WSCC Community Reablement Service

About

This is a West Sussex County Council service.

The Community Reablement Service is a short term support service provided by West Sussex County Council’s Regaining Independence Service, working with our reablement care provider Essex Cares Limited (ECL).

Reablement is short term support that helps you learn or re learn skills you may have lost after a period of ill health or during a time when daily tasks have become difficult.
Reablement can help you to:

- increase your confidence
- manage everyday activities at home
- stay independent for longer
- get out and about in your community

Unlike traditional home care, where carers carry out tasks for you, ECL staff work with you to build the skills you need to manage everyday life yourself.

The aim of reablement is to support you to do as much for yourself as possible. The service is free of charge for an agreed period of up to six weeks. A member of the team will work with you to agree your goals and how long support will be provided. If you make good progress and no longer need support, or if you are not able to make any further progress, the reablement programme will end and any ongoing care may then become chargeable. The programme can also stop if you choose not to take part.

What we do

• There are two pathways within the Community Reablement Service, the 'Therapy Pathway' and the 'Non-Therapy Pathway'. The Therapy Pathway is for people who need clinical oversight or a specialist assessment. You will work with an Occupational Therapist, who will assess your needs and guide your support. The Non Therapy Pathway is for people who do not need clinical input. Support is coordinated by trusted assessors managed by ECL, who provide all assessments, planning and coordination within this pathway.
• If you have recently been in hospital and are receiving reablement support at home from the NHS, staff may identify that further reablement would help you become more independent. If you need additional reablement, the NHS professional involved in your care will arrange this with the Community Reablement Service. Once your support has transferred, a member of the community reablement team will visit you to agree the goals you want to work towards.
• Our aim is to help you manage as many daily living activities as possible without assistance. These activities might include: getting dressed, moving safely around your home, getting out and about in your community, washing or showering, preparing hot drinks or simple meals. This support may be offered after a hospital stay or because you have been finding it harder to manage at home.
• If you still cannot manage important daily living activities after your short-term reablement programme, we will talk with you about what longer-term support you may need. An Occupational Therapist will review your needs with you and carry out a Care Act assessment. If you are eligible for funded social care support, we will arrange for a welfare benefits advisor to check whether you should contribute to the cost of any ongoing help. Any amount you may be asked to pay will depend on your personal financial circumstances.
• West Sussex County Council staff can make referrals directly to ECL. ECL will then triage the referral and direct the person to the most appropriate pathway. If you need more information, please contact the Regaining Independence Service using the contact details above.

Age range

18-upwards

Free to use

Yes

Requires referral

Yes