Adult social care services
Social care for adults in Northumberland is arranged through a care management service operated by Northumberland Care Trust under its partnership with Northumberland County Council. The county council made this arrangement specifically with an aim to make it as easy as possible to give people the help they need.
Care management is a service for ill and disabled people, offering information and advice about how to cope with problems, and arranging services for people who need them.
Care managers are people who have been trained to understand the effects of disability and illness,and the ways they can be overcome. Many care managers are nurses, social workers or occupational therapists.
To access more information about care management please visit the Northumberland County Council website.
By 2011 we are looking to transform the way we provide services so that adults who are eligible for social care from Northumberland County Council will increasingly be given more choice and control over the care packages they receive. This is our Putting People First programme and is part of a major national change programme for adult social care aimed at improving support.
Listed below is an A-Z of the services we can arrange through care management and Putting People First. Please click on the service you are interested in to find out more. Please note that the links will take you to pages on the Northumberland County Council website.
Adaptations to your home
People with a disability or a long term illness may have the right to receive adaptations to their home to help them live freely and independently.
Adult placement service
Offers short term care to adults who are unable to live on their own (without a full time carer) and the people who care for them.
Assessment home care
In some parts of the County, we can now offer a special service helping people who may need homecare. We work closely with them in order to find easier ways to allow them to live freely and independently.
Carers – How we can help you
Carers are people who support loved ones, relatives or friends who have a disability or illness, or who need support for other reasons such as mental distress or drug use. Carers may provide emotional, physical or practical help.
Care homes
Our care homes provide care, accommodation and board for people who need a high level of support to a high standard.
Charges for services - social care
There are charges for services such as home care, short breaks or long-term residence in care homes, and also for meals and transport to day care. Most of these charges depend on people's financial circumstances.
Day care
Care managers provide these services for people who need it to take part in a variety of daytime services. These include traditional day care services or individual services with the help of an enabler.
Direct payments
People who need social care services can choose to be paid the cost of the services and make their own arrangements. However, there are some restrictions to this.
Employment/ training
Care managers offer a high level of support to disadvantaged or disabled adults to access employment, education and training opportunities.
Equipment to help with disability or illness
We can provide a wide range of equipment to help people with long term illnesses or disability issues.
Home care
Our care managers can arrange to help at home for people who need personal care.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapists can support people to regain their independence in a number of ways. This could be giving advice, arranging special equipment or adaptations to people’s homes.
Out of hours emergencies - social care
The social services Emergency Duty Team is available at all times when offices are closed.
Protection of vulnerable adults
Care managers can advise and help if you think that a vulnerable adult may be being abused in some way.
Putting People First
This is a major national change programme for adult social care, aimed at improving support. For the first time people using services will have choice and control over how money is spent and what support and services they have. This is what local and central government have been calling self-directed support and personal budgets. In the future this will replace the traditional care package and will apply to all adults eligible for social care support.
Short break care
Long term carers need a break from time to time to maintain a functional carer. Therefore we provide a service were our care managers can arrange short breaks of various kinds for people who need them.
Supporting people
Supporting People is a national programme funded by the government and managed locally by Northumberland Care Trust. Supporting People contracts with a range of organisations to provide housing related support to people who need help to remain living at home.
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Northumberland Life is a local web based directory of groups and services in and around Northumberland. It is a valuable reference for anyone who wants to know what Northumberland's communities can offer, from parents looking for activities for young children to older people looking for like-minded groups; from people who want to take up new activities to people who want to make contact with others affected by the same disability or illness.
The National Careline is a not for profit company offering information about care and support for older people, their carers and their families. It aims to fill the information and advice gap for older people and their relatives who are seeking to find their way through the care maze. The National Careline also provides a wealth of extra information that users may find beneficial in their support and care of the older person.
