Carers Active Listening Line
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CASS - Caring Active Support Service. April 2010

Originally called the Sitting Service, this flexible responsive service is now providing Personal Support Assistants who will do a range of tasks to support the person they are assisting. The service provides:

• respite for carers to ensure they can leave their cared-for person with a caring person who will support them in range of tasks and activities to suit them
• support for disabled people of any age to assist them with general task such as shopping, preparing meals, going out to activities or sharing activities at home
• support for isolated older people who need help to undertake activities both at home and out of the home such as going out, playing games, having someone with them to go to an event.

Some of the things they can do include: chatting, playing a game, reading, taking an older person shopping or to the library, going with someone to an event or meeting, or helping someone with a disability to prepare a menu and then cook their evening meal. If you have a particular request, please ask and the service will try to respond positively. No task is too difficult or too simple.

The Personal Support Workers, who have all provided references and all been CRB checked, are a wonderful group of kind, capable, warm and understanding people. You do not have to become an employer to use the service as CASS does all the checks and payroll services.

The service is currently available in Winchester, Basingstoke and southern Test Valley. However do make enquiries if you live elsewhere in Hampshire, as it is flexible and some PSAs are prepared to travel further or we may be able to recruit someone who lives near you.

Access to the service is as simple as a telephone call to Carers Together. You do not have to go through Adult Services (formerly Social Services) or their Contact Centre. There are no eligibility criteria, only one of need. There is no client or carer’s assessment. There is no financial assessment, however there is a charge of £9.25 an hour but with no restriction on the number of hours required. We provide guidance and support, but no personal care can be undertaken.

All carers need to take a break sometimes - this service means they can leave their cared-for person with peace of mind and confidence. Individuals who live alone or need some help can request the support they require.

The service is usually available any time or day to suit the individual. Exact days and hours are arranged between the person themselves and the Personal Support Assistant for example it may be possible to cover anything from 1 hour to overnight by prior arrangement.

Please feel free to contact the CASS Team about any help you may need - you may be surprised at what we can do. Someone is available every day Monday to Friday to take your call and discuss what we can do together. Contact the office - details above.

In the meantime please look at THE LEAFLET

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