We are committed to helping people live safely and independently in their own homes, wherever possible. When we have assessed your needs, we may provide the following services to help you stay independent:
Home Care
This service is provided by home carers who are trained to help you with your care needs such as help with washing, toileting, bathing, dressing, getting in and out of bed, shopping, laundry and meals.
The aim of the service is to assist vulnerable people to live independently within their homes wherever possible. We are committed to the provision of a flexible and responsive high quality service, taking full account of client and carer needs.
People who have a low income or are in receipt of housing benefit are not usually charged for home care services. Charges for services are dependent on individual income levels, excluding housing costs and the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance with a maximum weekly amount payable of £16.64 for those who are charged. The amount payable does not increase according to the level of service provided, and is always less than the actual cost of service provision.
Meals Services and Lunch Club
This includes you getting help with meals. These can either be prepared in your own home or delivered to your home from a variety of sources.
Depending on your assessment, meals can be prepared in your home and assistance with eating can be provided, alternatively, a hot meal may be delivered to your home.
A number of lunch clubs operate in the area providing a hot meal and the chance to socialise.
Rapid Response and Intensive Support Service
These are short-term (usually 4 weeks or less), intensive services to prevent hospital admission or to help you recover quickly after an illness, fall or on discharge from hospital. These services can be provided in your own home, or in some cases within specific sheltered housing complexes where there are designated step up/step down facilities.
Community Alarms
This service is an emergency response service provided to those assessed as requiring a community alarm. The care workers respond to any emergencies that may arise, either by providing personal or practical assistance or requesting medical help. The service is operational 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
The charge for community alarms for non-council tenants is £2.22 per week.
Sheltered Housing
Sheltered Housing is provided to those people assessed as requiring additional support and security within the community.
The complexes can provide people with the opportunity of remaining in the community setting while receiving additional support and monitoring from the Sheltered Housing Supervisors. The 9 complexes in West Dunbartonshire Council are staffed and monitored 24 hours per day. As well as providing support to the person living in the sheltered housing flat there are also activities which take place on a regular basis within the complexes for example, lunch club, video afternoons, outings etc.
Some Housing Associations also provide a Sheltered Housing service however there may be differences with level and type of support available.
Day Care Services
This is a service where for example older people or people with learning disabilities can get involved in a wide range of activities to meet their needs. There are day care services for older people and also for people with physical and learning disabilities. The NHS also provides day services based in hospital settings.
Occupational Therapy Services
Occupational Therapy services can provide, on assessment, equipment, adaptations or advice to assist with all aspects of daily living activities. For instance, with using the WC, bathing, access issues.
Homeowners may be eligible to apply for a home improvement grant, if the outcome of their assessment indicates an adaptation to their home is necessary to maintain their independence. This grant is subject to a financial assessment. Adaptations can include provision of stairlifts, shower facilities and ramped access.
Community Based Short Break Care Services
These services can either be in your own home, or within another community setting and are designed to give you or your carer short breaks.
The Carers Short Break Service provides a 4-hour break to carers on a weekly basis. The service is assessed via a carers support plan and is co-ordinated via the Short Breaks Co-ordinator at Quarriers. The service can be flexible and negotiation between the carer, cared for person, the Short Breaks Co-ordinator based in the carers centre and the providing agency, can be agreed to suit the hours of respite required. The service can be provided either within your own home or another setting.
Other community based short break services are provided by organisations such as Cornerstone, which runs a service for people with learning disabilities and their carers.
Respite Care in Residential Settings
Respite care in a residential setting is designed to give you or your carer a break. Where possible we will attempt to provide this service within West Dunbartonshire Council area. However, in some circumstances, for example, where specialist care is indicated, we may require to commission this service from outwith the West Dunbartonshire Council area.
People accessing this service will require to make a contribution to the cost of their care.
Direct Payments
If you quality for community care support and want to arrange your own care and services, we can offer you 'direct payments' to allow you to do this. Direct payments are used to secure services to meet the needs identified on a single shared assessment. You can employ your own Personal Assistants or buy services from agencies or local authorities. Any services set up using Direct Payments or Personal Assistants employed are accountable to you, not the local authority.
You can also choose to have a mixed package of support where the council will arrange some services for you whilst you arrange other services using Direct Payments. People who receive Direct Payments must use the money to arrange services. It is not additional income and will not affect welfare benefits.
You may be eligible for a Direct Payment if you are: -
- aged 18 years or over and eligible for community care services OR;
- aged 16 - 17 years and eligible for children's services OR;
- the person with parental responsibility for a disabled child eligible for children's services OR;
- a disabled person with parental responsibility for a child eligible for children's services.
You must also be willing to accept and able to manage Direct Payments. You do not need to be able to manage the Direct Payment on your own, you can get as much help as you need and the Independent Living Support Service will offer advice, support and training.
For more information, contact Disability Development Worker on 0141 562 2327.
Services for People with Sensory Difficulties
We provide a range of services for deaf, deaf blind and visually impaired people, including support services such as guide communication, specialist equipment and rehabilitation services, advice, information and counselling.
Addictions/Dependency Services
We provide a range of supports to those experiencing problems with their drug or alcohol use, as well as support for those affected by someone else's substance misuse, such as family members. Services aim to address problematic use and assist individuals to maintain a stable lifestyle through specialist interventions and rehabilitation.
Employment Placement Schemes
These schemes help disabled people get training and to find work .The Learning Disability Service has a support service available that enables people to access employment.
Educational Support
This service helps people with learning disabilities gain the skills they need to live as full a life as possible.
Social Skills Development
This service helps people with learning disabilities or mental health problems to lead full and active lives.
Support in a Residential Care Home
Should you find that you are no longer able to live at home, even with help, you can be assessed for a care home place. While we try to match people who need a care home place with their choice of home this not always possible. If you do have to go to a home that is not your first choice, we will do our best to help you move to your chosen home as soon as your place on the list matches with an available place.
Support for Carers
All of our services aim to support carers in their caring role. Through the Carers Strategy Group we work in partnership with carers and the Carers Centre to develop responsive support services.
