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Frequently asked questions

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Below you'll find answers to the most frequently asked questions, FAQs.

Advice and Information

SENDIASS - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service

Warwickshire’s SEND local offer brings together information about the local services and support available across education, health, and social care for families with children and young people aged 0 to 25, who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Children (0-15yrs), young people (16-25yrs), and their parents and carers where a child or young person has or may have special educational needs or a disability are able to access the service for free, impartial, and confidential information and advice.

For more information and how to apply, please visit:


Assistance at home

Home Environment Assessment and Response Team (HEART)

HEART is a partnership service between Warwickshire Councils. They provide advice and assistance to deliver disabled adaptations and home improvements to keep your home safe, secure, and warm.  Their caseworkers assess customers' needs and  housing conditions and provide you with tailored advice and support on a range of issues including:

Equipment to help at home

Warwickshire County Council helps people to live in their own homes more easily by providing a range of equipment. The equipment can range from a simple walking stick to a more complex item like a mobile hoist.

To receive this service you must be assessed and eligible for social care support.

WWC website and information

AskSARA is an easy-to-use website that helps improve people’s access to a range of ‘self-help’ smart technology and associated services in Warwickshire – from automatic pill dispensers to reminder clocks, personal alarms, and general equipment to help make daily activities easier so that they can stay well for longer. The AskSARA website aims to improve and increase access to Assistive Technology for people in Warwickshire.

LifeLine - Help at the press of a button

Help is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year with Lifeline. Lifeline is a personal alarm scheme available to anyone who may:

Careline

The Careline alarm is designed to help older, frail, or disabled people remain in their own homes, with the knowledge that they always have somebody to help them in an emergency.

Benefits and finance

Please visit our Benefits and Finance page.

How to apply for an allowance or funding

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.

Carers Allowance

You could get a weekly allowance if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. You do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person. If someone else also cares for the same person as you, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance.

Carer’s Allowance can affect the other benefits that you and the person you care for get. You have to pay tax on it if your income is over the Personal Allowance.

Severely Mentally Impaired (SMI) Council Tax Discount

If you or someone you live with has a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) which appears to be permanent you may be eligible to claim a reduction or exemption on your council tax. Please contact your local council for more information and how to apply.

Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Funding

NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC) is a package of care for adults aged 18 or over that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS. In order to receive NHS CHC funding individuals, have to be assessed by integrated commissioning boards (ICBs) according to a legally prescribed decision-making process to determine whether the individual has a ‘primary health need’.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work. ESA gives you, money to help with living costs if you’re unable to work and support, to get back into work if you’re able to.

You can apply if you’re employed, self-employed, or unemployed.

For more information and how to apply, please visit:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:

  • a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
  • difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings, or are getting most other benefits.

For more information and how to apply, please visit:

Blue Badge Parking Scheme

The aim of the Blue Badge Scheme is to help people with severe mobility problems caused by visible and non-visible (hidden) disabilities to park closer to their destination. Warwickshire County Council has a Blue Badge Team that administers the Blue Badge Scheme on behalf of the Department of Transport.

For more information and how to apply, please visit Warwickshire County Council Blue Badge Scheme.

Legal information

Power of Attorney

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) is a legal framework applying to individuals who lack the mental capacity to consent to the arrangements for their care.

Where such care may amount to a "deprivation of liberty" the arrangements are independently assessed to ensure they are in the best interests of the individual concerned. The data is collected from local authorities in England, who are the supervisory bodies for authorising deprivations of liberty of adults in care homes and hospitals.

For more information please visit the websites listed:

Care homes

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. They make health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

They inspect and rate residential care homes and nursing homes. You can use their inspection reports and ratings to help you understand the quality of care.

Transport

If you require assistance getting to medical appointments, dentists, and some social activities and groups, the organisations below can help.

VASA

VASA is a small charity offering Community Transport with volunteer drivers, wheelchair loans, and community activities & clubs supporting all generations.

  • Area covered: Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwick, Leamington Spa, Kenilworth, Southam, Alcester, Studley, Wellesbourne, Shipston-On-Stour, Rugby, and the surrounding villages.
  • For prices and how to book please contact VASA. VASA Website, Phone: 01789 262889, Email: transport@vasa.org.uk
Beeline Community  Transport

Beeline Community Transport is a registered charity based in Atherstone. We have a team of volunteer drivers who use their own cars to provide a door-to-door transport service.

  • Area covered: The service is for residents of North Warwickshire who are unable to use public or private transport either through sickness or disability or because the bus service does not meet their needs.  
    The service is also open to people who do not live in North Warwickshire but who are registered with a North Warwickshire GP.
  • For prices and how to book please contact Beeline. Beeline Website, Phone:  01827 717074
Medicar

Transport service operated by the volunteer centre Nuneaton & Bedworth. Medicar is for people who need to take medically related journeys and are not able to use public transport because of ill-health (short or long term), caring responsibilities, old age, or disability.

  • Area covered: Nuneaton and Bedworth. This service is for people who pay council tax to Nuneaton & Bedworth Council who have appointments arranged.
  • For prices and how to book please contact Medicar. Medicar website, Phone: 024 7664 0088
Patient Transport Services (PTS)

For many years, West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS), has provided PTS covering Warwickshire. This includes patients registered with GPs in Rugby, South Warwickshire, and Warwickshire North, and who are eligible for transport, through the region and the rest of the UK.

Transport is provided if you have a medical need that stops you using private or public transport. It is not provided for social or financial reasons.

When you ring to request transport you will be asked a number of questions to determine your eligibility and the mode of transport required. If you think you meet the eligibility criteria, you need to contact the West Midlands Ambulance Service at least 2 weeks before your appointment.

  • Area covered: Warwickshire and the rest of the UK.
  • For more information and how to book, contact WMAS. WMAS PTS Website, Phone: 01926 310312.
Randex-Phoenix Private Ambulance Service (RPPAS)

Randex-Phoenix Private Ambulance Service is based in Warwick, offering ambulance transport for anyone with impaired mobility for whom safe and comfortable door-to-door travel is difficult, uncomfortable, or inappropriate by private car or public transport.

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