Residential care in Coventry
Residential care homes in Coventry meet the needs of people who can no longer live in their own homes. Care homes offer accommodation, on-site care and support services in a safe but home-like atmosphere. Moving into a care home can provide a person with support around personal care and other aspects of day-to-day living including eating, drinking, communicating, and enjoying social activities. A care home will also help a person to maintain relationships with their family and friends. Some care homes may specialise in supporting particular conditions including dementia, mental health, acquired brain injury or learning disability.
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector in Coventry
The VCSE sector in Coventry is a diverse range of organisations that provide help and support to local communities and individuals in need. The VCSE includes unfunded groups, local and national charities and social enterprises who can deliver support on behalf of the council or independently with the support from external funders such as the National Lottery Community Fund. Some services are delivered by paid staff others by volunteers or a mixture of both.
For more information on the VCSE sector in Coventry visit Voluntary Action Coventry or Social Enterprise UK where you can search online for organisations in your area.
Housing with Care
Housing with Care (HwC or sometimes referred to as Extra Care Housing) enables older people to live an independent life within their own self-contained flat with care and support made available on-site, providing an alternative to either home support or residential care. Whilst schemes vary in terms of size and facilities available, all are purpose-built and offer a range of communal areas, such as cafés and lounges, with all flats equipped with 24-hour emergency alarm systems.
Individuals wishing to move to a housing with care scheme do not need to have care needs when first moving in; the level of assistance can be implemented or increased (and decreased, where applicable) as needs change. Flats are available to rent, buy or purchase through shared ownership, depending on the scheme.
Home support
Home support, also known as domiciliary care, is where support is provided to an individual in their own home by paid care workers. Support can include (but is not limited to) personal care, giving medication, washing and generally making sure people’s health and wellbeing are maintained.
Support can be on a short-term basis, for example following a hospital stay or change in need, or on a long-term and ongoing basis depending on the individual’s specific needs. In all cases, support will look to promote an individual’s independence and assist in helping them to manage their day-to-day tasks.
Day opportunities and employment support
Day opportunities, often known as day services, help people to live as independently as possible in the community through the use of buildings such as day centres and community-based support.
Most of these services help people to get involved in community activities with the support of paid care workers. This can either be in groups or as individuals.
In Coventry there is a range of day opportunities schemes run by both the Council, private companies and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Some schemes can be accessed directly, but for some, people have to be eligible and referred by health or social care.
Employment support is available for adults with disabilities and severe and enduring mental health conditions seeking work following a referral from adult social care or health teams.
Supported living
Supported living schemes provide personal care and support to individuals so that they can live in their own homes. The care and support is contracted separately to the person's housing which can allow them the choice of support provider. Supported living schemes support older people, people with a learning disability or mental health need and individuals with a physical disability. Only supported living services providing personal care are required to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Housing can be accessed through Registered Social Landlords, private landlords and local authorities whilst care can be delivered by private, voluntary and community sector organisations.
Advocacy/money management and making your voice heard
Advocacy commonly means getting support from another person to help you express your views and wishes, and help you stand up for your rights. Someone who helps you in this way is called your advocate. Self-advocacy is where individuals are supported to speak up for themselves, while professional advocates work in the field of health and social care representing people who are in a variety of situations such as secure locations or in key meetings where they made need support to get their voice heard.
Respite care
Carers need to take a break from time to time because caring long-term for someone can have lasting effects on a person’s health and wellbeing. Respite care can take many forms from a volunteer sitting with the person they care for while they attend an appointment through to planned or emergency overnight short-term residential respite to cover for example holidays. Respite care and short breaks can be arranged by the local authority or paid for using a direct payment.
Carers and services for families
Supporting carers is at the heart of everything we do in Coventry. We work in partnership with the Carers Trust Heart of England to deliver a one-stop shop for people with caring responsibilities. The Carers Wellbeing Service delivered by Carers Trust Heart of England offers support for carers of all ages, including young carers. They deliver a service for people with caring responsibilities that includes, training, group-based support, information and advice, access to counselling, digital support, carers' assessments and direct payments. The service also runs our short breaks services (providing regular breaks for carers as an outcome of an assessment) and the Carers Response Emergency Support Service (CRESS) which helps people plan for what would happen in the event of an emergency or change of circumstances and provides support in the event of an emergency. This service can also support people caring if they need to attend a significant event (wedding, funeral, celebration) or medical appointment. The service can also support providers to be more carer aware and will facilitate sessions if requested.
Mental health services
Mental health services in Coventry are delivered by a range of organisations including Coventry City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Partnership Trust, Independent providers and the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector (VCSE).