FAQ's
Bellcare Domiciliary Care Services Limited are members of, and regulated by, the main governance organisations in the UK.
The United Kingdom Home Care Association (UKHCA) is the professional association for member organisations who provide care, including nursing care, to people in their own homes. Its primary aim is to identify and promote the highest standards of home care. In addition, the Association produces information on good practice and acts as a focal point for innovation and quality within the care industry.
Full member organisations either go through a vetting procedure, or produce evidence that they are regulated by the appropriate regulatory body, to joining the Association and once in membership promise to adhere to the UKHCA Code of Practice.
We are also a member of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who inspect and report on social care services throughout England. They have awarded our service a Three Star Excellent rating. In March 2009, Bellcare were also accredited as an Investor In People.
Bellcare Domiciliary Care Services Limited cover a wide region of Cumbria which includes Penrith, Whitehaven, Maryport, Workington, Cockermouth, Aspatria, Wigton, Silloth and the surrounding districts.
Costs will very much depend on the level of care that we have been asked to provide. Before we agree our service levels, an individual assessment will be made so that we can better understand what is required from us. Bellcare has extensive experience working with multi-source funding and will try and accommodate most circumstances. Bellcare will negotiate financially and will give discounts when possible; just ask how we can help.
Firstly, please contact your nearest office and our well-informed and knowledgeable staff will be able to assist and support you through the process. A member of our management team can arrange to visit you in your own home for an informal chat (with no obligations) to discuss your care requirements. We pride ourselves on our care planning processes which support the needs and wishes of the individual. We can refer you to the appropriate agencies if required and guide you through the process.
We strongly believe in recruiting staff from the local communities which they serve, and our carers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and range in age from 18 to 65. Our care workforce is representative of the diverse needs of clients and we have both female and male carers. Bellcare make every effort to maintain continuity of care for each customer, ensuring wherever possible that a familiar team of carers are always assigned to each customer.
Yes, we cover all aspects of respite care. We can undertake as few or as many tasks as you need, and are available for relatively short or longer-term placements. We can also provide an ’emergency’ service for when short notice respite care is required.
Yes we do. We appreciate that there are literally millions of people who visit Cumbria and the Lake District every year so, with planning and considered care, we can extend our services to meet the needs of people visiting our region.
Yes, we accept both these forms of payment for our services. Bellcare are experienced in working with multi-source funding and will try and accommodate most circumstances.
Bellcare accepts Direct Payments and have a lot of experience with this method for individuals who are managing their own care and support requirements.
We can help and advise you along the way if you need it but, ultimately we will just be there for you, because it’s your life and your care. You will be able to decide which of your services you require for your lifestyle and manage your care and support according to your needs and wishes.
We have provided you with some information to help you make the decision that is the right one for you, but if you or your family wish to have an informal chat, just let us know, we could come to you or you could come and see us, it’s your choice. We recognise this is a ‘big’ decision to make so we will be there to help you if we can.
Direct payments are local council payments for individuals who would like to arrange and pay for their own care and support services instead of receiving them directly from Cumbria County Council. If you think you need care or support services, Cumbria County Council’s Adult Social Care service will carry out an assessment of your needs.
Once the assessment has been carried out, there are three ways in which the services you need can be arranged:
- Cumbria County Council can give you a Direct Payment so you can arrange your own services in the way in which you prefer; or
- Cumbria County Council we can arrange the services for you; or a combination of the two.
For example, you can use the Direct Payment to:
- Pay Bellcare to provide you directly with services;
- Employ your own staff;
- Design your own service that fits your choices and needs;
- Buy equipment that better fits your lifestyle;
- Arrange your own respite care to offer you or your carer a break; or
- A combination of any of these.
However, there are some rules. You must spend your Direct Payment on things that your assessment shows that you need. You can never use your Direct Payment to buy:
- Services from the local authority
- Long term residential care; or
- Anything that does not meet your agreed needs.
If you already receive social services, Cumbria County Council is obliged to offer you the option of direct payments in place of the services you currently receive. (There are some limited circumstances where you are not given this choice and the council will be able to tell you about these.)
If you’re not receiving social services, to get direct payments you’ll need to contact your local council to ask them to assess your needs. Social services (and therefore direct payments) are normally available if you are:
- An older person
- Disabled and aged 16 or over
- A parent or carer aged 16 or over (including people with parental responsibility for a disabled child)
- Effect on other benefits
Direct payments are not a replacement of income and therefore do not affect any other benefits you may be getting.
