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Adult Carers
An assessment of your needs
All carers are entitled to an assessment of their needs, separate to the assessment for the person being cared for.
Our priorities and criteria
We must make sure that the resources we have are used to help people in greatest need of support. It is important that we support people where their problems mean that without help they wouldn’t be able to continue to live at home safely or independently.
It is important that you tell us as much as you can about your problems, because we'll use what you tell us to decide whether or not we can help you. We'll probably be able to help you if:
- you can't manage to do essential things, and there's no other way of getting them done
- you are struggling to manage, but you or a carer are at serious risk of injury, and there's no other way of getting things done
If it seems you might be better off getting help from someone else, we'll tell you who to get in touch with.
Once we have a clear understanding of the problems you are having we will decide which problems are creating a risk to your independence. The areas we look at include:
- problems you are having communicating your wishes or making choices
- problems with your health and safety
- problems managing your personal care or carrying out domestic routines
- problems maintaining work/studying, or problems getting involved in family responsibilities or community life
For each of these areas your risk could be low, moderate, substantial or critical.
To make sure we help the people in greatest need of our support we will always give top priority to those people who face a critical risk to their independence. We will then give priority to people who face a substantial risk to their independence.
This means that if your problems create only a low or moderate risk to your independence we may only be able to provide information and advice about other sources of help.
We will also look at whether your situation will get worse in the future, and if other services could help with the problems you are having - such as housing services or the health service.
Reviewing your care arrangements
Once we have arranged the support you need we will regularly review these arrangements to make sure that the services you receive take into account any changes or improvements in the problems you are having.
What is my care plan?
If you need support to help you with your problems we will draw up a care plan with you describing the services we recommend and how they will be provided. You will receive a copy of this plan. The care plan may recommend that you:
- get advice or help from other organisations
- do things differently (such as dressing or washing)
- consider rehousing or an adaptation to your home
- get help with shopping
- purchase equipment to solve a problem
- receive day services, home care etc
What will be my contribution?
When we ask you about the problems you are having we may also ask some questions about your finances. You don’t have to answer these questions but this may result in you having to pay the full cost of any services you receive. After the financial assessment we will write to let you know how much you need to contribute to the services you receive.
Sometimes the financial assessment will be quite detailed, for example when your care plan recommends moving into a care home, or if you have an adaptation made to your home.
Sometimes the financial assessment will not be required, for example when you need a piece of equipment costing less than £50 (we won't provide most equipment that you could buy yourself for under £50, unless it's something which needs fitting).
Contacting Social Services
For more information or to complete an online form visit Getting help from Social Services.
Or you can contact our access teams:
Children and Families Access Team
Telephone: (0114) 273 4855
Fax: (0114) 273 4853
For more information or to complete an online form visit Getting help from Social Services.
Or you can contact our access teams:
Children and Families Access Team
Telephone: (0114) 273 4855
Fax: (0114) 273 4853
Adult Services Access Team
Telephone: (0114) 273 4908
Fax: (0114) 273 6263
Other sources of help, advice and support
Sheffield Social Services, together with the Princess Royal Trust and the Prudential Life Assurance Company, provides funding for the Sheffield Carers Centre. The Centre is a focal point of support and information for all carers in Sheffield, whatever the illness or disability of the person being cared for. It offers a free information pack and newsletter to carers on its mailing list, and a telephone helpline and drop-in service. Contact the Carers Centre at 33 - 35 Charles Street, Sheffeld S1 2HU, telephone 278 8942.
To find out more about local carer support groups and information on voluntary and community organisations in Sheffield visit the Help Yourself website, including links to information sources for Rotherham, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield, York, Lincolnshire etc.
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