Occupational Therapy Services May 2014 For a copy of this leaflet in braille, large print, CD or tape call 01352 803444. The Purpose of this leaflet This leaflet has been given to you to provide some basic information on how the Occupational Therapy Service works in Flintshire Social Services. It is given to people either before our staff visit, or during the visit, or soon after. Councils across the country have a duty to assess the needs of people who may benefit from community care services. If you are in need of a service or are looking after someone who needs a service you are entitled to an assessment of your needs, no matter what your financial situation. You may have have straightforward needs which can be met by a single service such as equipment to aid independence or a small adaptation like a rail on the stairs. This can sometimes be resolved by our Self Assessment service. Or you may need a range of different services and specialised equipment and major adaptations such as the installation of a ceiling track hoist to assist you to move from bed to chair. Occupational Therapists (OTs for short) design the care plan with you to ensure carers are aware of your needs. We aim to help you to achieve the things you want for yourself in order that you remain as independent as possible. Staff are employed by Social Services in Flintshire to assess people's needs and how these can be best met within the resources available. Social Services focus on early intervention, aiming to maintain independence. Reablement, Telecare and aids and adaptations are examples of early intervention services that help prevent people from becoming unnecessarily dependent upon others and requiring more intensive support. 1
Who are we? We are trained Occupational Therapists and Disability Officers Who work in teams across Social Services. Occupational Therapy: adaptations and community equipment for your home. The Occupational Therapy Services aim is: To work in partnership with people with permanent and substantial disabilities To help find ways to enable you to be as independent as possible in your own home To maintain care at home. How do you ask us for help? You, or someone on your behalf, can contact our First Contact Team to find out if we are able to help you. You can write to us, phone 01352 803444 or visit our office. Some basic information about you is gathered at this point. If someone else is better able to help such as Age Connects we will contact them for you or give you information on what you need to do. Referral If we are the right people to help you, the information will be passed on to the appropriate Team Manager who may ask an Officer to contact you for further information to help us decide how quickly we are able to visit you. We usually ask you questions on your disability and how it affects you at home. Sometimes there may be a wait before the assessment can take place, as we assess those most at risk first. We will write to let you know how long you may have to wait for an assessment. If we feel that you meet the criteria for our Self Assessment, we may send you the appropriate paperwork to allow you to access simple pieces of equipment or rails. If it is agreed that your need is a priority, we may phone to arrange an urgent visit. Assessment The Occupational Therapist (OT) or Disability Officer (DO) will need to work out with you, and where appropriate your carer(s): What your strengths are and what you can do for yourself What you hope to achieve What difficulties you are having and the reasons for them How to successfully overcome the difficulties 2
This information will be written on the assessment form. We will not pry into your personal life and will only ask for information that is needed. Your views are very important and we will also write these down on the assessment form. You can involve anyone you want in the assessment (family, friend, etc.) and they can be there when the OT or DO meets with you. We may share information with others such as your doctor or nurse but we will always ask your permission before we contact them. We will give you a copy of the written assessment when it is completed. It is important that you check that it is correct. We will not show the assessment form or tell anyone else what it says without your permission. Eligibility Criteria Flintshire Social Services has a set amount of money for Community Care Services. Because of this we use fair access guidelines known as eligibility criteria in order to make sure that: people in greatest need and most at risk are first to receive services everyone who asks for services is dealt with fairly by using the guidelines everyone understands what decisions we make and why. Following assessment some people may not be eligible for services. Care Plan If you are eligible for equipment or adaptations to your home the OT or DO will agree with you the help we can provide or recommend. It is important that this is written down on a form called a Care Plan. This plan will describe: the objectives of the service (what we are aiming to achieve) the possible solutions to meet that objective A tailored recommendation and action plan - with the reasons for this decision And advise you of any unmet or disputed need 3
What happens next? The Occupational Therapist or Disability Officer will arrange as stated in the care plan: the delivery and fitting of community equipment held in stock a specialist assessment for custom made equipment * a joint visit with a surveyor or architect if needed the recommendation for the provision of appropriate minor adaptations (costing up to 1,000) the recommendations for major adaptations, rehousing or new build working with the Housing Assistance Department and Housing Associations (costing over 1,000) advise or give information on other support or services such as moving and positioning for service users and carers at home This plan may change if your needs change. It is important that you let us know if there are any changes so that the care plan can be altered. Monitoring and Review To make sure we have provided the right sort of help, for example: When a Disabled Facilities Grant has been completed we will contact you to confirm that it has met your needs. Some people who use the Service will receive a questionnaire to help us to monitor the service we provide. If you do not receive one but want to tell us what you think, please ask for a questionnaire. You can also ask for our leaflet, Telling us what you think about Social Services. See page 7. Paying Towards the Cost Certain small items of equipment are only provided if you are on means tested benefits. Other equipment is loaned free of charge - ask for our leaflet Equipment to help with your disability. Equipment costing under 10 is not supplied unless it relates to personal care or safety Minor adaptations costing up to 1,000 are provided free of charge. 4
The Disabled Facilities Grant is a means tested grant which is administered by our Flintshire Housing Regeneration and Strategy Team (grants section) for major adaptations in private and rented properties. They will offer an informal means test via telephone and send out forms for you to fill in for the formal test of resources if you are eligible. We recommend you ask for the informal means test as soon as possible to help you make a decision regarding your wish to go ahead with the OT s assessment and that you let us know your decision. Major adaptations in council housing and housing association properties can be approved with landlord s consent and are not means tested although a monthly maintenance charge is likely to be added by housing associations. Standards You Can Expect To be treated with consideration and respect in an open, honest and sympathetic manner which shows that we care about the people who use our services. To have your needs assessed by an appropriate member of staff. To be fully involved in the choice and arrangements made based on good quality information about services, how to get them and what conditions or charges may apply. To be involved in discussions to improve services through consultation on planning, delivery and evaluation. To be treated with dignity and equal consideration regardless of your circumstances or beliefs, respecting your independence and treating information relating to you confidentially. To receive a service from staff who have appropriate knowledge, skill and confidence to carry out their responsibilities, and have the training and management support required to provide a quality service. That all staff will carry official identification which you have the right to see. Wherever reasonable and practicable to have a choice to receive services from staff who speak English or Welsh (or who can communicate using British Sign Language where necessary). 5
What we expect from you That you treat our staff with respect regardless of their race, sex, sexuality, religion or disability. That you tell your Occupational Therapy worker if your circumstances change and you no longer need the help we have provided or recommended That you let us know if you no longer need the equipment we have loaned to you. Similarly that you advise us if you are leaving Flintshire so that we can collect the equipment to benefit others. If you have any unwanted equipment issued by us (or a hospital) you can arrange for us to collect it by calling our community equipment store on 01244 527100. How quickly will all this happen? If your needs are urgent and there is a high risk to your independence we will contact you or the person who has referred you as soon as possible. This will usually be within ten working days, either to gather further information, or to inform you of the waiting time for OT assessment. If the risks are deemed to be substantial we will contact you within 28 days, either to gather more information or to inform you of the waiting time for OT assessment. We always focus on the people with greatest need and some people with lower level needs may wait longer. How to contact us: You can write to us at: Social Services Flintshire County Council County Hall Mold CH7 6NN Or telephone the First Contact team on 01352 803444 during office hours. web: www.flintshire.gov.uk/careinfo 6
Questions and complaints If things go wrong We are aware that despite our best efforts there may be occasions when a service user has a complaint. Any complaint about services can be made to your Occupational Therapist or Disability Officer or the Team Manager. If you wish to make a formal complaint this should be made to: Customer Feedback Team Social Services County Hall Mold CH7 6NN 01352 702623 A leaflet Tell us what you think about social services! which explains how your comments can be made and how they will be dealt with is available from the same address or on our website at www.flintshire.gov.uk/careinfo Data Protection You have a right to see personal records we hold about you. Ask us for more information. ref: A10 7