Requesting and organising care assistance at home

If you think either yourself or a loved one would benefit from social care support there are a series of steps that our Social Work teams with go through to assess, discuss and agree appropriate care packages.

1. Make an enquiry 

If you are looking to organise any of the following care services, the first step is to make contact with the Adult Social Work Team. 

• Care at home support 
• Frozen meals delivery
• Home adaptation
• Attendance at day service
• Considering a Care Home placement.

You can contact the Social Work Team yourself, or you can ask a friend, relative or carer to contact us on your behalf. The initial call will be answered the East Lothian Contact Centre. They will ask for details about the person looking for care, and a brief description of their current situation.   NB:  If you are calling on behalf of a loved one, you must have their permission to discuss their personal circumstances.

Telephone: 01875 824309
Email: communityaccess@eastlothian.gov.uk

After making the initial enquiry, a social worker will review your situation and decide the most appropriate action. This may include: 

• Referral to a specific support service that can provide the most appropriate advice, e.g. housing team, financial advice, or technology support team.
• Urgent Care response, where an home visit is organised to assess your needs and identify any support that can be put into place in order to prevent a hospital admission. This may include the involvement of partner NHS health support services.
• Needs assessment, where a member of the social care team will make direct contact to carry out an "all about me" care needs assessment to discuss your personal situation, current challenges and identify any care options that may best suit your needs.

2. Care Needs Assessment 

If it is determined that you require a Care Needs Assessment, a member of the Social Work Team will contact you directly to discuss your personal circumstances. This may be over the phone or in person at your home.

During the 'All About Me' needs assessment your social worker will:

• Take a note of your personal history, and what has lead to this point 
• Discuss your physical and mental needs - what you think you require 
• Discuss any medical conditions or disabilities that you have
• Discuss your daily activities; personal care, living at home, managing your environment, overnight needs, social activities, hobbies, working / learning situation
• Discuss what is important to you and what you want to achieve  
• Check what support you currently have in place
• Discuss your needs with you and your family.

Your responses will enable the Social Worker will be able to complete an assessment on your level of care needs.  

The Care Needs Assessment is used to determine the need level and risk that this subsequently has on your independence.  In order to qualify for a service you must be assessed as meeting minimum needs thresholds.   

There are four levels of defined risk: critical, substantial, moderate and low.  This is explained in more detail in a downloadable eligibility criteria for service users.  A separate eligibility criteria for carers is also available to download.

3. Discuss care options 

The next stage is to discuss possible care options that may be available to you that will address your personal circumstances and needs.

If the Care Needs Assessment determines that you are not eligible for service support at this time, the Social Worker will provide you with information and advice about the options that may be available to you for example:

• self-support options available through use of smart technology 
• information about local community services
• support available through local and national charities.

If the Care Needs Assessments determines that you do meet the threshold, the Social Worker will assist you to develop a Support Plan that is tailored to your personal circumstances. 

4. Agree support plan

Support plans are personally tailored to meet your specific care needs.  Your worker will be able to tell you how much your personal budget is likely to be.

Your worker will then help you to consider what outcomes you wish to achieve. This will include thinking about:

• What is important to you
• What do you want to change or achieve
• How you want to spend your personal budget
• Whether you need help managing your support.

You may also make a support plan alone, with family, or with an external support agency if you choose.

When it comes to purchasing your support, we have in-house workers who can assist with that including helping you to set up a direct payment.

5. Funding options 

East Lothian Council provides and arranges care services for a wide range of people in the county.  Many of these services are free but in some cases we ask people who use services to make a contribution towards the cost of those services.  

Financial Assessments
To work out how much you might need to pay for social care services we carry out a financial assessment.

You will be asked to provide information about your income (and your partner/spouse’s income, if the service is shared), pensions and benefits and any savings and capital (for example, shares, property).

If you do not wish to disclose your financial details, you will have to pay the full charge for care. 

Entitlement to FREE personal care: 
Every adult in Scotland (regardless of age) is entitled to receive free personal care assistance, if they are assessed as requiring it. 

This includes support with dressing, feeding, washing and toileting.

Chargeable Social Care Services:
Services that may incur a charge include:

• Personal support at home (excluding personal care)- e.g. meal delivery, cleaning, housework services
• Attendance at day centres or other community based support sessions 
• Arranging personal transport.

If you are eligible to receive these services, your Social Worker will complete a financial assessment to determine if you are eligible for funding support. 

Read more about charges and payment options for social care services

Choosing how to organise and manage payment of your care 

If you are eligible for social care support services you can choose how much input or responsibility you wish to have in organising your own care. 

This approach is known as Self-Directed Support (SDS). Other people, such as family and friends, or independent organisations can also help you make decision about this.

Read more about Self-Directed Support here.

6. Care reviews 

On a regular basis, our Social Work Teams will conduct a care review with you.

This is to ensure that the package of care is still appropriate for you current needs. 

Your situation may have improved and you no longer require the same level or care. Or, a revised assessment may be required to increase your level of care support.