Physical and sensory disabilities
Bexley Care Trust - working in partnership to ensure the best health and social care for the community.
Who can get help?
If you have a physical or sensory disability we can arrange services to help you.
You may require day care, respite care or services to help you at home. You may need equipment to help with everyday tasks or adaptations to your home to help you get about more easily
We can also arrange help for carers of people with a physical or sensory disability.
What help can I get?
We offer a range of services to people in need including advice and information, and services to help you to continue living in your home. We provide services for people who need full-time care, we can arrange day care placements, or training opportunities for disabled people under 65 years of age.
How do I get help?
You can contact social services 020 8303 7777.
You can also get information from Inspire Community Trust (website link with information and contact details is provided on the right).
We will ask you questions about your home life and about the difficulties you have. We will also ask you what your wishes are. So that we can assess the help you might need it is important to tell us as much as possible about your difficulties. If you need emergency help we can arrange that at once.
Anything you tell social services staff will be in strict confidence. We will not pass information to anyone else without your permission. Your carer can have a separate assessment of their needs if they wish.
What services are available?
We arrange a range of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, and their carers.
Social work advice and support
Social workers offer counselling, advice and help in dealing with life's crises, such as serious illness, a death in the family or other major changes. Such problems can cause a great deal of distress to you and your family and can put relationships under a great deal of strain. Some people may even be at risk of harm from the people they live with.
They will help you get the services and support you need. If your needs are greater, we will put you in touch with 'Care Managers', who will assess your needs and put together a care plan which meets them.
Social workers will help you to continue to live in your own home for as long as you can. When this is no longer possible, they will help you to find and move to the best alternative accommodation and care.
Sensory impairment services
The Sensory Support Service provides services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, those who have visual impairment and those who are deafblind. Find out more about the Sensory Impairment Service by on our Sensory Support Service webpage (a link has been provided on the right).
Home help and personal care
This service provides practical help and personal care to help you look after yourself at home. This may include help with washing and using the toilet, help to dress and undress and help with housework.
Meals on wheels and freezer meals
We can bring hot food or freezer meals to people who are not able to make themselves a hot meal. If you do not have a freezer, we can lend you one so that you can have freezer meals delivered. Freezer meals are cheaper than meals on wheels and give you more choice.
Help with everyday living
We can arrange or provide special aids and equipment for people who are disabled. These help you with everyday tasks and will enable you to live safely and independently in your own home. If you need adaptations to your home, we will arrange these. We will tell you have much you may have to pay, if anything. We will also tell you about any grants that you may be able to claim and how to apply for them.
There is a short waiting list at the moment, because of the great demand for this service. The more urgent your situation, the sooner you will receive help.
Day activities
The Whitehall Centre provides day activities and services to adults under 65 who have physical or sensory disabilities. The Centre offers arts and crafts, work skills and training courses, as well as advice and information.
Patient support service
This service is available to blind and partially sighted people attending hospital for registration and support with sight loss. Advice and information is available about community services.
Having a break
If you live alone you may be entitled to a break from looking after yourself. If you are being cared for by a friend or relative, you and your carer may welcome the opportunity to spend some time apart. We may be able to provide respite care for just a couple of hours or a couple of weeks.
Transport
You may be entitled to either a bus pass or a blue badge. For more information, contact 01322 344823.
Moving to a nursing home or residential care home
Most people would like to continue to live in their own home for as long as possible. However, sometimes people need a level of care that can only be provided in a nursing home or a residential care home. We will assess your situation and help you decide what is best for you.
If you think you need residential or nursing care, we will visit you and assess your needs and those of your relatives or carers. If you do need this type of care we will help you choose a suitable place and help you apply.
How much will these services cost?
This depends on your income and the level of services you need. We will explain the cost before services are provided. You may be entitled to benefits and we will help you to claim them.
Who should I contact?
For more information about any of these services, contact Bexley Social Services on 020 8303 7777.
Other services
If you are an adult with a learning disability the Council's supported employment project, Bexley Twofold, may be able to help you take up paid employment. Find out more about Bexley Twofold by following our link in the right hand menu.
Local voluntary organisations can also give advice, support and practical help to people with learning disabilities and their carers. To find out more about voluntary services, contact the Bexley Voluntary Service Council (see right hand menu for their website).
Your opinion counts!
The government wants to create an Office for Disability Issues - a new body to co-ordinate disabled people's interests. The government also wants to set up a National Forum for Organisations of Disabled People. Use the Directgov - Office for Disability Issues link provided on the right to find out more and for a chance to give your feedback. Thank you.
