Hynt - Access to theatres and Art Centres in Wales

Hynt is a new national access scheme that works with theatres and arts centres in Wales to make sure there is a consistent offer available for visitors with an impairment or specific access requirement, and their carers or personal assistants. The site will tell you all you need to know about Hynt: who it’s for; what it provides; and how to become a member.

Members are entitled to a free-of-charge ticket for their personal assistant or carer when attending performances at any of the Hynt theatres or arts centres.

Visit www.hynt.co.uk to search venues shows and accessibility. contact: info@hynt.co.uk

Changing the Perception of Homecare for People with Muscular Dystrophy by Ben Selby, Managing Director of Right at Home South Cheshire

Having worked in community and home care services for 15 years I’m truly excited to have now set up my own care company, Right at Home South Cheshire. We are a home care provider based in Crewe, and the way we operate is very different to the vast majority of home care services.

My main motivation for starting the company was based on a poor experience with my Grandad when he needed home care. Unfortunately, what he experienced was irregular times; short visits;

Carers were often strangers, not well trained, and they were numerous. Not surprisingly, home care didn’t work for him so we ensure we don’t make any of those mistakes. Our key differences are:

• Carers are always introduced to Clients
• We match our Carers to our Clients using one page profiles
• We keep the number of Carers visiting as low as possible
• Preferred minimum visit time of 1 Hour
• Our clients choose their times, and those times are regular
• We provide our Carers with an excellent baseline Induction, followed by specialist training when it is needed (more info below)

I stumbled across the NeuroMuscular Centre in 2016 whilst doing some market research prior to starting Right at Home, and was really struck by everyone I met and the culture of the place just felt amazing. Having spoken to a number of the staff and many of the visitors who come to the centre for physio, support, and to socialise it became apparent to me that there was a real lack of confidence in home care companies to provide care and support services.

This is why we have started to work with staff at the NeuroMuscular Centre to work towards having a team of staff who we can confidently call neuromuscular specialists. So far we have worked with Physios at the centre to deliver a specialised training session to a group of our Carers, covering many key areas including:

• An introduction to Muscular Dystrophy; the different types and how they affect the individual
• Specific Moving and Handling techniques
• Basic Physiotherapy techniques
• Oral hygiene and mouth suctioning
• An introduction to gastrostomy tubes
• Releasing air from the stomach
• Ventilator mask and head gear

We are now building a library of resources at our office, where Carers can pop in and continue to build and develop their knowledge. We know there is so much to learn but we are hungry for knowledge and we have a group of Carers who really want to become specialists.

If you’d like to know more or if you wish to arrange a no obligation, free care consultation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Kirsty or Ben on 01270 257347 or email southcheshire@rightathomeuk.com

Information Pension for Direct Employer

In 2012 the United Kingdom government introduced new pensions legislation.

One of the requirements of this legislation is that all employers automatically enroll certain employees into a workplace pension.

Disabled People who are Individual Employers employing Personal Assistants will have to consider whether their Personal Assistants qualify to be automatically enrolled into a workplace pension. They will therefore have new obligations to take into account.

Income Tax and National Insurance
If you are an Individual Employer you will need to check whether your Personal Assistant is a “qualifying employee”. All employees who must be automatically enrolled or who have a right to join a workplace pension are put into one of three categories, so you will need to check whether your Personal Assistant falls into one of these categories. They are based on people’s age and their earnings.

How much is the Workplace Pension going to cost Individual Employers?
Contributions are made through 3 different contributors, the Employer, the Employee and the Government. Each contributor will be expected to contribute a minimum amount and these amounts will eventually increase over a period of time.

More information on this topic is available at http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/individualemployers-and-workplace-pension-schemespersonal-assistants

The Care Act 2015

Seven years in the making, the new Care Act came in to place on the 1st April this year, with the intention of creating a clearer, fairer system of care, putting people in control of the way they are supported.

The Care Act means that local authorities now have increased responsibility for those who require care in their area. They have to carry out assessments for those who request them and provide a personalised budget. The focus of the new legislation is very much on the individual and making sure that disabled people have control over their lives and the support they get.

The main points of the new Care Act are:

• Wellbeing. The main focus of the Act is the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of those who need social care support, with personalisation and individual budgets at the centre.
• Accessing information.  Local authorities now have a duty to provide an  information and advice  service to anyone applying for, or who already receives care.
• The right to an assessment.  Disabled people and carers have the right to be assessed for support, whatever their personal or financial  circumstances. There’s a new set of  minimum criteria that  indicates when local authorities have to provide support. 
• A personalised plan. If you qualify for care, local authorities legally have to provide you with a personalised care plan to achieve agreed outcomes, detailing the costs involved.
• Payment. Authorities have to carry out a financial assessment to see whether or not you have to contribute towards the cost of your care.
• Advocacy. People with communication or learning difficulties are now entitled to be represented by an independent advocate.
• Tougher Criteria. Care providers will now be subject to tougher guidelines and the consequences will be stricter for those who aren’t meeting the mark.
• More help for carers. Under the Act carers have increased rights. Also, an amendment to the Children and Families Act 2014 means that those looking after a disabled child under the age of 18 are now entitled to support too.

Cheshire and Warrington Carers Trust opens office in Chester Cheshire and Warrington Carers Trust (formerly Cheshire Carers Centre) have recently opened a new office in the new charity hub in Chester City Centre. Based in The Bluecoat School on Upper Northgate Street, they now have a team of 6 working in their newly refurbished offices. The new offices will enable carers to drop in for information, advice and support, and make appointments for benefits advice or Personal Budgets.

The office can be reached on 01244 400502 or via email westcheshire@ cheshirecarerscentre.org.uk
For advice in Cheshire East contact The Care Act Helpline T 01260 288 353 www.adviceCE.org.uk 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday

To find out how the Care Act will affect your care package contact your local authority.

Carers Trust launches guide to buying care

Carers Trust have launched a series of guides to help carers, families and people with care needs to know what to look out for when buying care. Finding the right care package can be a minefield. This guide helps people to understand what they should look out for when buying care and points people to where they can find quality assured care services from across the network.

Call 0800 085 0307. The Helpline is open Monday to Friday 10.00am - 4.00pm.
Email: advice@cheshirecarerscentre. org.uk
or visit: www.carers.org/cheshire

My Care Package has changed my life - Tony Whitlan

 I have FSH-MD and I have been coming to the NMC for a number of years. I do enjoy my visits. I was diagnosed in 1984 and have gradually gone downhill since, to the point that about three or four years ago I was starting to spend more and more time in my house than I would have liked. I was having some physio locally, but they suggested getting a PA/Carer to help me get out and about in the fresh air, go shopping and also to help me enjoy me hobbies. They contacted Adult Social Services, who came to visit us and explained about Direct Payments.

I chose to do it myself. I make sure that I send my employees time sheets in on time to the company who deduct any Tax/National Insurance. The company also helps to advertise for PA's. You could also have a friend or family member who could help you.  

The Adult Social Services Team will discuss your needs, whether you require help to get up in the morning, help with meals, help with domestic tasks, help with appointments or help to fulfil hobbies and leisure interests.
 
I have enough hours a week to help with everything I need. I can now arrange to go out when I want to and do what I want. It also helps my wife Tracey. She works full time as an NHS nurse assistant, helps look after me and her Mum who has had a stroke and also keeps on top of things in the house. My PA does really help us both out. 

I would highly recommend having a PA/Carer. They help you to keep a bit of your sanity, they support you in getting out & about and enable you to fulfil your hobbies and interests. Don't delay, look into this today, it will change your life for the better. 

For more information about personal budgets go to www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how

Please remember that the NMC is here to support you so if you need some help and support with Personal Budgets, please speak to Sue Walker, Support Worker at NMC.

My Changing Care Package – Heather Murrant

I have had a care package for the last 20 years and as my life as changed so my package has changed. It started as a small package of care with an agency. However this didn’t fit into my life at all and it had a big impact on my daughter who was then only a year old, as we never knew who was coming through the door next. 

My friend told me about Direct Payments and the Independent Living Fund and this was the start of a great journey to freedom for both my children and me. At this time there were only 3 people on direct payments so I was asked to help write the remit for the Council as the Government said this was the way to go. So, we had several meetings with members of Wired, the Council and myself. During this time I had employed my first PA and found it worked well. We had children of a similar age so we all went for days out etc. My life started to open up and I came to the NMC.

Then followed college a couple of times a week where I met my next PA. She has become one of my best friends. I have found most of my PA’s through friends or acquaintances. 

As I have got older my needs have changed and so has my package. It is quite a large package now as I cannot turn in bed etc. so I have night care (which can be difficult to find). There have also been a couple of instances where my PA’s have been off on long term sick and this did put added strain on my girls and I, so 18 months ago I made the decision to combine using an agency and PA. 

As I work from home I have to be able to guarantee that I am up and ready for work so I use an agency. When I am out and about and have night care I use PA’s and when it comes to holiday cover I ask the PA’s first and then if they can’t cover I ask the agency. I find that by combining an agency with PA’s it works quite well and it does not leave me vulnerable. It also gives me more freedom. 

When I was younger, I was very reliant emotionally and physically on my personal assistants and very close to them. They become like family and sometimes could over step the mark, which was a fault on my part too for not instilling clear boundaries. 

I now don’t need that support. I make my own decisions and I feel quite happy to have time on my own. I am not frightened to live my life independently. My children are grown up and I am looking forward to the freedom the package will allow me in the next phase of my life