Carer s Grant Criteria and Guidelines

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1 Background The Carers grant is paid as part of the Area Based Grant as of April This is a non-ring fenced general grant which local authorities are able to determine locally how best to spend in order to deliver local and national priorities in their areas. The Area Based Grant is paid under section 31 of the Local Government Act The contribution to Area Based Grant for Carer support forms part of the Government's strategy for Carers, originally set out in Caring about Carers published in It has been used to stimulate diversity and flexibility in provision of planned breaks for Carers who provide substantial and regular care to a 'relevant adult' and/or direct services to Carers to support them in their caring role. Local authorities can also consider supporting Carers wellbeing through opportunities that might not involve a conventional breaks service. Examples might include funding courses to support Carers to move on to new learning and/or work or volunteering opportunities. Definition of breaks services A 'breaks service' is one which actually gives the Carer a break from direct responsibility of supervising or caring for the relevant person by providing a service to that person. A breaks service must always aim to provide a positive experience for the service user as well as a break for the Carer. Services provided in an emergency, such as when a Carer is hospitalised, or simply to allow the Carer to visit the doctor or dentist, should not be regarded as a breaks service but as a core element of supporting the cared for person and Carer. Breaks should be about Carers having some time for themselves. Local councils are referred to the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 and Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 Combined Policy Guidance. Emergency Cover From 1 October 2007 an additional contribution to Area Based Grant has been allocated in recognition of the need for services to provide emergency cover for unpaid Carers who, for reasons of an emergency or personal crisis are unable for a short period to continue to provide care. The policy was first signalled in Our health, Our care, Our say in January 2006 and formally announced as part of the New Deal for Carers on 21 February

2 Who is a Carer? A Carer is someone, who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without that support. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability. A Carer typically supports people with day to day living tasks such as getting up and going to bed, personal care, shopping, cleaning, laundry, making meals and accessing the community. The term unpaid care covers any unpaid help or support that the Carer provides for the person(s) they care for. In this particular instance the Carer will be aged over 18 and also the person they care for will be aged 18 years and over. Operating Guidelines 1) The fund is for Carers who provide regular and substantial care for a relative, partner or friend due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability who resides in Bracknell Forest. 2) The aim is to provide a planned, personal and flexible break from the direct responsibility of supervising or caring for a relevant person. 3) The service will enable the Carer to have a short break from the caring role and may include: a) Complete break without the cared for person (one-off or periodically) b) A break with the cared for person where most of the care is provided by someone else c) Home based respite d) Particular leisure/social activities e) Particular learning/training activities f) The purchase of goods and services 4) Individual Carers can only apply for one grant of a maximum of 500 (which is payable in whole or part) per financial year (between April 1 st March 31 st ) and the respite must be utilised within the same financial year. 5) The Grant must be used to cover the cost of the respite activity as determined in the Carer s Grant Assessment & Application Form. 6) The Grant cannot be used in a manner that has not been agreed upon by Berkshire Carers Service. 7) The Grant can used one-off or periodically throughout the financial year (April 1 st March 31 st ) as agreed upon by Berkshire Carers Service. 8) If the Carer is going away on a break then the Grant may be used to cover their travel and accommodation costs only and does not allow for any spending money.

3 9) If the Carer spends less than 500 on an episode of respite then they may spend any other monies remaining on a different source of respite as agreed upon by Berkshire Carers Service at a later time during the financial year (between April 1 st March 31 st ). 10) Carers cannot have access to any monies remaining directly or use the monies in a manner than has otherwise been agreed upon by Berkshire Carers Service. 11) If Carers feel that they would gain more respite by allowing their cared for to use the service instead of themselves then this can be considered as an option. 12) If the cared for person cannot be left alone for a relevant period of time or there is no one else to provide care for that person then: a) The cared for attending the respite with the Carer can be considered as an option b) Another individual attending the respite with the Carer to provide the majority of care for the cared for can be considered as an option. c) In both of these instance the total grant awarded would still be a maximum of 500 per financial year (between April 1 st March 31 st ) 13) The Carers Grant is not means tested. Eligibility Criteria 1) To be eligible for a Carers grant the individual must: a) Be an un-paid Carer supporting a relevant person because of age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability who is a resident of Bracknell Forest. b) Have an identified caring need through a Carers assessment or agreed with their care manager (the identified need must relate to the actual Carer s needs and not to the person being cared for). c) Utilise the Grant to actively take a break from the direct responsibility of supervising or caring for a relevant person. d) Not be receiving care services from Bracknell Forrest Council. Access 1) Access to the scheme is usually via: The Berkshire Carers Service Bracknell Forest Council 2) Application forms must be completed in full and must be signed and returned to the Berkshire Carers Service in order for payments to be made. Any incomplete applications will not be considered. 3) A reference to support your application must be provided by someone working in a professional capacity with you or your cared for person who can confirm your role as a relevant Carer. It can be a nurse, doctor, social worker, day centre worker or family worker.

4 It cannot be a direct family member or friend. Some doctors may charge you to act as a referee. All potential Carers Grant applications shall be considered in line with the Carers Grant Assessment and Application form and the Carers Grant Criteria and Guidelines by The Berkshire Carers Service Carers Grant Coordinator routinely throughout the year. 4) The following criteria will be considered to allocate the Grant (in order of significance or as appropriate): a) The level of care giving (determined by Sections 1.1(f), 1.1(g), 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2, on the application form). b) Alternative opportunities for respite (determined by Sections 1.1(b)-1.1(g) and 2.1 on the application form). c) The effect of the caring role on the Carers general health, well being and on-going capacity to fulfil their caring role (determined by Section 1.4 on the application form and the General Health and Well Being questionnaire). d) The level of social isolation experienced by the Carer (determined by Section 1.3 on the application form). e) Recency of respite for the Carer/length of time of unbroken caring burden (determined by Section 1.1(a) 1.1(d) on the application form). 5) In the event that a Carer is unsuccessful in applying for a Carers grant they can lodge an appeal. Any appeals or complaints will be adjudicated by a panel made up of: The Berkshire Carers Service Contract Manager A representative of Bracknell Forest Council A representative from Bracknell Forest Carers UK 6) All potential respite activities must be discussed with the Berkshire Carers Service Carers Grant Coordinator before they can be approved. 7) If your application is successful you shall receive an approval letter and terms as soon as possible from the Berkshire Carers Service. 8) Once your application has been approved it can take up to two months to receive your respite payment. 9) Berkshire Carers Service cannot not act as a broker or booking agent in arranging/accessing respite activities or procuring any goods/services in relation to the administration of the Carers Grant. 10) All respite activities that are accessed/arranged/procured are done so at the discretion of the Carer in receipt of the Carers Grant. Berkshire Carers Service or Bracknell Forest Council are in no way responsible for any goods and/or services that are accessed/arranged/procured via the Grant. Appropriate insurance cover is advised. 11) If activities/endeavours/goods and services paid for are cancelled the applicant is responsible. Appropriate insurance cover is advised. 12) If a Cared for is deceased after a Carer s Grant award or moved in to long-term residential or nursing care before the grant is used then the Carer s Grant should be returned. Appropriate insurance cover is advised. 13) Access to this grant scheme cannot be guaranteed and is subject to available funds. 14) For monitoring purposes all Carers must complete two general health questionnaires - one completed prior to you taking your respite and the other completed after you have received the service and then forwarded on to the Berkshire Carers Service.

5 15) Berkshire Carers Service reserves the right to change these terms and conditions at any time, and you agree to abide by the most recent version of this Terms of Use Agreement. Payment 1) The maximum Carers Grant amount awarded is up to 500 per applicant per financial year (April 1 st March 31 st ). 2) Carers can claim the grant in two ways: a) By paying in advance for their respite and on provision of appropriate receipts or other proof of purchase they will be reimbursed directly. b) The respite can be paid in advance by providing an invoice for the cost of the respite. In this instance monies due will be paid direct to the service providing the respite. 3) Once Carers have received monies they must be banked and spent within three months. 4) Invoices for payment or Receipts for reimbursement must be presented within 4 weeks of the commencement/completion of the Carers Grant activity/purchase. 5) The Grant cannot be used in a manner that has not been agreed upon by Berkshire Carers Service. How to Make a Complaint Berkshire Carers Service is a charity which works to help improve the life of Carers. We need to know that the service we offer has helped you when and how you need that help. We also need to know if our service is in any way unsatisfactory. This enables us to make changes to our service when these are needed. If you are unhappy with our service it is very important that you tell us. You can ask to talk to any member of the staff team about your complaint. Please make sure you provide your full name, address, telephone number and and tell us about your complaint as fully as possible. It helps if you can tell us how and at what time you can be contacted with a response. If you are unhappy with the response you have been given you should contact the Chief Executive or the Chair of Berkshire Carers Service. There are four ways to contact us Berkshire Carers Service Bracknell Forest Council Telephone Website helpline@berkshirecarers.org asc.complaints@bracknellforest.gov.uk Write to Berkshire Carers, St Giles House, 10 Church Street, Reading, RG1 2SD The Complaints Manager, Adult Social Care, Time Square, Market Street, Bracknell, RG12 1JD