Respite care
Respite care enables carers to take a break from their caring tasks for a few hours, days or weeks. It may involve having someone else come and look after the person you are caring for, in their own home, or it may involve the person you look after going to stay in a residential home for a while.
You can arrange respite care yourself, or you can ask us to arrange it for you.
The council may agree to arrange respite care, following an assessment of the person you care for, and also of your own needs under the Carers’ Act if you wish.
Types of respite care
Respite Care is offered in a number of different ways:
- in a residential or nursing home
- in your own home – if this is more appropriate than a residential home
- in a hospital, if there are very complex medical or nursing needs. (This type of respite care would need to be arranged through your GP.)
The amount of respite care offered will vary according to need.
Respite care credit scheme
You may wish to make your own arrangements for respite care. Following an assessment of your needs, you will be allocated a number of vouchers, which can be exchanged for respite services as and when you require them (subject to availability).
Direct Payments for respite care
Direct Payments can be used to buy respite care needs identified as part of an assessment. Direct Payments gives you the choice of whether to pay for care in the home or in a residential or nursing care home.
Will I be charged for services?
You may be required to pay for some of the services you receive. How much you pay will depend on your income and the amount of help you need. We will ask you to complete a financial assessment form. You may be entitled to benefits, and if so we will help you to claim them. We will give you advice about this when you contact us.
How do I access services?
If you think you need a service or have a general enquiry about respite care, contact the appropriate social work team.
Comments, Compliments and Complaints
Adult Social Services home page
Email this pageLast modified by: Dawn Rowe on 10/03/2009