Who is eligible for community support services?
We may offer you community support if, because of a physical or mental disability, or a lack of mobility, you:
- are housebound (cannot leave the house)
- cannot buy food or prepare meals
- are in danger because you cannot feed yourself
- cannot wash or dress yourself or look after other personal needs
- cannot carry out essential tasks outside the home, such as getting your pension paid into your bank account.
But it will need to be identified in your assessment that you are able to:
- carry on living independently in your own home, rather than having to go into a residential home or a nursing home, or
- live safely in your own home after coming out of hospital.
How long is community support available?
This depends on your needs. During the first six weeks we will talk to you about the service you are receiving. It may be that you need more support, or less support. We will then talk to you at least once a year to make sure the service you receive is still appropriate.
How much does it cost?
We will ask you to pay for or contribute towards the cost of community support, whether our staff provide the service or we arrange for an independent provider. The amount you pay depends on how much you can afford.
Who provides community support
?
Care will be provided by an approved independent provider of community support or by our in-house Community Support team.
If you need somebody to do your housework or shopping, this will usually be done by an independent provider from a private or voluntary community support service. Personal care will be provided in partnership with colleagues in the health service.
Can a community support worker give medication?
We believe it’s best for people to remain responsible for administering their own medication. But this is not always possible.
Decisions concerning an individual’s capacity to administer their own medication are made with that person, their carer/relative and other health professionals such as a pharmacist.
Where it is decided that medication must be administered by someone else, this will only be done by staff who have had the appropriate training.