Care service in Gloucester?

rach456

Hi, I've just joined. My brother is 39 and has cerebral palsy. Can anyone recommend a good care service in Gloucester? He's moving up here soon. We'd be grateful for any advice! Thanks!

Adrian_Scope

Hello @rach456 and a warm welcome to the community. 🙂

I'm not sure if we'll be able to recommend any specific care service but I'm going to tag our cerebral palsy experts in case they have any suggestions for finding the right support.

@Richard_Scope, @Lucy_Scope and @SaraC_Scope

Wishing you and your brother the best of luck with the move.

Richard_Scope

Hi @rach456

Thanks for your post.

Your brother will need a Needs Assessment from Gloucestershire Adult Social Care.

The support offered to your brother will be determined by the needs assessment carried out by Gloucestershire. What he needs in terms of care and support, healthcare and housing should all be considered as part of this assessment.  The first thing you or your brother should do is contact your local authority and request a needs assessment. Your local authority will be the local council in your area with a social services department. This could be a city council, county council or borough council. Find your local authority. 

The local authority has a legal duty to carry out an assessment if it appears you may need social care services. It is a low threshold to trigger the duty to carry out an assessment – the local authority should just look at whether there is any realistic prospect that you may need services, and if so, you should be given an assessment. 

The Care Act has introduced national minimum eligibility criteria. This means there is now a national minimum threshold at which people are entitled to support. 

To have eligible needs, your brother's needs must be caused by or related to a physical or mental impairment or illness. Whilst this is not the sort of language we would use, a learning disability is considered a mental impairment. 

As a result of your brother's needs, they must be unable to do two or more of the following things: 

• Manage and maintain nutrition. 
• Maintain personal hygiene. 
• Manage toilet needs. 
• Be appropriately clothed. 
• Be able to make use of your home safely. 
• Maintain a habitable home environment. 
• Develop and maintain family or other personal relationships. 
• Access and engage in work, training, education or volunteering. 
• Make use of the necessary facilities in your local community, including public transport and recreational facilities. 
• Carry out any caring responsibilities you have for a child. 
• Because of the above, there is, or is likely to be, a significant impact on your well-being. 

The definition of the word “unable” in the above is important. The Care Act states that “unable” to do something actually means that without help, you would be in “significant pain, distress or anxiety”, or it would take you significantly longer. 

If your needs are “eligible” for support under the criteria above, the local authority must meet those needs. 

This information comes from Mencap - there is lots more information over on their website here. 

Please let us know how you get on.