Referral for a community care assessment

The principal aim of community care is to help people who need care and support to live an independent life at home, or in homely surroundings within the community.

Agencies providing community care services in Barnsley work together to ensure that people have good quality care and support at home.  If you are finding it difficult to manage you can contact any of the main community care agencies.  This may be your G.P, Adult Social Services, or district nurse.

Community care aims to help frail older people and people with disabilities to

• Continue living in their own homes
• Find alternative accommodation if their existing home is not suitable
• Get the right amount of care and support for themselves and their carers
• Have a greater say in how they live their lives

Community care services also include health care services such as chiropody, physiotherapy or district nursing, for which you will not be charged.

The eligibility criteria consists of two bands critical and substantial.  

If You or the person you care for is having difficulties coping with everyday life you may be entitled to help from Adult Social Services.  We aim to respond to critical requests if the following factors apply:

• Where there is immediate risk to life or physical safety
• Serious abuse has occurred or will occur
• Significant health problems have developed or will develop
• Where someone is homeless or potentially homeless
• Where someone is unable to carry out basic personal care or domestic routines
• Vital involvement in work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained
• Where carers providing substantial and regular support are no longer able to cope

Where vital family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken we aim to respond to substantial requests for help if the following factors apply:

• Inability to maintain a safe/sanitary environment
• Abuse or neglect has occurred or will occur where someone has little control over the home environment
• Where someone is unable or will become unable to carry out the majority of personal care or domestic routines  

If you are finding it difficult to manage you can contact any of the main community care agencies.  This may be your G.P, Adult Social Services, or District Nurse.  When you ask for help, you will be offered an assessment so that you can talk about your needs and get advice on the type of care and support available.  If there is someone caring for you, they will also be involved in the assessment and asked what support they need.  Once the assessment is complete and you are happy with the care and support that can be arranged Adult Social Services will review the care/support plan regularly to make sure the care you are receiving meets your needs.

Charges / Fees

There is a charge for these services, you will be given information about charging for services and how much you will have to pay, this is worked out on your income and also the amount of service to be provided.

Method of Payments Available

•  Payment Card

A plastic Payment Card will be issued to every Adult Social Services Customer in receipt of home care.  The card can be used to allow payment with cash, cheque or Debit Card at many convenient UK locations including all Post Office branches, Pay Point, payzone and e-pay outlets.

• Debit Card Over the Telephone

(Switch/Visa Debit/Delta Cards)  To pay your invoice by Debit card, please ring 01226 774773 between 8:30am and 6pm Monday to Thursday or between 8:30am and 4:30pm on Friday and have the following information ready:-

1. Your invoice or correspondence you have received
2. Your Debit Card

• Direct Debit

Recurring payments may be made by Direct Debit.  An application form will be sent out with your first bill.  You can ask for another application form by ringing 01226 774773 between 8:30am and 5pm monday to Thursday or between 8:30am and 4:30pm on Fridays.

• Cash or Cheque at your local office

Cash Offices are listed below.  Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Office	Location
Barnsley	Town Centre, Civic Hall, Barnsley
Athersley	Units 5 & 6 Laithes Lane Shopping Centre
Cudworth	Cudworth Centre, Carlton Street, Cudworth
Darton	Town Hall, Huddersfield Road, Darton
Dearne	Barnsley Road, Goldthorpe
Hoyland	Town Hall, High Street, Hoyland
Penistone	Town Hall, Shrewsbury Road, Penistone
Royston	The Grove, Station Road, Royston
Wombwell	Town Hall, High Street, Wombwell

•  Post

Cheques and Postal Orders should be crossed and made payable to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.  They should not be made payable to an individual officer.  Post - dated cheques will not be accepted.  Please quote the payment reference number on the back of your cheque.  Receipts are not normally issued for postal payments.  The address for postal payments is Barnsley MBC, PO Box 63, County Way, Barnsley S70 2TJ.

• Internet Banking

Payments can be made using the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council's Internet website.

• Standing Order through your bank

Please ring 01226 774773 between 8:30am and 5pm Monday to Thursday or between 8:30am and 4:30pm on Friday's for an application form.

Opening Times

See the Adult Social Services District Offices webpage.

How the Customer can help

It is important that you ask for an assessment if you think that you need community care services

You need to be assessed by the local authority if you are asking for help in paying for your care

Application Form References

Referral GL1 and CT1

Legislation

Community Care Act - please contact the service for more detail

Response Times / Next Steps

You will need to have had an assessment by a Care Manager or Social Worker to receive a service.  Your request for help will be actioned within 24hours .

Out of hours procedure

Emergency Duty Team Contact 08449 841800

 

Last modified on 18/2/2010