Welcome To Wirral

Before you start this self assessment please read the following important information:

 

Assessment process

This assessment is a partnership between you and staff from The Department of Adult Social Services to help us to determine together whether it is appropriate for you to be supported by another agency. The assessment is very thorough and will identify any support needs you have.

 

The questions asked during your assessment will include the following:

• What do you think you need support with?
• What are you able to do without support?
• What, if any support, do you receive now?
• What support do you think you may need?
• Who is your doctor?

The assessment will assist in identifying:

• What your support needs are.
• If you have a carer, what support they require.
• Whether you require support from the Department of Adult Social Services / Primary Care Trust
• We will also provide information about services which may be appropriate to meeting your support need together with details of how we charge for services.

If you need support services such as a person who can use sign language/ an interpreter/ or information in a different language these can be arranged. We can also arrange for documents to be produced in accessible formats such as Braille.

If you would like to comment on any part of the assessment process you can talk to the person who facilitated/ carried out your assessment or you can make contact with the Department of Adult Social Services, Quality Assurance Unit or the Primary Care Trust.

• Quality Assurance Unit can be contacted on 0151 666 4787, in writing to The Quality Assurance Unit, Department of Adult Social Services, Westminster House, Hamilton Street, Birkenhead, CH41 5FN.
• Primary Care Trust can be contacted on 0151 651 3931, in writing to The Complaints & Claims Manager, St Catherine's Hospital, Church Road, Tranmere, Birkenhead CH42 OLQ or via email to: Haveyoursay@wirralpct.nhs.uk

 

ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES

Fair Access to Care Services (sometimes referred to as FACS) is simply a way of working out whether an individual is eligible for support from the Department of Adult Social Services. It is applied to everybody who requests support and assists us to make sure that people with similar support needs are treated in the same way. This is the case no matter where they live within the Council's boundaries, or what the reason is for their request.

What sorts of things are considered?

Four things are considered, all of which are important in order for an individual to maintain independence.

These are ;

• the ability and freedom that the individual has to make choices which affect his or her life
• health and safety, including freedom from harm, abuse and neglect
• the ability to manage personal and other daily routines
• the involvement of the individual in wider family life and community life

The FACS guidance also says that the assessment should take account of risks faced by carers, and not just the person they support.

 

Further details regarding Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) are explained in a separate booklet called `Fair Access to Care Services'

FINANCIAL ASSESSMENTS

All people who use social support services will be offered a financial assessment so that their ability to pay for the services they receive can be assessed. This is to ensure that the charge the council levy for services is fair and has been tailored to an individual's financial circumstance. You can refuse the financial assessment which will mean that a full charge will be paid for services received.The financial assessment is a means test that includes essential housing costs, disability related costs and a benefit check. Financial assessments will be offered to all people who receive Home support or Direct Payments. Specialist Financial Assessment Officers will conduct a financial assessment in your home as soon as possible following the completion of an assessment.

Charges for support at home:

The value of your home will not be taken into consideration in the assessment. The Government have set limits for how capital or savings are treated in the financial assessment.

• Savings of £12,750 or less are completely ignored.
• Anyone who has savings of above £25,000 will be charged for services at the standard rate
• If savings fall between £12,750 - £25,000 then notional income is calculated based on the amount.
• The Government has suggested an amount of notional income at a rate of £1 per every £250 or part £250 above the lower limit. This will be added to other income.

 

The charging arrangements in Wirral are explained in a separate booklet `charging for non residential services'

People who have to pay the full cost of their stay in a residential or nursing home:

 “Capital” includes any savings, investments or bonds that you have and any property that you own. It does not normally include personal possessions like a car or furniture

 

Capital (other than your former home)

If you have more than £21,000 in capital (2006-7 figure) you will have to pay the fees charged by the home yourself. As soon as your capital falls below £21,000, you should approach Wirral Department of Adult Social Services for assistance.

If some or all of your capital is in joint names, its value will normally be divided equally between the owners - so, if you and your partner have joint savings of £30,000, you will be treated as having capital of £15,000.

The charging arrangements in Wirral are explained in a separate booklet `charging for adult residential services'