A Step by Step Guide to ChoicE

(Care and Home Options Independent ChoicE)

Before you begin - It is the policy of Health Authorities and Social Care and Health Departments (Adult Services) wherever possible, to support people to enable them to live in their own home. Residential or Nursing Care is normally the last option.

Choosing a Home

Please use us like a reference library - sit and browse. If you need any help please ask our Information Officer who will be pleased to assist.

Step 1: Using the List of Approved Homes

You may wish to consider those Homes in the area you prefer. (Check that they are in the correct category to meet your needs e.g. Residential, Nursing, Elderly Mentally Infirm, Respite/Short Stay).

Step 2: Information Leaflets

Now look on the leaflet racks for the numbers you have selected. In each pocket there is:

• An information leaflet published by the Citizens Advice Bureau. This leaflet gives impartial information to enable you to easily compare one Home with another.
• Publicity and marketing leaflets (where provided) produced by each of the Homes themselves.

NB: Information is only held on Homes who have chosen to participate in the ChoicE Information Service. For others on the Approved List, who have chosen not to participate, you will need to contact the Homes direct.

Step 3: Inspection Reports

These are available to read at ChoicE. If you want to obtain your own copy(s) the details of how to do this are listed at the end of this guide.

Reports are kept on all Homes on the Approved List whether they are part of the ChoicE Information Service or not. Inspection Reports are available in hard copy or alternatively, can be viewed via the internet using our public access computer.

Step 4: Viewing the Homes

You have now looked at all the information, narrowed your choices and wish to arrange to view the Homes. Please refer to the front of each "comparability" leaflet for the contact name and number. (See Step 2)

Step 5: Vacancies

ChoicE keeps a list of current vacancies, which is updated weekly.  If there are no vacancies at the Home of your choice you can:

• Contact your first choice Home and ask how you access vacancies as they arise and be placed on their waiting list, then
• Contact the next choice of Home with vacancies and ask if you may take up a place for a short time until your first choice has a vacancy.

• Check out the period of notice you are required to give Homes when you leave.
• Between your assessment and before your Adult Services funding is awarded you should act quickly to choose your Home so that you can take up your placement as soon as funding is awarded (If in doubt speak to your care co-ordinator).

Measuring Our Standards

To enable us to see how the system is working, we will ask you a few questions from our standard questionnaires. All the information will be kept completely confidential.

Finally... we will ask you to help us, by completing a short 2-sided questionnaire. After you or the person requiring a Care Home has taken a placement, please complete the questionnaire and return it to us in the stamped addressed envelope provided. This questionnaire is completely anonymous. It simply asks for the reasons for choosing that particular care home and whether or not you found our information service useful.

Thank you.

Inspection Reports can be obtained from:

Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
Order Enquiries: 0870 240 7535 Customer Services: 0845 015 0120

Or ordered/downloaded online from: www.csci.org.uk (the first 10 copies Free)

The ChoicE Information Service is managed by Tameside CAB and funded by TMBC Adult Services.