Shared Lives

Shared Lives schemes are designed to support adults with learning disabilities, mental health problems, or other needs that make it harder for them to live on their own.

Shared Lives Schemes provide family based high quality care, support and accommodation to the people using the service, giving them a chance to live an ordinary life in the community with the support they need.

Bradford Council support adults who are older, who may have dementia, people with a learning disability, people with mental health issues, or other needs that make it harder for them to live on their own.

Care and support can be provided as day time support or on a short break or a full time basis. It will be provided in a way that is responsive, friendly and timely, that is worthy of peoples trust as we are registered with Care Quality Commission. Sometimes people use a Shared Lives Scheme as a way of learning the skills they need to live independently but also as a home for life or to support their current living arrangement.

It is an alternative to traditional kinds of care such as care homes, supported living, building based day services and respite stays in a care home.

Sharing a home and community life supports people to transform their lives as well as build positive and meaningful relationships. Everyone is matched carefully with a Shared Lives provider / carer and the Bradford Scheme provides ongoing support for all those involved.

Any member of the team would be happy to talk about the service and can be contacted on 01274 432211.

Disabled Facilities Grants

You can refer for an occupational therapy assessment in order to be considered for DFG grant funding to adapt your home if you are disabled and need to make changes to your home. The Occupational Therapy approach will firstly consider the potential for re-habilitation, appropriateness of equipment provision, minor works, techniques to manage everyday tasks prior to looking at DFG funding.

Grants can be used to:

• Widen doors and install ramps.
• Improve access to rooms and facilities, e.g. stairlifts or a downstairs bathroom.
• Provide a heating system suitable for your needs.
• Adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use.
• Fitting gates to stairs or safety glass in doors and windows.
• Taking a bath out and installing a shower.
• Improving access to enable care of a child/spouse.

The maximum grant available is up to £30,000. It is means tested to establish if you will have to make any contribution yourself. How much you get depends on your household income and household savings.

You or someone living in your property must be disabled. Either you or the person you’re applying for must:

• Own the property or be a tenant.
• Intend to live in the property during the grant period (currently 5 years).

The council needs to be happy that the work is necessary and appropriate to meet the disabled person’s needs and depending on the age and condition of the property - that the work can be done. An occupational Therapy assessment is required in determining what is considered as appropriate and necessary. You

will need to apply separately for any

planning permission or building regulations approval.

The council may ask you to employ a qualified architect or surveyor to plan and oversee the work. If you get a grant, you can use it towards the cost of their fees.

If you are currently in receipt of a home care package, a review will be carried out following completion of adaptation works which may lead to a change in the home care services you receive.

To make an enquiry about Disabled Facilities Grants, contact the Occupational Therapy Service Access Team at Bradford Metropolitan District Council on: 01274 435400.

To support people to remain independent at home there are a range of daytime activities available across Bradford district.

Details of these can be found in the community directories on Connect to Support.

http://bradford.connecttosupport.org

These are available to offer opportunities to people who are experiencing loneliness, or have care needs and need help to get involved in activities.

They can also offer respite to those caring for somebody at home.

Wherever possible we want to support people to access community activities.

At some venues you will be able to buy meals and they may be able to support you to organise transport to and from the activity.

If you have care needs a Social Worker will carry out an assessment with you, and if you are eligible for support, your Social Worker will indicate how much money you will receive in your personal budget.