Support for unexpected needs

(Reablement)

What's this?

If your needs change in such a way that you’re suddenly unable to cope, the Reablement service will provide planned, short term, intensive support to help you to regain your independence and function safely at home.  

Reablement could be in your own home, or in another residential setting, and provides mainly occupational therapy and social care.

Who is it for?

The service is for people aged 18 or over, who have been identified as needing some short term rehabilitation. This could be because they have been admitted to hospital and are now medically stable to return home with support or because of a sudden health setback where they’re unable to manage everyday activities.

How does it work?

The hospital or a social care practitioner will refer you to the Reablement Team.

If you’re being discharged from hospital, a Reablement Care Co-ordinator will contact you as soon as possible after you arrive home and arrange a convenient time to visit you.

In either case, the Reablement Co-ordinator will need to carry out an assessment. This involves discussing your needs and agreeing an appropriate support plan, which will describe the help you need and what you hope to be able to do yourself.

We’ll then regularly monitor the programme and your progress, and, as you become more independent, we’ll gradually reduce the level of support.

After a maximum of 6 weeks, if you still need ongoing care, your Reablement Care Co-ordinator or one of our social care practitioners will contact you to agree your long term support needs. We call this Self Directed Support (SDS).

What type of support is available?

The Team, and Support Workers from a contracted provider, will work with you to help you to regain your daily living skills and to support your independence, including:

• Assistance with transfers, hoisting, getting in and out of bed, washing and dressing

• Help with using the toilet and continence care

• Support to prepare meals

• Reminding you to take your medication

• Laundry in essential cases.

The Care Co-ordinators will assess you and monitor your progress, as well as reviewing your equipment needs and safety at home. They will also offer guidance and advice to the Support Workers.

How much does it cost?

The service is free and the support is usually expected to last between one and two weeks but can last up to a maximum of six weeks under certain circumstances. After this time, if you still need ongoing, or Self Directed Support, the service is no longer free and we’ll need to carry out an assessment to see if you’re eligible for financial support. You can get a rough idea of whether you qualify for help with the costs with our online self assessment.

Read our Reablement Service leaflet(pdf, 419KB)

Please contact me about this service

If you’re still unsure you can contact the Adult Social Care Access Team