Adult Family Link Scheme
Short Breaks, Outreach and Long-term supported accommodation
for Disabled Adults
What is Adult Family Link Scheme?
The adult family link scheme provides a short break and long
term support service for disabled adults from the Bath & North
East Somerset area. These adults have been assessed by social
services as benefiting from this service.
Adults are ‘linked’ with approved carers who offer either:
- Outreach/Short breaks - daytime, evenings, weekends, going out
on trips or activities or supporting a person to learn new skills
such as how to use a bus. Based either at carers home or the adult
persons home.
- Overnights - one night, a weekend, a few days per month, based
either at the Adult Family Link carers home or in the disabled
adults home, allowing the parents/carers to take a
break.
- Long-term - a room in the adult family link carers home
offering the support the person may require on a long-term
basis.
Why Family Link?
The short breaks and support which family link provides are
designed to benefit the whole family. It can provide families with
a break, as well as a chance for the adults to join in things they
might enjoy, they will also have a chance of meeting new friends
from outside their family circle.
We can link disabled adults who have a variety of needs.
Who can become a adult family link carer?
We need all kinds of people – you can be single or with a
partner, with or without children, of working age or retired, and
from any religious, cultural or ethnic background.
We are looking for people who would enjoy caring for a disabled
adult, have energy, common sense and patience, and either
experience or a willingness to learn.
How do I become a adult family link carer?
We will visit you at home for an initial discussion about the
scheme. If you would like to become a link carer, you will then go
through a thorough assessment process, including a number of checks
– these are:
• 2 personal references
• Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check
• Health check
• Child Protection check
• Other local authority checks
A social worker from the adult family link scheme will make a
series of visits, which will include talking to other members of
your household, and getting to know you better and understand which
adults you would be able to support.
You will also attend a preparation course, which will include
important information about adult family link.
We will also ask you to contribute to a report, which will be
considered by a panel.
The whole process can take up to six months, after which we hope
to link you with a adult who needs your support.
Further Training
After being approved as a link carer you will be offered ongoing
training, initially the Learning Disability Award (LDAF).
Support for Family Link Carers
Each family link carer is allocated a family link social worker.
The role of this social worker is to review you as a carer,
identify appropriate links with adults and make sure this runs
smoothly, by offering ongoing support.
Family link social workers will often attend meetings with the
link carer and parents about the adult they are caring for.
We also have support groups on a quarterly basis
• Visit you regularly at home
• provide some equipment
What happens once you are approved?
The amount of work you do for the scheme will be entirely up to
you – some people do a great deal (several sessions per week),
whilst other people do just one or two per month. As part of your
assessment we will discuss your preferences.
You will be paid a small allowance and expenses for offering
short breaks and respite, for Long-term support you receive a
weekly fee which varies according to the level of support a person
needs.
Links with adults are always done through the family link
co-ordinator. You will be provided with full information about an
adult for you to consider for a link, before meeting them and their
family and before making a commitment. Once everyone is happy then
a written agreement is made which includes the number of sessions
and practical arrangements about the link.
You will have full support from the family link coordinators,
who will ensure things are running smoothly and to advise you with
any issues or problems about your links – this will either be done
by visiting you at home or over the phone.
|
If you choose to become an Adult Family Link carer – we hope
that you find it rewarding, we know from disabled adults and their
families that it is a service they value hugely, and there can be
benefits to all involved. |
This information can be made available in a range of languages,
large print, Braille, on tape, electronic and accessible
formats. Contact the Information Officer on 01225 477983,
Minicom 01225 477043 or email information_officer@bathnes.gov.uk
