Providing Services for Disabled People

We aim to ensure that people have access to a range of high quality services which:

We offer a wide range of services for disabled people with physical and sensory impairments. The main purpose of the service is to work to remove barriers that exclude disabled people from full participation in the community.

The sensory and physical disability team is centrally based in Newport and provides care management and social work services for people with a physical disability, under 65 years, and for all people with a sensory loss or impairment.

This includes:

Whether disabled people qualify for specific services is dependent on their particular needs. Priority will be given to those in greatest need. If you feel you need help or advice, a care manager can visit you to discuss your needs and ways to meet them.

Assessments are often straightforward. However, if you have a wide range of needs, you may want a fuller assessment which, with your agreement, can include other people such as your doctor or district nurse. Carers can also ask for an assessment in their own right.

We will respond immediately to a crisis. Otherwise we aim to start an initial assessment in more urgent situations within 2 to 10 working days.

Less urgent cases are assessed as soon as possible and, if this is the case, you will be told when this is likely to happen.

There is a charge for all services that we provide. Your social services centre and the duty team on (01983) 823340 will give more detailed information on the charges for services. Some will be fixed costs (such as meals on wheels) others will vary according to the ability to pay.

Following the assessment, your care manager may arrange for you to receive a combination of the community care services available, including:

Homecare - providing help with personal care tasks. Carers can also be given a break to go out or have a nights rest if this is appropriate.

Meals on wheels - for people unable to cook for themselves.

Respite care - giving both disabled people and their carers a planned break.

Residential care - short and long term stays in private and voluntary homes or social services resource centres. Care managers will assess and advise on residential care placements.

Disabled person’s parking (blue badge scheme) - if the disability is permanent and substantial, and causes inability to walk or very severe difficulty in walking, you may be eligible for a blue badge.

Wightcare lifeline telephone - 24 hour emergency cover at the touch of a button.

Occupational Therapists - providing help and advice onany daily activity such as dressing, bathing and cooking.They also provide appropriate assessment, to supportindependent living and equipment.

Services for peope with hearing impairment -information about specialist social work services is availablefrom the duty team. However, Sound Advice - a jointproject with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)can advise on services generally and particularlyenvironmental equipment. Sound Advice is based at34 Carisbrooke Road, Newport.Tel (01983) 529533.

Services for people with visual impairment are providedon our behalf by the Society for the Blind (IW), SightConcern, Wallace Court, Staplers Road, Newport.Tel (01983) 522205.

The Riverside Centre - situated on the Quay in Newport,this has been jointly developed with local voluntary groupsas a resource for disabled people. For full details of thefacilities available telephone the centre on (01983) 822209or (01983) 822224.

Direct payments - is a new care option for Island residents. It is a sum of cash paid directly to people to cover the cost of services to meet their individual needs. A direct payment is not a benefit, nor will receiving direct payments affect anyone’s benefits.

If you feel unhappy with the service you receive, then please either:

Adult Services Complaints & User Rights
Floor 4 County Hall
High Street
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 1UD
Tel: (01983) 533289.

If you need help in making a complaint or making your view known, there is an advocacy service available through the duty team on telephone: (01983) 823340.

Alternatively, contact your care manager in your local social services centre.

All information disclosed will be treated as confidential and is only passed on with the person’s agreement except in the following circumstances:

If one of these applies you will be informed that the information will be passed on to a third party for example to a general practitioner.

Information is stored on the Directorate’s central computer system and within paper files as part of our client record system. Only authorised staff have access to it. Anyone whose personal details are recorded can ask to see them.

Further information about services for adults can be obtained from the duty team on tel: (01983) 823340.

The duty team covers the whole Island and is based at 147 High Street, Newport. Personal callers are welcome during office hours, but it is best to telephone to make an appointment to be sure of seeing a duty officer.

The duty team is open:
Monday - Thursday 8.45am to 5.00pm
Friday 8.45am to 4.30pm
If you need help in an emergency and you are not able to wait until the next working day please contact Emergency Duty Service on tel: (01983) 821105.