services for disabled people in swansea - august 2008

19838-08 Disability Cover:148.5 12/8/08 16:28

WHO DO I CONTACT IN SOCIAL SERVICES?If you have a physical or sensory impairmentIntake Team, Older People and Disability Services, Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road� 01792 636519 Text phone: 07796 275412Email: [email protected]

If you have a learning disabilityCommunity Support Team, Herbert House, Enterprise Zone� 01792 614100Email: [email protected]

For information about financial assessmentsFinancial Assessment Team, Oldway Centre� 01792 636795 Email: [email protected]

To get a copy of one of the factsheets mentioned in this leafletAsk your care manager or� 01792 636693 orDownload a copy fromwww.swansea.gov.uk/socialcarepublications

Published May 2007, updated August 2008

Cover photographs www.johnbirdsall.co.uk

19838-08 Disability Booklet ENG:Layout 1 12/8/08 16:28

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INTRODUCTION

Social Services is the section of the Council that providesadvice, support and services for disabled people.

This leaflet gives brief information on the range of services weprovide for physically disabled adults and tells you who tocontact to find out more.

It also tells you a little about how you may be able to getfinancial assistance, and how to contact other organisationswhich help disabled people.

In Social Services we want to help and encourage disabledpeople to live as independently as possible. We do this byproviding specialist advice and equipment which makes iteasier for people to live at home and adapt to theirimpairment. We also run centres where we can help peoplelearn new skills or find new ways of doing things they finddifficult. We may also be able to provide support for peoplewho care for a disabled person.

Sometimes we provide services ourselves; sometimes wehave a contract with another organisation to provide theservices.

We also have factsheets available which tell you more about a particular service.

This leaflet does not cover services for disabled children. For children’s information please call 01792 515050.


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What help or support can I get?Social Services staff can give advice to anyone who isdisabled. Our contact details are inside the front cover.

We also provide a number of services for disabled people,however we have to be sure that our services are given tothose people with the greatest needs. In order to do this wehave to carry out an assessment before we can agree whatservices we can provide for you.

We use a set of rules called eligibility criteria to work out whowe are able to help. Our Factsheet 001 Getting Help fromSocial Services: a guide to Assessment and Eligibility tellsyou more about this.

Do I need to register as disabled?

You do not have to register. It is no longer necessary toregister for employment purposes. You are entitled to thesame services and benefits whether you register or not,provided you meet the criteria. However if you register it maysometimes make it more straightforward for you to get whatyou are entitled to. Your care manager can give you moreinformation about this. If you have not contacted SocialServices before, you should contact the Intake Team OlderPeople and Disability Services.

Factsheet 028 gives more information about registering.

When you contact Social Services for the first time our staffwill ask for some details about your personal situation and thedifficulties you are having. Depending on what your needsappear to be, we may arrange for someone to visit you at yourhome to do a more detailed assessment.


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Some of the Services we provide for disabled peopleOccupational Therapy ServicesAn Occupational Therapist will visit you to see how yourimpairment affects your ability to carry out everyday tasks andwhat difficulties you have. They can advise you on new waysto do things, and may be able to recommend specialistequipment which will help you do things more easily. In somecases Occupational Therapists may refer you for rehabilitationservices where you learn new skills, or advise you aboutpossible adaptations to your home. Ask for Factsheet 018.

Community AlarmsDisabled people who are at risk of falling or suffering a medicalemergency when there is no-one who can help can have acommunity alarm installed in their home. This is linked to thetelephone system and enables the user to call for help simplyby pressing a button on an alarm worn around the neck. Ask for Factsheet 011.

Home Care ServicesSome disabled people are able to have home care services tohelp them keep their independence at home. This may includehelp to get up in the morning, assistance with washing anddressing and help with preparing and eating meals. Otherservices may be provided depending on your assessed needs. Ask for Factsheet 015.


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Community MealsIf you have difficulty preparing a meal for yourself and haveno-one else to do it for you, you may be able to have eitherfrozen or hot meals delivered regularly to your home. Ask for Factsheet 007.

Rehabilitation ServicesThese services are aimed particularly at people who areadjusting to living with a physical or visual impairment,perhaps after an illness or an accident, assisting them tomaximise their independence and learn new skills. Individualtraining programmes include independent living skills, ITtraining using adapted technology, healthy living and fitness.Ask for Factsheet 023.

Respite Care ServicesRespite care services enable you to spend a short time in aspecialist care home, which gives you a change of scene andallows your carer to have a break. There are different respiteservices for physically disabled people and people with alearning disability. Ask your care manager for more informationor call the Intake Team or the Community Support Team asappropriate (see contact details).

Support for CarersIf you have a carer, Social Services can also carry out anassessment of their needs, and may be able to provideadditional support for them. Ask for Factsheet 004.


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Specialised ServicesWe also have staff who work with people who have aparticular impairment or condition (see list below). They canprovide specialist advice and support on services, benefits,resources and equipment available for people with thatcondition.

• Services for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired(Factsheet 020)

• Services for People who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired(Factsheet 026)

• Services for People who are Deaf/Blind (Factsheet 030)

• Services for People Affected by HIV (Factsheet 017)

• Services for People with a Learning Disability(Factsheet 024)

• Community Mental Health Teams (Factsheet 021)

Disabled Parking Permits (Blue Badges)Social Services is no longer responsible for issuing BlueBadges. Information about how to obtain a disabled parkingpermit is under Transport and Parking on page 11 of thisleaflet.


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Is there a charge?There is no charge for advice or assessment.

There is a charge for some of the services we provide.Sometimes the service has a flat fee. Sometimes how muchyou pay will depend on how much income and savings youhave. These amounts change each year. In some cases youmay be asked to complete a ‘Financial Assessment’ so wecan work out how much you should pay towards the serviceyou receive, and how much we will contribute. But you don’thave to complete a financial assessment in every case. Askyour care manager for more information about whether or notyou will need a financial assessment.

If your savings or income are above a certain level we cannotmake a financial contribution towards your care, but we maystill be able to help you make private arrangements to havethe same sort of services provided at your own expense.

Direct PaymentsIf you are eligible for a service, it may be that a DirectPayment is the most suitable way for you to arrange a servicethat provides for your individual needs. This means that wemake a payment to you which enables you to pay for yourindividual service. Ask your care manager for moreinformation or ask for Factsheet 003.


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How we handle your personal informationWhen you are in touch with Social Services, we will keepinformation about you in written records and computer files.We will keep this information confidential, except where weneed to share it with people providing you with care, or toprotect other people.

You have a right to ask to see records we keep about you.If you would like more information about how we handlepersonal information ask for Factsheet 002.

Comments and ComplaintsWe welcome any comments about our services – good or bad.We are interested to hear how we could do things better, andwe like to know when we are doing well.

If you are unhappy with the services you receive, weencourage you to make a complaint. Full details are given inFactsheet 016 ‘Making a comment, complaint orcompliment about Social Services.’ For more advice orinformation about making a complaint, you can contact ourComplaints Officers on 01792 637345.


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Financial AssistanceSocial Services does not deal with applications for benefits orgrants, though we can give you some advice about what youmay be able to claim. This page gives details of some of themain benefits and grants that disabled people can claim, andwhere to get more information. It does not cover every benefit which may be available. You can find a number of on-line links to information aboutpublic services and benefits for disabled people atwww.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople

Social Security BenefitsIf you have a long term mental or physical health problem thataffects your everyday activities there are Social Securitybenefits which you can claim.

If you are under 65 you can claim Disability LivingAllowance, which has two parts called ‘components’. TheCare Component is paid at 3 different rates and the MobilityComponent at 2 different rates, according to your needs.

If you are 65 or over you can claim Attendance Allowance,which is paid at 2 different rates according to your needs.

If you are on a low income you may also be able to claim Income Support.

Contact the Disability Benefit Enquiry Line free on � 0800 882200 Text phone: 0800 243355Email: [email protected] You can also claim DLA, Attendance Allowance or Income Support on-line at www.dwp.gov.uk/eservice


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Other BenefitsDisability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowanceare not taken into account as income when assessing whetheryou are eligible to claim other benefits such as HousingBenefit, Council Tax Benefit, Income Support, Working TaxCredit, Pension Credit or Child Tax Credit. If your claim forDLA or Attendance Allowance is successful you may becomeentitled to increased amounts of other benefits.

For information about Housing Benefit or Council TaxBenefit contact the Benefits Section of the Council at the Guildhall.� 01792 635353Email: [email protected]

For information about Tax Credits contact the Tax Credit Helpline� 0845 300 3900Textphone: 0845 300 3909Your local Jobcentre can also advise about Tax Credits andIncome Support.

For information about Pension Credit contact the Pension Service� 0800 99 1234 Textphone 0800 169 0133


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Grants and FundsIf you need adaptations made to your home to help you withyour impairment you may be able to apply for a DisabledFacilities Grant. You can apply if you own your home or if yourent it from the Council, a Housing Association or a privatelandlord. To qualify for the grant an Occupational Therapist willhave to carry out an assessment of your needs and see whatwork is appropriate. The grants are means-tested and,depending on your financial circumstances, you may have tomake a contribution to the work.

Contact Housing Renewals and Adaptations � 01792 635330

Some disabled people who receive services from SocialServices are also entitled to a payment from the IndependentLiving Funds (ILF). There are a number of eligibility criteriathat have to be met, and some restrictions on what thepayment can be used for.

Ask your care manager for more information or see the ILF web site www.ilf.org.uk


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Transport and ParkingSocial Services is able to arrange transport for disabledpeople to attend day services when there is no other suitabletravel option available. There is a small charge. Ask staff at theday service for more information.

Disabled people are entitled to free bus transport within theCity and County of Swansea. You will need to apply for aConcessionary Travel Pass from the Council.� 01792 636377Email: [email protected]

BWSTLER.COM provides accessible community transportwithin the City and County of Swansea for people who areunable to use public transport. There is a small charge. To usetheir Dial-a-Ride service you must first register with them.� 01792 463675Email: [email protected]

The Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service (MAVIS)provides information and advice to disabled motorists aboutdriving, vehicle adaptations and mobility issues. � 01344 661000Email: [email protected]

South Wales Disabled Drivers Assessment Centre � 02920 555130

Parking for Disabled PeopleThe Blue Badge Scheme allows certain categories of disabledpeople to park their cars in places where others cannot park.You can use the badge whether you are the driver or apassenger. You can get a badge if you have a severe mobility


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Other Sources of HelpThe Directgov website brings together information about awide range of public services. Information for disabled peoplecan be found at www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople

There are a number of local voluntary organisations who assistdisabled people. Often they provide support for people with aspecific impairment. For more information contact Swansea Council for Voluntary Services� 01792 544000 Email: [email protected] can also view their Directory of Voluntary Organisationson-line at www.scvs.org.uk/information/p1561.htmlSCVS also host the Swansea Disability Forum.This is a group of disabled people and organisations thatmeets to discuss and campaign on disability issues. Meetingsare held every other month and new members are welcome.For more information contact SCVS on � 01792 544018

Disability Information and Advice Line (DIAL) Local advice, support and assistance for all aspects of livingwith a disability. � 01792 455565 Email: [email protected]

Swansea Carers’ Centre� 01792 653344 Web site: www.carers.org/swansea

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)Helpline � 0845 766 9999RNIB Cymru � 029 2045 0440 Web site: www.rnib.org.uk


Wales Council for the Blind� 02920 473954 Web site: www.wcb-ccd.org.uk

Vision Impaired West GlamorganContact the chairman Andrea Gordon on� 07974 205177 or [email protected]

Royal National Institute for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People (RNID)� 0808 808 0123 Textphone: 0808 808 9000 (freephones)RNID Cymru � 02920 333 034 Textphone: 02920 333 036 Web site: www.rnid.org.uk

Deafblind UK� 01733-358100 (voice/text) Web site: www.deafblind.org.uk

Sense CymruOrganisation supporting people who are deafblind � 029 2045 7641Textphone: 029 2046 4125 Web site: www.sense.org.uk

Equalities and Human Rights CommissionThis has taken over from the Disability Rights Commission.� 0845 604 8810 Textphone: 0845 604 8820Web site: www.equalityhumanrights.com

Disabled Living Foundation� 0845 130 9177 Web site: www.dlf.org.ukWebsite includes product information and factsheets.

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services for disabled people in swansea - august 2008

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