In Highland the new way of delivering health and social care services comes under the Highland Health and Social Care Partnership. All provision of care is subject to an assessment known as a Personal Outcome Plan, and is based around the outcomes for the person in need of care. The ways these services are delivered varies: this is called Self Directed Support, and allows more flexibility in the delivery of personalised care. There are different types of care provision, explained here.

Free Personal and Nursing Care

Free personal care is available for everyone aged 65 and over in Scotland who has been assessed by the local authority as in need of that service.

Free nursing care is available for people of any age who have been assessed as requiring nursing care. If a person has been assessed as needing both personal and nursing care they will receive both regardless of income, capital assets, or marital or civil partnership status. However, if they live in a residential care home they will need to contribute towards accommodation costs.

Personal Care Services

To receive personal care services from the local authority or payments that allow choice in who will provide the services, it is necessary to contact the Highland Health and Social Care Partnership to have care needs assessed. The type of personal care provided will vary according to the assessed care needs.

For people who live in a care home, the local authority still assesses whether they need personal care. If the local authority agrees that they should receive personal care, they will pay £171 per week directly to the care provider. Payments of free personal and nursing care made by the local authority direct to the care provider are not liable for income tax. To determine care needs, the local social work services assess:

• Personal hygiene (bathing, showering, hair washing, shaving, oral hygiene, nail care)
• Continence management (toileting, catheter/stoma care, skin care, incontinence laundry, bed changing)
• Food and diet (help with the preparation of food and assistance with the fulfilment of special dietary needs)
• Problems with immobility (dealing with the consequences of being immobile or substantially immobile)
• Counselling and support (behaviour management, psychological support, reminding devices)
• Simple treatments (help with medication including eye drops, application of creams and lotions, simple dressings, oxygen therapy)
• Personal assistance (with dressing, surgical appliances, prostheses, mechanical and manual aids, getting up and going to bed, transfers including the use of a hoist)

The following care services may be chargeable:

• Help with housework, laundry, shopping and use of services outside of the home such as day-care centres or lunch clubs.
• Supplying food or pre-prepared meals is chargeable, but support with preparing meals is provided free.

Nursing Care Services

For people who live in a care home and are assessed as needing nursing care services, the local authority will pay £78 per week directly to the care provider.

Attendance Allowance

People who receive free personal care at home are eligible for attendance allowance. However if they are in a care home and choose to receive free personal care payments, they are no longer eligible for attendance allowance after 28 days. People who are 65 or over, live at home and need help to pay for care must ask the Highland Health and Social Care Partnership to assess their needs and agree a care package to meet those needs. They do not have to pay for any personal care.

A number of third-sector organisations can also provide certain aspects of care. Ask your Carer Liaison Worker for more information.

Private Care Provision

It is possible to pay for the provision of care through an independent care provider, independent businesses who specialise in providing care. They charge for the provision of care, and in some cases this can be the best solution. Where a person is in receipt of an SDS budget, they can purchase their own care through an independent provider of their own choosing. A number of Independent Qualified Carers run smaller operations in local areas.

If you would like more information about Personal Outcome Plans ,please call our Carer Support Line on 01463 723560 or email us on carers@connectingcarers.org.uk.