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General support

This section has information about different types of support according to your needs and circumstances.

Different types of support

The Council supports various initiatives to support people of any age maintain active lifestyles.

OPIN

The Council's library service in partnership with others maintains the Older People's Information Network (OPIN) a local information source aimed at older people- see OPIN.

Benefits and debt advice

The Council has a Welfare benefits advice line and there are other organisations that can assist with general advice. Follow this link for advice about money matters or debt.

Housing related support

If retaining your accommodation forms part of the issue, the Council commissions a range of local services to assist people access and retain their accommodation, known as "housing related support". This includes sheltered housing.

Sensory impairment

If you have developed a visual or hearing impairment, advice, assessment and other services are available to Deaf and Deafened people (Deafened and Hard of Hearing People) through the sensory impairment team (the eligibility criteria for social care apply).

Intermediate care services

People may have first contact with care services following developing a long term condition or disability. In this situation health and social care agencies look to offer intermediate care services, which are provided by health and social care agencies to assist people recuperating and recovering their abilities to look after themselves.

  • This means that people should not make long term decisions about their future accommodation in the hospital situation
  • in some situations a programme of specific therapies is offered for up to six weeks in the person's home or in a more supported environment (such as during the day at a Resource Centre or for the temporary period in a specific care home). These programme are designed to ensure that if you need to consider any change you can do it when you are fully aware of your recovery.

Adapting your home to meet your needs

If your accommodation is not suitable to meet your needs the Orbit Care and Repair service may be able to help. If support is need for a longer term and the situation meets the eligibility criteria, you may be offered simple equipment or a visit from an Occupational Therapist to enable you to get about, access facilities in your home, or complete activities of daily living. Guidance can be found on our disability equipment page along with a link to a request form for equipment or assessment.

This may lead to you being offered aids, equipment or adaptations to your home.

Private Suppliers of equipment can be found at: http://www.smilelocal.com/mobility_equipment_and_services/coventry (external).

Independent budgets and care packages

Other support may be arranged with the input from a care manager such as a social worker or social care worker and offered as a care package funded from the Council's resources alone, or if criteria are met with the help of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) - see our page on independent budgets.

A care package may include:

  • Alarm systems that you might operate yourself or that detect if some danger is present. This is known as telecare or assistive technology.
  • Domiciliary care from care staff or personal assistants visiting your home.
  • services to provide breaks for friend and family carers.
  • Social contact through day activity, some designed for people needing dementia care.
  • If carers are involved support may be available through respite care, and shared care, that can benefit both 'carers' and the 'cared for'.
  • A Direct Payment that allows you to purchase some or all of the support yourself.

A financial assessment determines your contribution and each care package is reviewed at intervals of 12 months - as a minimum.

  • We all have a responsibility to ensure our fellow citizens can access protection from exploitation or abuse - see our Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy for more information.

Contact details

For further information, please contact:

For housing related support, the Supporting People Team are located in Spire House and can be contacted on 024 7683 1072.

To apply for sheltered accommodation you need to register on the Coventry Homefinder. Coventry Homefinder is the scheme which allocates social housing in Coventry.

For advice on welfare benefits, the Coventry Benefits Advice Line can be contacted on Tel: 024 7683 2000 or Fax: 024 7683 2300.

For Community Services General Enquiries telephone 024 7683 3478.

Get in touch

Contact us quickly and easily using our online contact form.

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