The Homeshare Day Care Scheme works with volunteers who open their homes to provide regular support to the carers of adults. The scheme provides carers with a break from their caring role by looking after the cared-for person in the volunteer’s home, in small groups or as individuals.

The service may be used on a regular basis between the hours of 10.30am and 3pm, or in emergencies.

Volunteer carers normally manage a group of three or four people.

for carers of adults

Local service (Hackney).

The volunteers provide lunch for which there is a charge of £3.60 and transport may be provided. Volunteers also receive reimbursements to cover expenses.

Anyone wishing to use the scheme will need to check that they meet the eligibility criteria (see http://www.hackney.gov.uk/carers-homeshare-eligibility-criteria.htm).

Referrals are received from various sources including carers centres, voluntary organisations, GPs, Hackney Community Services adult teams as well as individual carers.

To apply complete the initial contact form (download at http://www.hackney.gov.uk/carers-homeshare.htm) and send it to the Homeshare Day Care Scheme coordinator (see contact details above).

Once a referral is received the coordinator will make contact with the named referrer.

The coordinator will visit the carer and the cared-for person to make an assessment for a suitable placement. Some of the things discussed during the asssessment are mobility, transport, health, eating and drinking and toileting and continence

There could be a time delay between this visit and a suitable placement becoming available.

Once a placement has been identified the coordinator will arrange a visit for the cared-for person and the carer to meet the volunteer carer and other users of the scheme.

Reviews will take place six weeks after the commencement of the placement at the carer’s home and the volunteer carer’s home.

08/06/2011