Homecare Newsletter Summer 2008
Homecare Newsletter
Summer 2008
Download a Copy of the Homecare Newsletter 1.02 MB 
Welcome to the Tameside Homecare Newsletter Summer 2008
We are keen to keep you up to date with what’s going on in Adult Services, also to bring you useful information to keep you safe and well.
One of the ways we use to find ways of improving our services is to ask you what you think. We sent out a survey in June with a number of different questions and are very grateful to you for taking the time to respond.
87% of you told us you were either extremely satisfied or very satisfied with the help from Social Services that you receive in your own home.
95.8% of you told us that you were either extremely satisfied or very satisfied that the care workers that visit your home, to provide your care, understand your needs.
Further details of the survey are included later. Thank you for indicating the aspects of our service that you are not entirely happy with. This helps us to focus our attention on improvements and gives me, my staff and the service providers, information that helps us to find ways of doing things differently. We welcome your feedback and urge you to send in your comments, suggestions, compliments and complaints.
The address to write to is at the bottom of this newsletter.
Martin Garnett
Services for Older People
Tameside Adult Services
What you told us in the June Homecare Survey
Thank you to everyone who responded to our recent survey which we, the commissioners of services on behalf of Tameside Council use to identify improvements and to measure how satisfied people are with our services. We use the information to improve our Homecare Service.
We asked: Do your care workers come at times that suit you? 83% of you told us that your care workers visited either always or usually at a time that suits you.
We asked: Are you kept informed by your homecare service, about changes in your care? 57% of you told us that you were either always or usually kept informed. 43% told us that you were either hardly ever or never kept informed. We will be working with our service providers to look at ways in which we can improve communications with you.
We asked: Do your care workers do the things you want done? 88% of you told us that your care workers always or nearly always, did the things you wanted done. Only one person told us that their care worker never did the things they wanted doing!
We asked you about whether you get up and go to bed at times that suit you. 93% of you either strongly agreed or agreed with the statement “I get up and go to bed at times that suit me”
These last questions highlight the importance of continuing with our “Person Centred” approach to planning. This means, we find out about what is important to you and for you and how best we can provide your support.
Thank you again to everyone who returned the questionnaires.
Tameside’s CARA Team wins national award
Tameside’s CARA team, (Community Assessment and Rapid Access ) have won a prestigious award for their work with people who need additional support after an
accident, illness or hospital stay. The CARA team comprises physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, assistant practitioners, support staff and clerical staff drawn from both Tameside MBC and Tameside and Glossop Primary Care Trust. The CARA team provide a seven day service, 8am-10pm, 365 days a year. Between them, the Team offers comprehensive assessment and ensures that everyone receives personal attention and the most appropriate plan of care, often reducing the need to stay in hospital.
“The Health and Social Care Award made by NHS North West recognises our successful “joined up” partnership method of working.” comments Julie Moore, TMBC’s Unit Business Manager, responsible for the CARA team. “We’ve been working with the PCT, Ambulance Service and Tameside General Hospital and are really proud that we have helped so many people stay in their own homes which they often much prefer to hospital.”
Telecare
George lives alone and has subscribed to Tameside Community Response service for several years. For less than the cost of a daily newspaper, George and his family have the reasurrance and peace of mind knowing that in the event of an emergency, George can summon help by pressing a button on the alarm and a specially trained worker will Respond.
The pendant alarm he wears around his neck is linked to a special Carephone which contains a microphone and a loud speaker. This means that George can speak to the Community Response team from anywhere in his home at any time of the day or night.
As well as the standard pendant alarm which you press yourself, there is a new range of “Telecare” which will automatically alert the control centre if the sensors detect smoke, gas or even water on the floor in the kitchen or bathroom.
The Community Response Service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are no installation fees and no extra charges. Any Tameside resident can subscribe to the service for around £5 a week.
Full details from the Community Response Service:
0161 342 5100 
0161 342 5254 
0161 342 5266 
Send a message to Community Response
Full details on the website : www.tameside.gov.uk/communityresponse
Safeguarding Adults
Sometimes adults can be abused or taken advantage of by people who have power over them. Abuse may be neglect, financial, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
Tameside are committed to safeguarding adults and have specific procedures in place to protect vulnerable people.
If you are being abused or know someone who is, please do not ignore it. You can report your concerns in confidence to the Safeguarding Adults Team
0161 370 1179 (0161 366 4337 from 25th September) Send a message to the Safeguarding Adults Team or Adult Services’ Adult Assessment and Customer Care Team 0161 342 2400.
Tameside Carers Centre
Tameside Carers Centre is open Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm for Carers to drop in for advice, support and information. “People often don’t recognise themselves as a Carer” comments Tom Ingham, “but if you give your time to looking after a friend or relative who can’t manage without your help, then you are a Carer and we are ready to help and support you.”
The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, launched a National Strategy for Carers in June 08, signed by seven Ministers of State, which recognises the contribution made by 6 million unpaid Carers in Britain. Here in Tameside there are 22,240 Carers whose contribution helps save the country some eighty seven billion pounds.
The strategy is part of the ‘New Deal’ for Carers and aims to ensure that Carers get more breaks and appropriate training to help them cope with caring, work and education.
The strategy recognises that with an ageing population, more people will become Carers or “cared for” and encourages all agencies to work together in supporting carers. More money has been promised to give Carers more breaks from their caring role. Promises to review Carers Benefit have also been made. At the moment this is limited to £48 a week for Carers who provide care for 36 hours or more caring each week.
For further information, advice and support for Carers, please contact 
Tameside Carers Centre at 50 Warrington Street, Ashton-under-Lyne.
0161 342 3344; 0161 342 3721; 0161 342 3720; Send A Message To The Carers Centre or visit www.tameside.gov.uk/carers
Have your say through RIQ
There is a group of older people in Tameside who meet at regular intervals to discuss Really Important Questions and to put forward their views to influence the planning of services. Support to attend RIQ meetings can be arranged.
If you would like to become involved and share your views and ideas, please contact The Development Worker, RIQ, Tameside Adult Services, Rydal House, Rydal Avenue, Hyde, SK14 4QB 0161 366 4327 Send a message to RIQ
Digital switchover
You’ve probably already heard that television is going digital in the North West in October 2009. This means that the traditional TV signal will be switched off and if you haven’t already got a digital television, you’ll lose your current TV service. However, if you get more than five channels on one of your TVs already, you probably already have digital TV.
Don’t worry or feel pressured into buying any equipment at the moment. You have plenty of time and there is local as well as national support and advice available to protect you from bogus traders who may try to make you buy what you don’t need.
There is a national Help Scheme for people over 75 and those entitled to certain benefits, registered blind or partially sighted. For more information you can call them on 0800 408 5900 or visit the website at www.helpscheme.co.uk
Tameside Trading Standards are also ready to help you avoid “Rip-off” Traders with their new Buy With Confidence Approved Trader Scheme. This aims to support legitimate businesses and to protect the residents of Tameside from the rogue trader. The scheme has twenty-six businesses/traders on the list but is expected to increase very quickly to become a comprehensive directory of reliable, trusted traders. All members are independently checked by staff from Trading Standards for compliance with the letter and spirit of the law and will benefit from positive publicity.
Trading Standards will put consumers in touch with approved traders who have agreed to provide a trustworthy, high standard of customer service. This will give you, the customer, peace of mind and will protect you from bogus traders.
If you would like a directory, or would like to nominate a trader for the scheme please contact Tameside Trading Standards,0161 342 3671.
This is the logo to look out for on paperwork and vehicles of Approved Traders.
Keep safe in hot weather
- Lack of fluid can lead to falls. In hot weather, make sure that you drink plenty of water
- Having an alcoholic drink doesn’t quench your thirst - it will dehydrate you - have a soft drink/water
- Don’t drink alcohol with any over the counter medicines or pills. Alcohol can interfere with medicines.
Direct Payments
If you qualify for support from Adult Services, you can receive money to buy the care that you have been assessed as needing. This is known as a Direct Payment (not to be confused with the direct payment of benefits into a bank account.) “Direct Payments” are for you to spend on the care you need. You can use either a care
agency of your choice or employ someone you choose. This gives you control over how your care needs are met. You decide who provides your care and when they provide it.
You can get Direct Payments if you currently receive support from Adult Services or if you have been newly assessed as needing support services. You can use Direct Payments to buy some or all of your care depending on what suits you better. Direct Payments does not affect any social security benefits. It is not a benefit or classed as income. Direct Payments cannot be used to pay anyone who lives in your household. Ask your Assessor or Social Worker for further information or you can contact the Direct Payments Team directly with any questions or queries:
0161 368 5832 0161 368 2046 Send a Message to the Direct Payments Team
Knock Knock... Who’s there?
Stop... Is anyone expected ?
Check... Their Identification
Be Certain... Before you let them in.
If in doubt, keep them out. Let’s stop doorstep crime, report it on: 0161 872 5050 (Greater Manchester Police) In Emergencies always ring 999
Keep safe in the bathroom
- Use non-slip rubber mats in the bath/shower
- To ease getting up from the toilet, consider having a raised toilet seat and/or grab rails
- If you are having difficulty getting out of the bath/shower, consider having rails or other equipment to assist you
- Have a chair in the bathroom (space permitting) for if you feel tired, unsteady or dizzy at any time
- If you are anxious let someone know (a neighbour or relative) that you are having a bath
- Where possible, bathe when someone else is in the house
- Use special equipment such as a long handled sponge to help with washing
- Always leave the bathroom door unlocked, in case of emergency
How to make a complaint, suggestion or compliment
Tameside Adult Services is committed to working with Homecare providers to ensure that you receive quality home support services. If you have any comments,
suggestions or complaints about the quality of the service you receive, please contact your Homecare provider. Feedback is invaluable to help improve the services that are provided to you. If you have a complaint, they have internal procedures in place to deal with it as quickly as possible.
All complaints are taken seriously. If you remain unhappy with the response from your Homecare provider or feel that your complaint has not been satisfactorily resolved, you may wish to raise your comments with the Complaints Manager for Adult Services:
Complaints Manager, Development and Customer Support Unit, Rydal House, Rydal Avenue, Hyde, SK14 4QB
0161 366 4340 0161 366 4334 0161 366 4335 Send a Message to the Complaints team