Who the service is for Your Choice Your Support offers short-term breaks (respite) to people caring for relatives or friends. There are no fixed criteria, just your need to have support of a break.
You may feel unable to leave someone for any significant amount of time without worrying about their safety.
The person you support may have a disability, illness or medical condition that means they should not be left alone or would benefit from social interaction.
The service also supports people who live alone and may need some support to help them with everyday tasks, be more independent or just need someone to go out and about with or attend activities and hobbies. You may be
An adult with a long or short-term health condition
Someone with a disability or
An older person who needs support or companionship
We provide support workers to:
Assist carers to take a break from caring. You (the carer) may wish to go out for a break, but equally there will be occasions when you simply want some undisturbed time to complete an activity at home, or even sleep.
Offer companionship to you and/or the person you support.
Provide flexible support to help people who live alone to stay independent, help with everyday tasks, go out and about - including leisure, hobbies and training opportunities.
Support Workers
Support workers are happy to sit and chat, share a favourite TV programme, play a game or go for a walk in your garden.
They can also take the person out for a walk, or in their car to a local garden centre, etc.
Some people find communication difficult and some like to sleep a lot. Support workers always come prepared to spend quiet time if needed. The client is not expected to entertain the support worker.
Further details about our support workers
Our workers are caring, reliable and experienced. You will have the same support worker each time, so they provide continuity.
They can offer guidance and support, but do not provide personal care. For instance: support workers do not manually assist with toileting, but can remind or guide the client to the bathroom.
Support workers cannot administer medication, but can remind the client to take it.
In an emergency the support worker will call for a paramedic. They will not attempt to lift the client or administer first aid.
Support workers are happy to make a drink, a sandwich or re-heat a meal.
Support workers do not normally carry out domestic tasks, but will clean up spills or assist someone to do things themselves.
There is normally a minimum visit of two hours. However the number of hours and times of day can be flexible and are agreed between the client and the worker.
How does it work?
The co-ordinator will visit you to discuss your need for a support worker and to explain how it works. If you then wish to go ahead, the co-ordinator then finds a suitable support worker for you.
The co-ordinator and support worker will visit you for an introduction. You and the support worker then have the opportunity to decline if it is not a suitable match.
A form is completed recording important information about the client for the support worker. You will have a copy in your home file.
You and the support worker will then be able to contact each other directly to agree days and times of working.
The support worker will complete timesheets of their time working with you. You need to sign to agree the length of time they worked.
The support worker sends in their timesheet once a month to the co-ordinator. We use it to invoice you on a monthly basis and also to pay the worker.
If you have any queries about the service or wish to end the arrangement for any reason please contact the co-ordinator.
Extra Information Insurance: our support workers are covered by insurance through Carers Together whilst working with the client. Accidental breakages are not included in this insurance. Support workers may take out clients in their own car but will not drive the clients in the client's own car. Current charge for the service: £15.00 an hour form April 2022. Taking the client out by car or public transport: If the client is take out by the support worker in their own car, there will be mileage cost to pay. This is currently 45p per mile. The client is also expected to pay the support worker's bus/train fare if public transport is used whilst going out. Health and Safety: The health and safety of the worker and client is important and Carers Together operates a Health and Safety policy. This is available on request.
If you have any questions please contact the co-ordinator at: Carers Together Tel: 01794 519495 Email:[email protected]