St Helens Carers Centre

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	The Department of Health work with Local Authorities to review Social Care and how it is delivered. It was clear that the traditional 'Service Led' approach meant that people had to fit the services available rather than the services meet the needs of the person requiring support. The current move towards 'Personalisation' means thinking about care and support services in an entirely different way. It means starting with the person as an individual with strengths, preferences and aspirations and putting them at the centre of the process of identifying their needs and making choices about what, who, how and when they are supported to live their lives. This will involve the person requiring support and their families having an assessment from Social Services. They will then be given an indication of their personal budget (the cost to the Local Authority of the care they have assessed the person to require), and then making a plan of how best the support can be provided to meet the needs of all concerned. http://mylifemychoice.sthelens.gov.uk is the Local Authority website with information on how Personalisation is being implemented in the Borough Adults with learning disabilities Adults with physical and sensory disabilities. Day Opportunities If you wish to request a referral for these services you can do so via the Contact Centre Advisors (Social Services) who are on duty from 8.45 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. They can be contacted by telephone on (01744) 456600, e-mail to contactcentre@sthelens.gov.uk or personal visit to the Contact Centre, Wesley house, Corporation Street, St. Helens WA10 1HF. LEARNING DISABILITIES The Care Management Team is based at Lord Street Resource Centre, St Helens. Care Managers assess Carers and the Cared For person. The focus of the assessment will be on providing services tailored to the needs of the person requiring support, and their family. This may include day care, respite care, personal care. VALUING PEOPLE NOW Valuing People Now is a three year strategy launched on 19th January 2009, that aims to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities, and the lives of their families and carers. It is based on the belief that people with learning disabilities are people first. They have the right to lead their lives like any others, with the same opportunities and responsibilities. In July 2010 The Minister for Care Services, Paul Burstow, said the Government is committed to Valuing People Now. The key priorities, for this year, are: Health - improving health outcomes for people with learning disabilities. Employment - increasing the number of people with learning disabilities in jobs. Housing - making sure that more people with learning disabilities are supported to live in their own homes. Go to www.fcn.cswebsites.org, the National Family Carer website which has useful factsheets and information for Carers looking at personalisation and planning for the future PHYSICAL AND SENSORY DISABILITIES The Care Management team are based at Forster House, St Helens. Care Managers assess the person requiring support, and their family. The assessment should focus on the individual requirements of all concerned, which may include personal care, respite, day care or accessing community services. These services may then be accessed by the Care Manager putting together a Care Plan, and commissioning services from domiciliary agencies, or by allowing the Cared For person and family to choice their own support package using Direct Payments or Individual Budgets. This team also has a Specialist Social Worker for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Rehabilitation Officers for Blind and Visually Impaired. DAY OPPORTUNITIES Local Authority Day Opportunities are provided for both those with Learning and Physical Disabilities. An Assessment of need is required. Service provision is planned and organised at Stephenson's Resource Centre, Rainhill, but the majority of services take place in the community. Click here to open information document SUPPORTING PEOPLE PROGRAMME This is a Nationwide scheme providing vulnerable people the chance to live independently by finding accommodation and identifying finances to assist them pay for the support services, such as supported living staff. The programme also looks at safety, security and life skills, the aim is to enable people to become independent. Clients are assessed and have to meet certain criteria to obtain funds, they are then allocated an amount of funding, and this is then monitored to ensure it is used appropriately for services. Properties are rented from local housing providers, in ordinary streets across the borough. Support staff can be allocated to the home already in use by the Cared for person if this is the most suitable form of support. LOCAL HOUSING OPTIONS - This is a guide to local housing options for those with a learning disability. click here to open a copy in a new window top of page OTHER SERVICES ACTIVE COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE (ACE) - 0151 290 1441- Click here for Information leaflet - A local support agency for Adults with Learning Disabilities. Have a menu of weekly activities which clients can access, and support staff and transport are available. Services include leisure and cultural activities, assisted work placements (both paid and voluntary), training, and weekly social events in Liverpool and Widnes, including nightclub events - Click here for nightclub flyer ADVOCACY, ST.HELENS DEAF - 01744 23887 - Deaf Resource Centre, Dentons Green Lane. Advocates for Physical and Sensory Disabilities (Gill Valentine) and D/Deaf and Hard of Hearing people (Kate Boddy). Advocates are independent, not Local Authority posts. LEARNING DISABILITY - 01744 730266 - David Webster. 3rd Floor, Tontine House, Church Street, St Helens. MENTAL HEALTH - 01744 453343 - CDP, 2nd Floor, Tontine House, Church Street, St Helens. SELF ADVOCATES (Learning Disability) - 01744 613853 - St Helens People's Choice, 2nd Floor, Tontine House, Church Street, St Helens. BRIGHTER FUTURES - 01695 724361 - Centre based in Skelmersdale which services and repairs mobility equipment. Offer training courses to disabled and able bodied in basic mechanics, mathematics and electronics. Contact centre for full details or go to www.bfworkshop.co.uk BRITISH INSTITUTE OF LEARNING DISABILITIES www.bild.org.uk - Organisation that aims to improve the quality of life for people with learning disability, and their carers. Have fact sheets, training courses and events to raise awareness of conditions and services BROWNS SHORT BREAKS - 01744 778357 - Meeting place for 18-65 year olds who are disabled or have a learning disability. Meet each Monday and Saturday from 10-3, at Chain Lane Community Centre, Blackbrook, cost £ 10/hr. Clients can attend periods of hour up to full day. Can use direct payment for this service, but do not have to have had a Social Services assessment. They also organise weekend respite breaks CHAIN LANE COMMUNITY CENTRE - 01744 606676, Sally Griffiths. Gateway club. Meet every Friday evening, £ 5 per session. The club caters for adults aged 25 and upwards who have severe learning disabilities and need a lot of support. Activities include meals out and trips to the cinema, and there have been short breaks arranged as well. Each person will be supported by their individual personal assistant, which must be someone employed to provide care support, not a family member. The club is for those with severe learning disabilities, who cannot access other services. A risk assessment and care plan is recorded for everyone who attends CHANGING PLACE - ‘Changing Place’ facilities are a large room with privacy, an adjustable height changing table, overhead ceiling track hoist, toilet and sometimes a showering facility. You provide your own sling. The facilities are accessed using a RADAR key, available at the site. A new ‘Changing Place’ has opened at Liverpool One Shopping Centre. Other Changing Places locally are situated at the Trafford Centre, Warrington Bus Station and Walton Hall Gardens in Warrington. CIC VOCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICE - Support people with Learning difficulties to access employment. Referrals can come from individuals or Care Managers, and can be funded through Direct Payments. Those not using ASCH will have support to identify funding sources. Costs are £ 12.44/hour COALITION OF DISABLED PEOPLE - 453343 - Schemes are aimed at people with learning/physical disabilities aged 18+. Referrals are required from a Care Manager following a Community Care Assessment. (N.B: Coalition also provide other services: Mental Health - Advocate, Keep in Touch Group and Self Help Groups. Direct Payments: DP advisors. Disability Employment Partnership.) www.sthelenscdp.co.uk ENABLING SCHEME - 757875 - An ongoing programme to assist people to access and enjoy a range of social and leisure activities. Aim to promote independence and social inclusion INTERLINK AND OUTREACH GROUP - Meet Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Sessions are supported by paid staff and volunteers who conduct recreational activities with members, enabling them to access public and community facilities ALLOTMENT PROJECT - Meet weekly to learn how to maintain the allotment WEEKEND BREAK SCHEME - A programme of planned weekend breaks for adults with learning disabilities who have been assessed as needing short breaks as part of their care/support plan COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING GROUP - 01744 751 759/ jburrows@sthelenscvs.org.uk - The aim of this group is to allow people with additional support needs to volunteer in a friendly group setting. This group is for people aged 16 and over. Members will be taking part in a variety of activities such as bucket collections, card making, coffee mornings etc. They plan to adopt a worthwhile charity and support them in their work. The group will meet fortnightly at the Millennium Centre. If you would like to know more or to join the group please contact Jude or John at St Helens Volunteer Centre. COMMUNITY INTEGRATED CARE (CIC) - www.c-i-c.co.uk National organisation with local services. Provide range of schemes, including supported living, developing employment opportunities and residential care homes. top of page COMPUTER TRAINING - UCanDoIT - 020 7730 7766 - Charity that provides home tuition to blind, deaf and physically disabled people. The person would need their own computer, and training usually consists of ten lessons. Lessons cost from £ 5 depending upon a person's income. www.ucandoit.org.uk DEAFNESS RESOURCE CENTRE - 23887 - provide various practical and group support services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing FAMILY WELFARE ASSOCIATION - http://www.family-action.org.uk - A family charity, supporting families to cope with complex issues including domestic abuse, parents with mental illness, learning disabled parents and severe financial hardship FOUNDATION FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES - www.learningdisabilities.org.uk - National organisation promoting rights, quality of life and opportunities for people with learning disabilities. Have several projects for families, including the 'Older Families Initiative'. Links to information sheets on website HEALTH ACTION PLANS - A 5 Boroughs project to set up personal plans about what a person with learning disabilities can do to be healthy. The plan helps to make sure people get the services and support they need to be healthy. Aim to establish contact with GP and person with learning disability, how to plan healthy life style. For further details, or to join the project contact Mark Williams on 01925 575904, email mark.williams@5boroughspartnership.nhs.uk HEROES PROJECT - A Manchester based scheme for Learning Disabled people to demonstrate their abilities and develop Life Skills. Projects include music and entertainment development, the Life Skills challenge which looks at daily living activities and how to increase competence, and social events such as Inclusive Club nights in Liverpool, Manchester and Chester www.heroesproject.org.uk INDEPENDENT LIVING FUND - www.ilf.org.uk MACINTYRE - 01908 230100 - Charity supporting people with a learning disability. Have some funds available for equipment and breaks. Provide support services. www.macintyrecharity.org MENCAP - St Helens Branch office - 01744 634547 - Answer machine, messages picked up regularly. Alternatively, telephone Norman Davies (Chairman, St Helens Branch) 01744 731471 / 0781 112 5045 Brian Smith, (Regional Contact) 0161 968 9250 Provide advice, information and emotional support for Carers of children and adults with learning disabilities. Campaign for improvement in services for Vulnerable Adults www.mencap.org.uk MIDSTREAM - 01695 555316 - Based in Skelmersdale, transport available. Offer hands on work activity and nationally recognised qualifications for those with learning difficulties. Also offer a job search help to those who do not wish to access the work opportunities there. www.midstream.org.uk NORTHWEST TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM www.nwtdt.com - 01254 306850 - Organisation that provide training forums for Adults with Learning Difficulties who wish to become more active in policy making and development of services Also provide information and training on Person Centred Planning, and planning for the future with older Carers - check website for details of events and training sessions SHAW TRUST - 454577 - A free service, working with anyone who has a barrier to education or employment. Offer basic English, Maths and IT courses Job Brokerage Scheme for those on sickness related benefits in connection with Job Centre Plus employment support - CV writing, accessing and applying for work etc Next Step - Help to access voluntary work with a view to placement and possible employment www.shaw-trust.org.uk top of page SOCIAL EVENING - A Parent has arranged Social Evenings for 14 - 25 year olds and their parents. They take place at Travers Farm, Travers Entry, New Bold. There is no charge for the Young Person, and £ 3.50 for any accompanying adult (there must be an adult attending). Click here for latest flyer ST.HELENS PEOPLE'S CHOICE - 613853 - 2nd Floor, Tontine House, Church Street, St Helens. People's Choice are an organisation who work with people who have a learning difference. They campaign on behalf of people, run training sessions and have fun. Everyone at People’s Choice has a job to do. The office is run by people who have a learning difference. Training sessions aim to improve communication skills, develop individuals to attend meetings, group sessions and events. SAFER IN TOWN - Click here for information flyer. St Helens Peoples Choice, with the support of the St Helens Hate Crime Partnership have launched a new initiative called Safer in Town. Shops, Cafes, Offices and other public buildings who are supportive of the scheme display a prominent red and white sticker. Individuals who take part are issued with a key ring or fold out card, with their preferred emergency contact details. They can take this into any establishment showing the sticker should they feel vulnerable, and a member of staff will assist them. Contact 613853 for more details or to register. www.sthelenspeopleschoice.btck.co.uk ST.HELENS SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT - 07717 547515 - Supported Employment Service aims to enable people with extra needs to make the next steps towards the world of work. They offer work tasters, placements and source voluntary opportunities. They also offer tailor made support to those who need a little extra help to find and hold down real jobs within their community. Service is based within Stephenson's Resource Centre in Rainhill. T.O.P.S. TRAINING - 01744 29808 - T.O.P.S services are offered in an informal, non judgemental environment. They tailor educational needs to the individual. Services offered include Education courses to gain practical skills with certificates which will help with personal progression toward further education or employment. They can also offer Life Skills training, Volunteer opportunities and access to Counselling, information and local community group sessions. The service is based in the YMCA Building, College Street. www.tops-training.org.uk www.sibs.org.uk - Organisation that offers support and advice for those with a brother or sister with a learning disability, long term illness or disability. Information and fact sheets available from this site www.checkthemap.org.uk - site that lists services for people with learning disabilities in regional areas www.hft.org.uk - National Charity supporting those with learning disabilities and their families www.netbuddy.org.uk - website for people who are caring for someone with a learning disability. Over 800 practical tips and ideas here. 'Netbuddy' is all about pooling the vast expertise of parents, carers, teachers and therapists, anyone with first-hand experience of learning disability. It's a place for sharing advice and ideas. top of page Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information provided to Carers, St.Helens Carers Centre do not undertake any liability for any error or omission. The products and services listed are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by St.Helens Carers Centre