Preparing for a Community Care

Summary

This factsheet contains some notes that will help to prepare people with a learning disability and their carers when they are going to have a community care assessment.

• Who can have an assessment?
• Before the assessment meeting
• After the assessment meeting

Description

Who can have an assessment?

If you or someone you know is not receiving the support they need to live in the community, then social services might be able to offer support or services.

Social services will look at the kind of support the person requires.

Before social services can decide if services will be given, they will complete an assessment. For people aged 18 or over, this is called Community Care Assessment.

A carer can also have an assessment. This is called a Carers Assessment.

The assessment should look at all of a person’s needs including:

• accommodation
• health care
• personal care
• social needs
• employment
• education
• finance

The assessment can be done in your home, health centre, or a social services centre. A social worker or care manager will normally carry out the assessment, but other people may also be involved, such as a doctor, nurse, or occupational therapist.

Before the assessment meeting

Social services must ensure that you can take part in your own assessment – although you do not have to if you do not wish to do so.

You are however, much more likely to get the services that you need if you take part.

Take with you details about yourself and the services you need. Any evidence that you can provide can help to support your claim (for example a letter of support from your GP, therapist, friends, family, carers, advocates, and so on).

If you have any questions, you can write them down, so that you do not forget to ask. You can go to the meeting on your own, but it is a good idea to have someone with you such as a friend, family member or an advocate.

If you do not have someone to go with you, but would like support during the assessment, then you can contact your local advocacy organisation or voluntary group.

If you have special language or communication needs, for example, if you need an interpreter, you should let social services know in plenty of time so that arrangements can be put in place for you.

After the assessment meeting

When your assessment has been completed it will be put into writing.

You should:

Ask for a copy of the completed assessment and the ‘care plan’ (which explains what support social services will provide for you). This will allow you time to think about it and discuss it with others, if you want to.

Be aware of your rights. If you disagree with anything that is written in the assessment or you have been refused the services that you have asked for, you can make a complaint. Ask for a copy of the local authority community care assessment procedure and a copy of the social services complaints procedure.

Don't sign anything unless you are sure it is what you want. If you need to talk to someone else first, wait until you have done so.

Devon Total Communication Project have published "My Life - My Plan", it is to help people with more severe disability to get involved.

Key terms:

1. Assessment - this will look at what extra needs a person with a disability has and what services can be provided to meet those needs.

2. Care Manager - the person who writes, puts together and manages services for a person with a learning disability.

3. Advocate - a person who helps another to have their concerns, views and wishes heard by others.

Web links:

Devon Total Communication Project – to download a copy of "My Life,

My Plan"

http://www.learningdisabilitydevon.org.uk/symbols/easyto-readinfo.htm