social services

[jaffa cake]

Can anyone tell me if some social services are now being run privately. my sister has special needs- learing difficulties-lives independly in kent but is being asked to pay towards help! she is unemployed and has less than £2000.
The payment is for someone to come to her home and help her to tidy keep herself clean and check medication, as she is epileptic.

Thanks for any advice.

[scraggy55]

Did you contact the Learning Disabilities section of your local Social Services? It sounds a bit strange that you would be charged as a self funder? Normally, an assessment would be carried out possibly over the telephone but I am not sure how it works in Learning Disability Team. An assessment is done and depending on her identified needs it would be decided what help she needs. They may want to carry out a financial assessment if it is found she does need assistance, but there should be a threshold, i.e. if she has over 'x' amount in savings or assetts, she might have to pay. I would maybe ask your local CAB for further advice if you have already gone through your Learning Disability Team at your local Authority. Seems strange if she has under the threshold in savings and assetts. Be aware though, most Social Services don't provide services such as Housework, but if she is eligible for personal care and medication prompting, I can see no reason why she is paying if the above applies regarding the amount of money she has.

[boxtops]

It's not a private service but some parts (I believe) are means tested.

[bednobs]

does she get dla?
if so, that's what it's for

[arwenant]

Depending on where abouts you are in Kent, local Mencap groups will have someone who can advise you about this. Kent County Council are not private but the social care funding has been restricted, budget cuts. Mencap is defnitely the best advise route for LD. I work in accounts in the care sector in kent but am not knowledgeable enough about how Social Services work out their rates for self funding to help you effectively. Hope it helps. :)