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Fair Access to Care
The Department of Health aims to ensure that services are available to everyone in their area with the same needs. To this end they have produced guidance for local authorities to follow to ensure those who need support are receiving it if the choose.
The criteria are split into four bands:
- Critical
- Substantial
- Moderate
- Low.
We will use our Carers Eligibility Criteria. This is the way we decide who can receive our services. The criteria below will be used in carrying out your assessment.
Critical
- The carer is providing substantial amounts of essential care.
- Personal relationships are very stressed and/or the support network has broken down, for example
- The carer can no longer give their support
- The carer is ill/in hospital.
- There is an immediate risk of abuse within the relationship.
Substantial
- The carer is providing substantial amounts of essential care
- Relationships are noticeably stressed and are at significant risk of break down, for example
- The carer is threatening to withdraw their support
- The carer feels as though they can no longer cope
Moderate
- The carer is providing substantial amounts of care/support;
- Relationships may experience some stress and difficulty.
- Direct assistance would help the carer to continue in that role or would support them/the family
Low
- The carer is providing care/support;
- Relationships are stressed from time to time
- Information/advice would be beneficial.
South Tyneside Council provides services to those carers who are at a substantial or critical level. Those who are at the moderate to low levels will receive advice, information and signposting to other agencies.
