as needing care from a registered nurse • you live in a nursing home

How will my needs be assessed? You should be assessed for NHS continuing healthcare before a decision is made about whether you are eligible for NHS-funded nursing care. Most people don’t need a separate assessment for NHS-funded nursing care. However, if you do need an assessment or you haven’t already had one, your clinical commissioning group (CCG) can arrange an assessment for you.

Outcome of the assessment If you’re eligible for NHS-funded nursing care, the NHS will arrange and fund nursing care provided by registered nurses employed by the care home. Services provided by a registered nurse can include planning, supervising and monitoring nursing and healthcare tasks, as well as direct nursing care. If you’re not eligible for NHS-funded nursing care and you don’t agree with the decision about your eligibility, ask your CCG to review the decision.

The cost of NHS-funded nursing care NHS-funded nursing care is paid at the same rate across England. In April 2018, the rate was set at £158.16 a week (standard rate). Before October 1 2007, there were 3 different levels or bands of payment for NHS-funded nursing care – low, medium and high. If you moved into a care home before October 1 2007, and you were on the low or medium bands, you would have been transferred to the standard rate from that date. If you moved into a care home before October 1 2007, and you were on the high band, NHS-funded nursing care is paid at a higher rate. In April 2018, the higher rate was set at £217.59 a week. You’re entitled to continue on this rate unless: • you no longer have nursing needs • you no longer live in a care home that provides nursing • your nursing needs have reduced and you’re no longer eligible for the high band, when you would change to the standard rate of £158.16 a week, or • you become entitled to NHS continuing healthcare instead. 17

Paying for your own care (self-funding) You will not be entitled to help with the cost of care from your local council if: • you have savings worth more than £23,250 • you own your own property (this only applies if you’re moving into a care home)

You may be eligible for benefits, like Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which aren’t means-tested. You can use them to pay towards the cost of your care.

You can ask your council for a financial assessment (means test) to check if you qualify for any help with costs.

Can I avoid selling my home?

You can choose to pay for care yourself if you don’t want a financial assessment.

You won’t have to sell your home to pay for help in your own home.

How to arrange your care as a self-funder

But you may have to sell your home to pay for a care home, unless your partner carries on living in it.

You can: • arrange and pay for care yourself without involving the council • ask the council to arrange and pay for your care (the council will then bill you, but not all councils offer this service and they may charge a fee)

Sometimes selling your home to pay care home fees is the best option. But there may be other ways to pay care home fees if you don’t want to sell your home straight away.

Find out what care you need

Releasing money from your home (equity release)

Even if you choose to pay for your care, your council can do an assessment to check what care you might need. This is called a needs assessment.

Equity release lets you take money that’s tied up in your home without selling it. It’s available if you’re over 55.

For example, it’ll tell you whether you need home help from a paid carer for 2 hours a day or 2 hours a week and precisely what they should help you with.

But you have to pay interest on the money you take out, which can be expensive.

The needs assessment is free and anyone can ask for one.

How much will care cost? Social care can be expensive. Knowing how much you’ll have to pay will help you budget. Paying for carers at home A typical hourly rate for a carer to come to your home is around £20, but this will vary depending on where you live. Having a carer who lives with you costs from around £650 a week. But it can cost as much as £1,600 a week if you need a lot of care. Paying for a care home There are 2 types of care home: • residential homes have staff that help with everyday tasks such as getting dressed and supply all your meals • nursing homes also offer 24-hour nursing care A room in a care home costs: • £600 a week in a residential home • £840 a week in a nursing home The price will vary according to where you live and the type of care you need. For example, serious health problems like dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can increase the cost. 18

Benefits can help with care costs

The Money Advice Service has more information on equity release.

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Renting out your home

Telephone help

You can rent out your home and use the income to help pay your care home fees.

Get advice on paying for care from:

A deferred payment scheme

• Independent Age on freephone 0800 319 6789

A deferred payment scheme can be useful if you have savings less than £23,250 and all your money is tied up in your property.

• the Money Advice Service on freephone 0800 138 7777

The council pays for your care home and you repay it later when you choose to sell your home, or after your death.

If your savings fall below £23,250, your council might be able to help with the cost of care.

Ask your council if you’re eligible for a deferred payment scheme.

Contact your local council about 3 months before you think your savings will drop to below £23,250 and ask them to reassess your finances.

You can get more information from: • the Money Advice Service: deferred payment schemes • Independent Age: guide to care home fees and your property

Get expert financial help You can get unbiased expert advice from a specialist care fees adviser. They’ll help you compare all your options before you decide what’s right for you. Find a specialist care fees adviser in your area with: • PayingForCare, a free information service for older people • the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) on 0333 2020 454

• Age UK on freephone 0800 169 6565

If your savings run out

Councils provide funding from the date you contact them. You won’t be reimbursed if your savings are less than £23,250 before you contact them.

What you can get for free You might be able to get some free help regardless of your income or if you’re paying for your care. This can include: • small bits of equipment or home adaptations that each cost less than £1,000 • NHS care, such as NHS continuing healthcare, NHSfunded nursing care and care after you have been discharged from hospital. 19

Help at home from a carer Having a carer come to visit you in your home can make a huge difference to your life, especially if you have difficulty walking or getting around. It can help you stay living independently in your own home. This type of care is known as homecare or domiciliary care or sometimes home help. Help at home from a paid carer costs around £20 an hour, but it varies according to where you live. Sometimes, the council will contribute to the cost. Homecare is very flexible. You might need a carer for only an hour a week or for several hours a day. You might need a livein carer. It can be temporary – for example for a few weeks while you recover from an illness. Or it can be long term. You might also consider home adaptations or household gadgets or equipment to make life easier.

When should I consider help at home from a paid carer? You might want to consider care at home if: • you’re ﬁnding it difﬁcult to cope with daily routines, such as washing, dressing and getting out and about • you don’t want to move into a care home • you can still get about your home and it’s safe for you to live in – or it can be adapted to make it safe

How can homecare help me? A carer can visit you at home to help you with all kinds of things including: • getting out of bed in the morning • washing and dressing • brushing your hair • using the toilet • preparing meals and drinks • remembering to take your medicines • doing your shopping • collecting prescriptions or your pension • getting out, for example to a lunch club • getting settled in the evening and ready for bed

Home help This is slightly different to homecare and means day-to-day domestic tasks that you may need a helping hand with such as: • cleaning (including putting on clean bed sheets) • doing the washing up • doing the laundry • gardening You might want some home help instead of or as well as homecare. Most councils don’t provide home help. Contact a charity such as the Royal Voluntary Service, the British Red Cross or your local Age UK to see whether they can help (they may not be free). 20

How to get help at home from a paid carer Your local council can arrange homecare for you if you’re eligible for it. You can arrange your own homecare.

How your council can help If you want the council to help with homecare for you, start by asking them for a needs assessment. Your needs assessment will help the council to decide whether you’re eligible for care. If you’re eligible, the council may recommend help at home from a paid carer. They will arrange the homecare for you. If you’re not eligible for care, the council must still give you free advice about where you can get help in your community. Even if you’re intending to make arrangements yourself with an agency or private carer, it’s still a good idea to have a needs assessment as it will help you to explain to the agency or carer what kind of help you need.

Paying for homecare Depending on your circumstances, your local council may contribute to the cost of homecare or you may have to pay for it yourself. If your needs assessment recommends home care, you may get help with the cost from the council. What you will contribute depends on your income and savings. The council will work this out in a financial assessment. If the council is paying for some or all of your homecare, they must give you a care and support plan. This sets out what your needs are, how they will be met and your personal budget (the amount the council thinks your care should cost). You can choose to receive your personal budget as a direct payment each month. This gives you the control to employ someone you know to care for you at home rather than using a homecare agency, though you’ll then have responsibilities as an employer. If you aren’t eligible for the council to contribute to your homecare costs, you will have to pay for it yourself.

Benefits that can help you with homecare Check if you’re eligible for benefits. Some, such as Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payments, aren’t means tested and they can help you meet the costs of homecare. Find out how to apply for: • beneﬁts for under-65s • beneﬁts for over-65s

How to choose a paid carer If you’re arranging your own homecare, there are 2 main ways to do this: • use a homecare agency • employ your own carer

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Homecare agencies

What to expect from agency carers

Homecare agencies employ trained carers and arrange for them to visit you in your home. You may not always have the same carer visiting your home, though the agency will try to match you with someone suitable.

Homecare agency carers should treat you in a respectful and dignified way. For example, they should always:

How much do they cost? It costs around £20 an hour for a carer to come to your home, but this will vary depending on where you live. If you’re paying for yourself, the agency should be able to give you a clear price list. They’ll send you a monthly bill for your homecare. How to find a local agency There are 4 main ways to do this: • search the NHS website for local homecare services and agencies and a list of national homecare organisations and then contact the ones that interest you • ask your council’s social services department for information on the homecare agencies in your area. They may have a directory of homecare agencies on their website • contact the Care Quality Commission (CQC). All homecare agencies must register with the CQC. It can give you the latest inspection report on an agency • ask the United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) for a list of approved homecare agencies in your area

• knock and ring the front door bell and announce their arrival before coming into your home • bring an identity card • know where your keys are kept if they’re not in your home • keep any entry codes to your house conﬁdential • know what to do if they can’t get into your home • know what to do if you’ve had an accident Employing your own carer Instead of using an agency, you can hire your own carer, sometimes called a private carer or personal assistant. If you employ a carer, you have the legal responsibility of an employer. This includes arranging cover for their illness and holidays. Which? Later Life Care has advice on employing a private carer.

How to complain about homecare You have the right to complain if you’re not happy about the help at home you’re receiving. This might be because carers: • arrive late and leave early • don’t give your medicines to you properly • leave your home untidy after visits • give you poor care like dressing you wrongly First complain to your local council or, if you’re paying for yourself, the agency. The council or agency should have a formal complaints procedure on their website. Try to be specific about what happened and include staff names and dates if you can.

Questions to ask the agency Here are some questions you may want to ask an agency before employing them: • what charges, if any, will I be expected to pay? • what services are charged as extras? • have your carers looked after someone with similar needs to mine? • how will you choose the most suitable carer for me? • will the carer agree to visit in a speciﬁc time slot? And will they tell me if they’re delayed or running late? • what sort of training do your carers get? • if I’m paying for my own care, do you have a standard contract I can read before signing my own? • if the council is contributing to my care can I see a copy of the contract they’ve signed with the agency? • how can I contact your agency during the day, in an emergency or outside office hours?

If you’re not happy with the way the council or agency handles your complaint, ask the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman to investigate further. An ombudsman is an independent person who’s been appointed to look into complaints about organisations. You can also tell the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which checks social care services in England. Your local council must provide you with an independent advocate (someone to speak up for you) to help you make a complaint if you need one.

Further help • the charity, Independent Age, has good advice on homecare • the CQC has a good booklet on what to expect from a good homecare agency • read how to organise homecare from Which? Later Life Care • Age UK has information on all aspects of homecare • if you need help with one-off jobs like changing a light bulb or moving furniture, the charity GoodGym has volunteers who will come round to help. 21

Driving and using public transport if you’re disa If you’re older or disabled, there are ways to make it easier for you to use public transport or to drive. You can get help: • using public transport • getting discounts on public transport • from the NHS with travel costs • ﬁnding community transport schemes • using taxis If you have mobility problems and you need a car to get around, you may be able to get help with costs and parking by: • discounted or free road tax • a Blue Badge parking permit • leasing a vehicle through the Motability scheme You might also want to read our information on walking aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Using public transport All public transport has to be “accessible” so disabled passengers can use it. Public transport also has to accept guide dogs or assistance dogs. If you’re using public transport, it’s worth contacting the transport operator before you travel to make sure they’re able to offer the help you need. Buses and trains usually have priority seating for older people and people with disabilities. They also usually have space and wide doors for wheelchairs. Some buses, trains and trams are fitted with ramps. Public transport in London London transport (trains, buses and river boats) is being upgraded to improve step-free access. Staff at underground stations are also trained to help people move around the underground system – for example, by helping you use lifts instead of escalators and steps, and calling ahead to arrange for help at your destination. Discounts on public transport Older people and people with disabilities can travel free on local buses anywhere in England between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday, and at any time during the weekend and on bank holidays. Some local councils offer free travel for longer, and some allow a companion to travel with you for free. In most areas you can apply online on the government’s website for an older person’s bus pass or for a disabled person’s bus pass. If you often travel by train, it’s probably worth getting a disabled persons railcard. This gives you, and a companion travelling with you, a third off the price of rail tickets. Children aged 5 to 16 with disabilities are also eligible for a disabled persons railcard. This lets an adult travel with them for a third of the cost of an adult fare, while the child pays the normal child fare. 22

abled

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Some councils give free taxi vouchers to people who find it difficult to use public transport.

Driving with mobility problems If you have mobility problems and you need a car to get around, you may be able to get help with costs and parking. Road tax reductions You may be able to get a reduction in your road tax, or you may not have to pay it at all. Find out more on GOV.UK about vehicle tax exemption and vehicle tax reduction. Blue Badge disabled parking scheme You may be able to get a Blue Badge parking permit for your car. This lets you park in disabled parking bays. With a Blue Badge, you can: • park for free within certain times • park on single and double yellow lines • stay longer in on-street time-limited parking bays Blue Badge schemes are run by local councils. Most councils will let you apply for a Blue Badge online. Central London is exempt from the national Blue Badge regulations and the central London boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Camden, Westminster and City of London don’t fully operate the Blue Badge scheme. But if you’re exempt from road tax or have a Blue Badge permit, you may be able to get an exemption from paying the central London congestion charge.

NHS help with travel costs If you pay to travel to a hospital or other NHS setting for NHS-funded treatment or tests, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs. Community transport schemes

Motability scheme

These schemes provide transport to and from hospitals, GP surgeries, dentists, opticians and chiropodists and podiatrists.

The Motability scheme lets you use your mobility benefits to lease a car, powered wheelchair or scooter. You can also pay extra for a more expensive vehicle.

Many areas offer a free “Dial-a-Ride” service, which give you door-to-door transport if you can’t use normal buses. You need to register for some schemes and you may have to pay. Carers may be able to travel with you for an extra charge. Check with your local council’s social services team whether there is a community transport scheme in your area.

The Motability Scheme is open to anyone who gets: • the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) • the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS) • the enhanced rate mobility component of Armed Forces Independence Payment

Using taxis Taxi and private hire companies can provide wheelchair-accessible vehicles if you ask for one when you book.

The NHS have not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does the NHS endorse any of the products or services. All information and figures correct at the time of going to print.

Unite against dementia in Cambridgeshire Alzheimer’s Society in Cambridgeshire wants everyone affected by dementia to know that whoever you are, whatever you are going through, you can turn to Alzheimer’s Society for support, help and advice. There are more than 10,000 people living with dementia in the county, yet too many are facing dementia alone without adequate support. That’s why staff in Cambridgeshire are sharing the number of ways people can access local support networks and speak to professionals.

Dementia Advisers and Dementia Support Workers

Unite against dementia by signing up to one of our Memory Walks across Cambridgeshire.

Every pound raised will help Alzheimer’s Society provide vital information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting change for people affected by the condition. This year people can take part on Sunday 15 September in Ferry Meadows, Peterborough or on Sunday 6 October in Jesus Green, Cambridge. To sign up or to find out about other Memory Walks taking place, visit memorywalk.org.uk

Dementia Advisers offer information about all aspects of living with dementia and supports people to access services. Dementia Support Workers give personalised information and support to people with dementia and their carers to help better understand the condition, cope with day-to-day challenges and prepare for the future. Home visits can be arranged through here if needed. Contact details for either of these can be found under ‘get in touch’.

Dementia Cafés There are currently six Dementia Cafes across the county, for people living with the condition and their carers to attend. Each café runs on a drop-in basis, so no need for prior booking to attend. Cafes are an informal and comfortable environment where people with dementia and their carers can relax, socialise and meet other people in a similar situation. Staff from Alzheimer’s Society are on hand to provide information and can signpost to other support available. Details of each Dementia Café in Cambridgeshire are listed on the opposite page. Please note that any Cafés that fall on Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays will not take place.

Volunteering opportunities Unite against dementia by becoming a volunteer in Cambridgeshire. There is a wide range of volunteering opportunities across the county such as fundraising, research, campaigning and local services.

Become a Dementia Friend Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends Initiative allows people to learn a little bit more about what it’s like to live with dementia and then turn that understanding into action. Alzheimer’s Society is powering the growing dementia movement for change and has already seen over 2.8 million people become Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends across the UK. To find your nearest Dementia Friend Information Session, visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk

National Dementia Helpline Alzheimer’s Society has trained helpline advisers, available to discuss any concerns about dementia and give specialist expert advice to help people make informed choices for themselves or the person they are caring for. They can provide advice on: ■ Understanding dementia ■ Maintaining independence ■ Diagnosis and treatments ■ Changes in relationships ■ Finding support locally and behaviour ■ Caring for people ■ Community care with dementia ■ Financial and legal matters ■ Long-stay care

Volunteering provides a wealth of benefits including meeting new people and learning new skills.

The National Dementia Helpline is available from Monday to Wednesday 9am to 8pm, Thursday and Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

To volunteer in Cambridgeshire, email volscambridgeshire@alzheimers.org.uk

Phone: 0300 222 1122 Email: helpline@alzheimers.org.uk

Dementia Cafés in Cambridgeshire ■ Dementia Café in Whittlesey

Second Tuesday of every month at the Methodist and United Reformed Church, Queen Street, Whittlesey, PE7 1AY from 10am to 11.30am.

■ Dementia Café in Ely

Fourth Tuesday of the month at the Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Ely, CB6 1AD from 10am to 12pm.

■ Dementia Café in March

First Tuesday of the month at St Peter’s Church Hall, 36 High Street, March, PE15 9JR from 10am to 12pm

Get in touch

■ Dementia Café in Wisbech

Third Thursday of the month at the Robert Hall Centre, St Augustine’s Road, Wisbech PE13 3AH from 10am to 12pm.

■ Dementia Café in Ramsey

First Wednesday of the month at the Rainbow Surgery, Stocking Fen Road, Ramsey, PE26 1SA from 10am to 12pm

■ Dementia Café in St Ives

If you are affected by dementia in Cambridgeshire and would like information and support, contact us: Phone: 01954 250322

Taking on dementia together

Email: cambridgeshiredementia @alzheimers.org.uk Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk

Third Tuesday of the month at St Ives Free Church (United Reformed), Market Hill, St Ives, PE27 5AL from 10am to 12pm. 27

The Care Quality Commission is here to make sure health and adult social care services including hospitals, home and residential care as well as GPs in England provide people with safe, effective, high-quality care. We publish independent inspection reports and ratings about services – information you can use when you’re choosing care for yourself, or a loved one. You can use our website to search for services you might be interested in by geographical area, or by specialism. For example, a care home that might offer specialist care for someone who has dementia. We also welcome your feedback on the care you have received – good or bad. We use this information to help inform our inspections and can alert authorities including local social services, if there are safeguarding concerns about care being provided. You can visit our website at www.cqc.org.uk to find our inspection reports, or share an experience of care. You can also call us to share an experience of care on 03000 61 61 61. Here are some tips to help you choose your care.

Social care Top tips 1

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) registers all care homes and home care agencies. You can find out which ones support specific groups of people, such as people with a learning disability or those living with dementia. CQC’s Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care, Andrea Sutcliffe always uses ‘The Mum Test’: is a care home safe, caring, effective, responsive to people’s needs and well-led? In other words, is it good enough for my Mum (or anyone else I love and care for)? Look for care homes and home care agencies where the staff involve people who use services and their families and carers, and treat individuals with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

Whether you are being cared for in your own home or in a residential setting, the staff looking after you need to be skilled, kind and supportive. They should also be capable and confident in dealing with your particular needs. You should always feel that their support is helping you to live the life you want to. A care home will be a home for you or your loved one. Residents should be treated as individuals with their likes and dislikes taken into account. Think about whether a home is close enough to family, friends, and community facilities. Look at how well-led and managed a home is. What does it have in place to ensure that it delivers high quality care? Does it promote meaningful activity and connect the home with the community?

If you or a loved one needs help with day-today care, you can contact your local council’s social services department. They will ‘make an assessment of your needs’ and depending on circumstances, may be able to help you access financial help. For more advice visit Age UK’s website www.ageuk.org.uk/home-and-care.

If you would like to organise your care yourself, you can find a care worker or personal assistant through an agency. Your local social services department should be able to provide details of approved agencies.

CQC’s ratings will identify services as:

Outstanding Good ● Requires improvement ● Inadequate ● This will help you make informed choices around your care.

Safeguarding adults who receive social care is everybody’s business. If you are concerned about the safety of a loved one receiving care, contact the service provider in the first instance. You can also contact social services at your local council. If you feel a crime has been committed, contact the police. You can share your safeguarding concerns with us on our website or contact our National Customer Services on 03000 616161.

The Care Quality Commission has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does the Care Quality Commission endorse any of the products or services.

GP Top tips

If you are new to an area you can find details of local GP services such as doctors’ practices, out-of-hours services and walkin centres in our online directory of care services www.cqc.org.uk/content/doctorsgps

7 2

You can search any of these services by the name of the service, a place name or your postcode at www.cqc.org.uk

After an inspection, CQC publishes its findings in a report on its website. You can use these reports to check and compare services in your area.

Telephone: 03000 616161 • Web: www.cqc.org.uk

CQC rates all GPs to help people make choices about where they get treatment. This will be on a four-point scale:

Outstanding Good ● Requires improvement ● Inadequate ●

There are already over 1,000 reports about GP practices published on the CQC website.

Last year, CQC launched its new-style inspection reports for GPs – looking at the five key areas SAFE, EFFECTIVE, CARING, RESPONSIVE and WELL-LED – you can use the reports to compare local GPs and choose services.

You can also use these new style inspection reports to find out more about local services and choose the one that is best for your needs.

CQC will also look at how specific population groups are treated and give a rating. For instance how well they serve: Mothers, children and young people, vulnerable older people (over 75s) and people with long-term conditions. People will be able to choose a GP service that rates highly on the areas that matter to them.

We welcome your feedback (good and bad) on the services you, or a loved one, receives from your GP. You can share information with us online at http://www.cqc.org.uk/share-yourexperience-finder or call us on 03000 61 61 61.

/CareQualityCommission

@CareQualityComm

NHS Hospitals and services in Cambridgeshire The Lindens, 86 Lincoln Road, Peterborough PE1 2SN

Wisbech

Stamford

Downham Market

Peterborough

March

Chatteris

2 Victoria Street, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire PE16 6AP Tel: 0300 666 9860

Ely

Mildenhall

Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Parkway, Hinchingbrooke, Huntingdon PE29 6NT Tel: (01480) 416416

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Cambridgeshire Services Tel: (01954) 250322 cambridgeshiredementia@ alzheimers.org.uk

St Neots

NHS Foundation Trust

Milton

Cambridge

Newmarket Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

NHS Foundation Trust

Union House, 37 Union Lane, Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1PR

Elizabeth House, Fulbourn Hospital, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB21 5EF

Tel: (01223) 341500

Tel: (01223) 219400

Biggleswade

Haverhill Saffron Walden Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Brookfields Hospital, Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 3DF

Ida Darwin Site, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB1 5EE

Tel: (01223) 603051

Tel: (01223) 219400

NHS Foundation Trust

Cherry Trees Centre St Matthews Street, Cambridge, CB1 2LT

NHS Foundation Trust

The locations on the map indicate where services operate out of.

Useful contacts A

Action on Elder Abuse 080 880 88141 We work to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older adults. Action on Elder Abuse, PO Box 60001, Streatham SW16 9BY I www.elderabuse.org.uk I enquiries@elderabuse.org.uk

Mind (National Association 0300 123 3393 for Mental Health) The leading mental health charity in England and Wales. We work to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress. I www.mind.org.uk I contact@mind.org.uk

Admiral Nurses 0800 888 6678 This helpline has been set up to provide people with an opportunity to talk through their worries and concerns about themselves, friends or relatives with dementia. The lines are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11am and 9pm. Callers can leave messages any time and request a call back. I www.dementiauk.org I direct@dementiauk.org Age UK Cambridgeshire & Peterborough 0300 666 9860 2 Victoria Street, Chatteris, Cambs, PE16 6AP I www.ageuk.org.uk/cambridgeshireandpeterborough/ Alzheimer’s Society – Cambridgeshire 01954 250322 Unit 1, Stow Court, Stow-cum-Quy, Cambridge, CB25 9AS I www.alzheimers.org.uk I cambridgeshiredementia@alzheimers.org.uk

C Cambridge & District Citizens Advice 66 Devonshire Road, Cambridge CB1 2BL I www.cambridgecab.org.uk I caba@cambridgecab.org.uk

01223 222660

Cambridge Dial-a-Ride 01223 506335 A non-profit organisation which provides local transport services that are safe, affordable, and accessible to community groups and to individuals who have difficulty in accessing public transport. Unit B, Rene Court, 1 Coldhams Road, Cambridge CB1 3EW I www.cambridgedialaride.org.uk I camdar05@hotmail.co.uk CareAware 0161 707 1107 A one stop shop for free advice on care fee funding for older people. I enquiries@careaware.co.uk Care Quality Commission (CQC) National Correspondence, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4PA I www.cqc.org.uk I enquiries@cqc.org.uk

03000 616161

Cruse Bereavement Care 0808 808 1677 Cruse Bereavement Care is here to support you after the death of someone close. I www.cruse.org.uk I helpline@cruse.org.uk

D Disability Service Centre Get advice or information about a claim you’ve already made for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment. I www.gov.uk/disability-benefits-helpline

E Elderly Accommodation Counsel 0800 377 7070 Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) is a national charity that aims to help older people make informed choices about meeting their housing and care needs. I www.eac.org.uk I info@firststopadvice.org.uk

N National Osteoporosis Society 0808 800 0035 Advice, information and support group for people with osteoporosis. I www.nos.org.uk National Rheumatoid 0800 298 7650 Arthritis Society (NRAS) or 0845 458 3969 Provide information, support and advice for people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I www.nras.org.uk NHS 111

111

P Parkinson's Disease Society I www.parkinsons.org.uk

0800 800 0303

R Royal Voluntary Service 0330 555 0310 A volunteer organisation that enriches the lives of older people and their families across Britain. We support older people by giving time and practical help to help them get the best from life. Royal Voluntary Service, Beck Court, Cardiff Gate Business Park, Cardiff CF23 8RP I www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

S Stroke Association 0303 3033 100 Advice and information for stroke patients and their families. I www.stroke.org.uk

T The Department of Work and Pensions I www.dwp.gov.uk The Pension Service I www.gov.uk/contact-pension-service

OCTAGON DE S IG N & M A R K ET I NG LT D

Every possible care has been taken to ensure that the information given in this publication is correct at the time of going to print. Whilst the publisher would be grateful to learn of any errors, it cannot accept any liability over and above the cost of the advertisement for loss there by caused. No reproduction by any method whatsoever of any part of this publication is permitted without prior written consent of the copyright owners. Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd. ©2019. Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN10 6AB. Telephone: 01302 714528 Options Cambridgeshire is published by Octagon Design and Marketing Ltd with editorial contributions from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, the CQC, Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society and the NHS. The editorial contributors have not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor do the editorial contributors endorse any of the products or services.

Alysia Caring Luxury Care Homes are proud to present

Cherry Blossom Care Home & Day Centre Our aim is to provide excellent, person-centred and compassionate care to every resident. • 24 Hour Care • Meals • Hotel and Laundry Services • Activities • Papers • Hairdressers • Chiropody • Ground floor garden terraces • State-of-the-art nurse call system •A ir conditioning in all main lounges and dining rooms • Specialist baths & ensuite wet rooms • Sprinkler system for the latest in fire protection • Fees are all inclusive - assessment prior to admission • Wifi throughout the premises • Library

First class residential, nursing and dementia care & day centre Cherry Blossom Care Home provides luxury residential care for individuals or couples, specialist dementia care, and nursing care and day centre. It features a level of comfort and care that surpasses expectations for care homes. Activities, private gardens, events, luxurious rooms and beautifully appointed interiors bring a touch of luxury.

Life at Cherry Blossom

Why not have a trial stay wit h us as a temporary client to see if a care home is the right choice for you?

High spec features such as an on-site cinema room, bistro, large luxurious rooms, spacious lounges, a beauty salon and a chauffeur-driven limousine make Cherry Blossom a care home unlike any other. We welcome family and friends to visit and participate in events and get involved in life at Cherry Blossom. Being social is key to achieving our main goal of ensuring residents’ wellbeing.

Call to book your respite or convalescence care wit h us

• Nursing • Residential care • Dementia care • Day centre Warwick Road, Walton, Peterborough PE4 6DE

Tel: 01733 510 141 Email: sharon@alysiacaring.co.uk www.alysiacaring.co.uk

Day centre

Open Monday-Friday, 9.30am - 3.30pm • Activities • Meals • Outings

After care packages available – please contact the Manager, Sharon Almey, for further details 34

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