carers vouchers

[Norman]

Some time ago there was a great deal of discussion about carers vouchers,it was never explained fully.
Could anyone enlighten me,how do you get them,what are they used for,what are they worth in LSD.
How much value is available?
Norman

 

[Anne54]

Dear Norman
I get my vouchers from the SW connected to Fred’s day centre, they are for me to attend carers meetings. Each voucher is one hour from crossroads except on Sundays when one =half an hour.
Anne

 

[Geraldine]

Hi Norman

You need to get a Carer's Assessment done through Social Services. It is your local SS that gives them out. each voucher buys one hour of care from someone like Crossroads or a list of Agencies that the SS wiil give you. Although our local scheme has just been suspended until next year because they overspent on the vouchers. I used it for about 6 months when Mum was at home. I spent it for a sitting servie and also managed to get 3 much needed sitters at night during the worst time before Mum had to go into a home

geraldine

 

[Chris]

Direct Payments

Not sure if this is a red herring but could this be what DOH call Direct Payments - where people can purchase their own care instead of SS organising it?? It woudl be the Social worker who get this rolling I guess.

There is info on DOH site tho I coudnt download the document (pub in Sept 2004) - http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAn...ceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4097397&chk=y9lI0o


Chris

 

[Norman]

Chris
two different things I think
Norman

 

[Chris]

Carers Break Vouchers

Maybe its Carers Break Vouchers ??

I tried searching for these + birmingham but didht get very far - mabye a call to your SS dept may reveal someting. Thsi seems a new thing - I msut find out what happening in our area.

I know here that every carer is entitled to so many weeks respite at soemtning like £70 a week (dont quote me !!) - if their circumstnaces fit the critieria of course ! Thsi is achieved by SS purchsing a number of care home beds to use for respites soley. Thsi is helping enormously - and is enabling people to lvie at home longer - what every9one wants of course - but its also cheaper for 'them' - sorry to be cynical.

I think the Vouchers can be used for other things too not just for the cared for to live elsewhere for a week at a time (sometines thsi cuased more upset than no repsite at all ). Escuse hasty note.