Help and Advice

How to Access Social Care Provision in Devon

All social care provision in Devon is through Care Direct via Devon County Council: [email protected] | 0345 155 1007

There is further information on at www.devon.gov.uk. In order to access care provided by the Council and to be assessed for housing aids and adaptations contact: www.devon.gov.uk/care-and-health/adults/care-needs-assessment

You can apply to care direct on someone’s behalf if they are unable to request help themselves.

Social care is usually already arranged if deemed needed following a stay in hospital or respite by the healthcare professionals at those facilities.

Headway Plymouth can refer a person for a social care assessment and can send an assessment in to the social care system, if the individual wants. This does not mean that Headway Plymouth get the care package allocated to them.

If a person requires care provision for the first time then an assessment is usually completed by a Social Worker who can make a recommendation and implement the care package with a local care agency.

If the person requires aids or adaptations within the home then an Occupational Therapist will assess for these.

Adult Social Care is means tested and the cost of any provision will be worked out based on a person’s savings, assets or whether they are on a low income.

If you would rather arrange a person’s care privately, either through an agency or with a Private Personal Assistant, but still require help financially to do so; then you will still need a Social Care Assessment. You can talk to the social worker about Direct Payments (which is where Devon County Council pay the person’s entitlement directly into an account used to pay carers/agencies directly).

Devon Wide Support Services

There are multiple organisations who provide help and support. A few are listed here but if you have specific needs or medical conditions that you would like support for then please speak to us, 01752 550559 or email us at: [email protected]

GP

Your GP is there to help with everything from simple routine health issues to urgent health problems that are not life threatening. Most GP practices have systems in place to offer urgent appointments; if they can’t offer appointments straight away, they will use a telephone triage system to assess how soon people should be seen. If you your health complaint cannot wait until the next available appointment then please insist on speaking to a healthcare professional.

GP surgeries are facing unprecedented increase in demand at the moment so this needs to be considered when trying to get an appointment but you should not be signposted elsewhere by non-clinical staff.

For those not registered with a GP, you can still be seen. Call your local surgery and request to be seen under the immediate necessary treatment scheme, register as a temporary patient or ask to register with that surgery permanently.

GPs can refer you on to NHS Mental Health and Wellbeing services in your area or may signpost you to similar services as necessary.

Headway UK

The main Headway website provides factsheets and information about Brain Injury as well as information on financial support. The charity campaigns to reduce the incidence of preventable brain injury and provides support to survivors, their families and carers. There is a helpline open Mon – Fri 9am-5pm and messages can be left.

0808 800 2244 | www.headway.org.uk | [email protected]

Devon Carers

One of the first things you should do as a carer in Devon is register with Devon Carers. They can offer support, advice and information as well as providing carer’s needs assessments. These assessments differ from a social care needs assessment as they focus on how caring for someone impacts upon your life rather than your ability to care for someone.

Devon carers provide free online training courses and workshops for all who register with them. They also have emergency planning aids and alert cards for you to carry in your wallet or purse. Should you ever be involved in an accident the number on the card can be called and the call centre will contact your saved emergency contacts in order to ensure the person you look after will continue to receive the help they need whilst you are incapacitated.

The Devon Carers website has information on general carer support groups in your area and can be viewed at: www.devoncarers.org.uk/carers-support-groups/

You can register with Devon Carers via their live chat feature on their website: www.devoncarers.org.uk

or call their helpline: 03456 434 435 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm and Sat (9am-1pm)

Samaritans 

The Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way, about whatever you feel able to. They do not judge or tell you what to do, they’ll just listen to you. They can be contacted 24 hours a day and if you would prefer to speak to someone local you can arrange a face-to-face appointment (although there may be a waiting list for this service).

116 123 | www.samaritans.org

Carers UK

Carers UK provides help and support to those caring for others. There is an online forum to talk to other carers which can be accessed via their website. The website also provides factsheets, guides and financial support advice.

www.carersuk.org | [email protected] | 0800 808 7777 (lines are open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm)

Help from your employer

You don’t have to tell your boss about your caring responsibilities, but if you’re an employee, your employer can offer you certain legal rights. These include the right to ask for flexible working, such as reducing your hours or working from home. Anyone has the right to ask for flexible working time off in emergencies – meaning if the person you care for falls ill, has an accident, or is without care unexpectedly, you have the right to take time off work to deal with it.
Your employer isn’t obliged to offer you more than your legal rights, but some workplaces have policies that might give you more support or time off, for example through applying for a carer break. Check with your employer or HR department to find out more.