Guides and Information

Adult Care Shared Care Policy

1.      Scope

• Shared Care is a package of care & support that includes more than one type of support that helps a service user transition from non-residential to residential support and vice versa.
• The Share Care transition could be in place for up to 3 months.
• Shared Care should not be used for a combined package of respite and other non-residential services provided in the community, such as direct payments or supported living services etc.
• This policy will cover shared care service provision for eligible service users.
  
  

2.      Eligibility

• An assessment must be carried out to determine needs and eligibility for this care package.
• Service user must agree to the services being considered as part of the shared care package.
• The mental capacity assessment, best interests and deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) processes should be applied as appropriate to the service user’s assessed needs.
• Service user must agree to the proposed timeframe for transition.
  
  

3.      Service Provision

• The shared care split should last no longer than 3 months and a review must be planned accordingly.
•  The % time split between the non-residential and residential services will be based on assessed needs and required outcomes of the service user.
• It may be necessary to provide overnight respite on days of the week designated for community care.  If PCC is paying for the full week in the residential care home then overnight respite stays should utilise the days set aside for community care in the same care home that have already been paid for.
• At the end of the shared care arrangement a permanent arrangement must be decided for either non-residential services or residential/nursing care home placement.
  
  

4.      Charging Policy

As the care package is a combination of non-residential and residential care, the charging rules that will be applied will depend on the % split between these services.  It will be the responsibility of the person or their financial representative/responsible person to inform the DWP about the split in their service provision so that they are paid the appropriate benefits.

After the transition period charging will be applied relevant to the service being received.