Respite / Shared Care

Short term care for adults with a learning disability and their carers.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is committed to extending the range of services we offer to carers. We are continually working to improve the services we offer to enable carers to continue to support those they care for.

Respite Care (sometimes called Shared Care) offers short term care to adults with a learning disability and the people who care for them.  The care can vary in length from a few hours upwards and is provided by people approved by Social Services to be Carers.  The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead can provide care in a variety of ways to meet your needs.  For more information please contact the Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities.

If you think you, or someone in your family, might benefit from any service provided by Social Services and you would like us to contact you by phone or email, please click the following link and complete the Social Services Contact Us/Self Referral Online Form and someone will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Amongst the services we currently offer are:

9 Allenby Road

9 Allenby Road provides overnight stays for adults with a learning disability with up to four people staying at any one time. Carers are normally allocated a fixed number of nights per year which they can use when they most require them. 9 Allenby is situated close to Maidenhead Town Centre and is well equipped with a well trained and experienced staff group. 9 Allenby tries to promote an enjoyable and stimulating environment where service users will enjoy staying while carers know that those they care for will be safe.

The Outreach Respite Scheme

The outreach service provides short, flexible breaks to carers of an adult with a learning disability . Carers are allocated a fixed number of hours per week and are then free to choose when they would like to use those hours. Most breaks would be of less than 4 hours duration. As well as giving carers a break the service is designed to promote something enjoyable and stimulating for the service user. Often the hours are used to support a service user to access community, educational or social facilities. Most of the care is provided by an external care agency.

 The scheme can be used to:

• Provided an outreach worker to spend time in a carer’s home while the carer does something else or may involve the worker taking the service user out to facilitate a short break for carers.
• Provide a social opportunity for service users – for example enable them to engage in an activity or interest they have.
• Enable a service user to participate in something a carer cannot support.
• As an opportunity for a carer to enjoy something their caring responsibilities prevent them from doing.

It is not primarily aimed at offering a personal care service but workers would be expected to offer sufficient care to keep a service user safe and comfortable while they are in the care of the outreach service.  To be eligible for the service, carers should have had a carer’s assessment.

Please see Carer's Support and Services for more information on the kind of help available to carers.

The Adult Placement Scheme

The adult placement scheme provides a service to people with a learning disability who are over 18 years of age.Adult placement enables a service user to spend time with another family or individual whilst the carer receives a break. This may be for a few hours a week or for a few weeks a year. The stays can be regular or only when required.

Efforts are made to carefully match service user and adult placement carer. Adult placement carers are fully trained and supervised. These placements may be long term, may be short breaks to provide respite for a carer or may provide a service to people otherwise living independently.

Adult placement carers are paid an allowance for their services.

The service provided will be individual to the particular service user but it could include services such as:

• Personal Care
• Social inclusion and community links
• Befriending
• Work toward specified ends – i.e. supporting someone to find employment, access a college course, learn a new skill
• Assistance with managing transition
• Respite for carers
• Engage in a particular activity
• Monitor a service user’s well being
• Providing a long term home with a family or carer

If you think you benefit from such a service let us know. Whether we can help will however, depend on whether we have a carer or family able to meet your needs at this particular time and whether or not you meet the Social Services Eligibility Criteria.

How are Carers Chosen?

Any person wishing to be an Adult Placement Carer will need to go through the same application process as anybody else who works for the Royal Borough. This includes a lot of processes to help protect you. Each carer will need to apply in writing and have an interview. They will need to provide two references, go through a check by the Criminal Records Bureau and prove that they are entitled to work in the United Kingdom.

After this the carer will need to go to a special panel where they will be interviewed to ensure that the panel feels they are suitable to be a carer. A person who is independent of the selection process chairs this panel. The panel will usually include a person who uses a learning disability service.

When we believe we have found a suitable carer we would arrange for you to meet them. If after the first meeting you and the carer think things went well we would arrange for some trial visits. You can make as many trial visits as you want to decide if the placement should be permanent. If you think another carer would be better we would then look for an alternative for you. If the carer thinks they cannot meet your needs we might need to try another carer.

You might want a family member or friend to help you to decide what kind of carer you would like or indeed to help you with any part of this process. If you would like an independent person to help you to speak for yourself we can give you information about advocacy services.

How much will it cost me?

If you wish to use the service you will need to complete a financial assessment. This will indicate how much you need to pay. Before you begin the service a contract  will be completed and it will detail exactly what you will need to pay. Within the contract it will also explain to you if there is anything extra you will need to pay for and what will happen if the placement is due to end.

How can I get an Adult Placement?

 To organise a placement you should, if you have one, contact your Care Manager. If you do not have a Care Manager please contact the Community Team for People with a Learning Disability.  Before starting a placement you will need to complete an assessment with your care manager; this will help to find a carer that will be able to meet your needs.

The Buddy Scheme

This is a new scheme run in cooperation with the Windsor Girls' School and Mencap.  The scheme is administered through the Oakbridge Day Centre and is designed to provide a social outlet and excursions for people with learning disabilities in the Royal Borough. 

For more information on all the services available or to arrange them, please contact the Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities.

Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities (CTPLD)
3 Abell Gardens,
Furze Platt Road,
Maidenhead,
SL6 6PS

Tel: 01628 670117
Fax: 01628 621656
Email: ctpld@rbwm.gov.uk

Click on the links to view more information on services and support available for people with Learning Disabilities or for more information on services and support available for Carers.