Adult Social Care
Practice Guide
Discharge alert protocol To ensure discharge best practice is implemented across all NCL hospitals, the ICS (Integrated Care System) have a standardised process for managing discharge alerts. Refer to the revised discharge alert protocol , which is designed to minimise the reoccurence of failed d…
All hospital discharges are on a ‘discharge to assess’ model. This means that a Care Act assessment will not be completed while in hospital but after discharge has taken place. The current process within Camden ASC is that when an adult is admitted to hospital, in most cases, the Integrated Disch…
If a person is due to be discharged and does not have a home to return to, the hospital would contact the Housing Needs Service. Also, if the person cannot manage day-to-day activities, the hospital discharge team would contact Adult Social Care who may arrange for: short term support to help wit…
Reablement flats are temporary accommodation offered to individuals to support them to improve, develop and regain confidence. The flat is available only if reablement support cannot be offered in the individual's own home. The individual's care and support are reviewed during their stay and the…
This page provides guidance on placement reviews where the person is discharged home (Pathway 1) or to a nursing/residential home (Pathway 3). Review of care following Pathway 1 - discharged home If the person is able to be supported at home upon discharge, the hospital Social Worker makes any re…
If a safeguarding is raised while a patient is in an acute hospital setting, or a safeguarding concern has led to a hospital admission the hospital social worker will complete the section 42.1 to start the safeguarding process. If the safeguarding issue occurred in hospital the hospital social wo…
Virtual Ward is a new health initiative to keep people out of hospital where possible. They may be ‘admitted’ whilst in the community to prevent an actual hospital admission or to enable an earlier discharge home from hospital. The service is for adults over the age of 18 who live in Camden, are…
Urgent community response is a multi-disciplinary service which is designed to provide urgent care for Camden residents who are above the age of 18 and are at risk of hospital admission due to physical health deterioration, reduced mobility and/or unexpected carer breakdown. There is a social wor…
If someone in hospital has an informal/unpaid carer supporting them, it is best practice to include the carer in the discharge process. This is also an opportunity to identify carers who are not receiving support that they may need. There is currently Hospital Discharge Support available for care…
Mental Health Information for practitioners on s117 aftercare Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA), amended in 2007, is the statutory duty on both health and local authorities to provide free aftercare for people who have been detained under certain sections of the Mental Health Act. Th…
What is S117 What is Section 117 Section 117 states the statutory duty of the local authority and Integrated Care Board (ICB) to consider the aftercare needs of people who are eligible and their joint responsibility to commission mental health aftercare services. The duty continues until such a t…
Who is eligible for Section 117 A person is eligible for Section 117 if subject to either of the following; • been detained under Section 3, or • been admitted to hospital in pursuance of a hospital order made under Section 37 or 41, or • been transferred to a hospital in pursuance of a hospital…
Planning, assessments and care plan for S117 aftercare Planning of Section 117 aftercare should start as soon as the person is admitted to hospital. A pre aftercare meeting should take place as soon as possible from admission and must be attended by the responsible clinician (or appropriate medic…
Financial assessments, direct payment and personal health budgets For people with eligible care and support needs (who are not receiving services under Section 117), any service provided (except where there is eligibility for Continuing Health Care or an NHS funded personal health budget) is char…
Review of people subject to Section 117 Reviews should be held at every care planning meeting or at least every year. Earlier reviews may be requested by the person, carer(s) or any member of the person's care team. The Local Authority and ICB will consider the merits of conducting a review but s…
Discharge from Section 117 A person should only be discharged from the aftercare provisions of Section 117 if the responsible multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and the Quality Assurance Mental Health Funding Panel or CLDS/ILDP Quality Assurance Panel are satisfied that the person is now equipped to…
Mental Health Connecting people to support Information about additional Mental Health support services in Camden There are a range of Mental Heath support services available in Camden. This page provides information about additional support services. To see information about the Council Mental Hea…
Additional Support Services Additional Support Services Reach Out Camden (ROC) is an alliance of charity organisations providing free, community-based mental health and wellbeing support for adults in Camden. They take a person-centred approach to support individuals with emotional, social, and p…
Mental Health Quick guidance on suicide prevention for social care practitioners Unfortunately, part of the work carried out by adult social care and mental health services may include supporting people who may consider suicide or have suicidal thoughts. Suicide is often linked to (but not always…
The Zero Suicide Alliance key facts The Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) is a collaboration of National Health Service trusts, charities, businesses and individuals who are all committed to suicide prevention in the UK and beyond. They are an alliance of people and organisations coming together around…
Urgent help for residents of Camden and Islington in crisis A one size fits all approach cannot be taken when supporting a person who may be feeling suicidal and should be dealt with on a case by case basis. For example, a person who is suicidal with an active plan may need containment and would…
The importance of direct conversation See – see the problem, Say – Say the words, Signpost – Signpost to support The Zero Suicide Alliance states that it is important to encourage people to talk about their feelings and using the correct language and how to structure your conversation will help y…
Suicide prevention services and helpful resources Suicide prevention services and helpful resources Below is a list of helpful resources regarding suicide: Camden Crisis Sanctuary - a free service open to people aged 18+ years of age who live in Camden or have visited mental health services in th…
Mental Health The joint protocol was established to help practitioners when supporting parents with mental health conditions as well as the children involved. Further information can be found in the Children’s Safeguarding and Social Work and Camden & Islington Mental Health Foundation Trust Join…
Introduction Many parents experience some difficulties regarding their mental wellbeing and these can range from mild difficulties to significant mental illness. For most, this will not affect their ability to care for their child. For some, however, their mental ill health may be serious enough…
Purpose and scope of the protocol This protocol aims to help children’s social workers, Early Help workers and mental health professionals to: understand the impact of parental mental ill health on parenting capacity and the child’s development as well as the impact on the child’s own mental heal…
Housing Matters Connecting people to support Information on housing and ASC for social care practitioners. To contact the following Teams directly, please follow these steps: Housing Benefit - 0207 974 4444 (select option 3, then option 2) Council Tax - 0207 974 4444 (select option 4, then option…
Housing Matters Quick guidance on protection of property for practitioners In line with the Care Act 2014 the council has a responsibility to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to prevent or mitigate the loss of or damage to moveable property. This includes securing the premises of an adult wh…
Camden's role and responsibility Under section 47 of the Care Act 2014 the council must take all reasonable steps to protect the property of a person who is being cared for away from their home including when a person is in hospital and in accommodation such as care homes. The council has a respo…
What is considered moveable property The Care Act 2014 states that the council has the power to enter a person’s property to ensure steps are taken to prevent or mitigate the loss of or damage to moveable property and provide temporary protection of property where it appears to be in danger of lo…
Capacity and consent If the person has capacity to consent, the council may enter the person’s property at a reasonable time with prior notice to protect moveable property. If a person lacks capacity to give consent to the council to protect moveable property or anything that is at risk of loss o…
Best interest decisions Where a person lacks capacity and there is no other suitable person to act on their behalf and the council believes that they must act in order to protect the moveable property of the person, the council will do so in the best interest of the person in accordance with sect…
Working with housing management Two people should be involved in entering a person’s home in order to protect moveable property at risk of loss or damage. Normally this should be the social worker or social care practitioner alongside the relevant housing officer or housing manager for council or…
Housing Matters Quick guidance on starting and ending tenancies Practitioners are also required to support adults with starting and ending a tenancy and may need to work with housing management to ensure that the adult receives the necessary support to do this. Guidance on Starting and Ending Tena…
Starting a tenancy Starting a tenancy A tenancy starts with an agreement between two parties. The prospective tenant has a decision about whether to accept a tenancy taking into account the tenancy conditions they would need to keep to. The landlord has a decision to make about whether or not to…
Ending a tenancy Tenancies ending Notifying landlords that a tenant is in hospital or residential care is important. It reduces risk (for example) that they will force entry out of concern the tenant hasn’t been seen. If a placement is expected to be permanent a decision about surrendering a tena…
Housing Matters Quick guidance on key safes for social care practitioners A key safe is a strong mechanical metal box that securely stores a spare key inside for use by an authorised visitor to enter an individual's home. Key safes can be provided for anyone requiring access to an individual's pro…
Assessment Assessment Key safes can be provided for anyone requiring access to a resident's property, when it is evidenced that it has become problematic for the individual to answer the door. Key safes should only be issued after the following options have been considered. If the individual: has…
Location of key safes Location of key safes Individuals should always be advised that the addition of a key safe MAY render their home and contents insurance invalid. If the key safe provides access to communal areas in the property this may result in ALL residences being at risk of their insuran…
Ordering a key safe Ordering a key safe Depending on the type of property, key safes can be ordered in different ways. If it is a Camden Council property , Housing Repairs will install the key safe. Email: [email protected] If it is a Housing Association property , practitioners need to email the…
Key safe codes Key safe codes The individual (or representative) is responsible for setting the code, which will be needed at the time of fitting. It is recommended that between 5-7 characters including one letter should be used. The individual should be encouraged not to use an obvious code e.g.…
Key safe codes (practitioner's responsibility) Key safe codes (practitioner's responsibility) If such an event should occur where you need to arrange the installation of a key safe and provide a third party with access you can: Create the key safe code yourself and record this on Mosaic, in the s…
Community Equipment Update Community Equipment Update Following the closure of NRS Healthcare, we are pleased to confirm that Camden Council, along with seven other boroughs, has entered a new partnership with provider Provide Care Solutions Ltd (Provide) . Together, we form the North London Equi…
Housing Matters Information on housing options available in Camden for adults with care and support needs Camden Council offers a range of housing options for adults with care and support needs. This include care homes, sheltered housing, extra care housing, hostels and supported living accommodat…
Easy Read An easy read guide on finding housing is available for residents. It includes information on supported living accommodation, sheltered housing and drop in sessions. Further easy read guidance on housing can also be found on the housing wiki page
Extra care housing What is Extra Care housing? Extra Care (EC) housing supports adults to maintain and develop their independence within the community. It can prevent an unnecessary move to a care home, and enhance the quality of life for residents. EC housing combines the advantages of high qual…
Referral process for Extra Care housing Eligibility Tenants eligible for the scheme will be residents who: are deemed to have Ordinary Residence in Camden as defined by the Care Act 2014 have been assessed as having an eligible need under the Care Act; are legally entitled and are able to indepen…
Mental Health Supported Living Pathway The Mental Health Pathway is currently under review therefore will be changing in the following months. The Mental Health Pathway provides support for people who's current mental wellbeing greatly impacts their ability to stay safe, healthy and manage everyd…
Mental Health Pathway referrals Referrals for the Mental Health Pathway are through the Camden and Islington Mental Health Service and details should be recorded on Mosaic. The funding is agreed at fortnightly mental health funding panel meetings. The co-ordination of placements for named project…
Adult Pathway services (Homelessness) There are a range of hostels and supported housing schemes in Camden for single homeless people with support needs. These are provided by housing associations, voluntary organisations and the Council. Together, they form a co-ordinated Adult Pathway that supp…