Project Description
Epiphany can assist in a variety of ways to ensure your care journey is seamless and stress free. Our private alternative route to adult care provision; provides a highly professional service, with the support and information you need every step of the way. Having an Epiphany representative ensures you have a dedicated and committed advocate to co-ordinate and facilitate the care you need, precisely when you need it and in accordance with your personalised wishes and preferences. Our holistic approach leaves no stone unturned with the comprehensive nature of our assessments capturing risks, so as to fully minimise well-being and welfare. At Epiphany, our ultimate goal is to facilitate care without compromise, care without confusion and care without stress, via our Adult Care Consultants who are experts within the adult care sector and consistently achieve positive outcomes that enhance quality of life.
Our range of services are divided into four categories and include Private independent social work advice and intervention to act on your behalf and in accordance with your expressed wishes so as to achieve positive outcomes for our vulnerable clients.
The adult social care arena can be complex to navigate and we are initially able to provide advice and information to sign post you in the right direction, be it your local services who provide a free service or privately via Epiphany. We are able to advice on a vast range of social care issues from eligibility criteria to resources and benefits you may be entitled to, how to source the best care home for your needs, as well as how to resolve complex care related scenario’s you are faced with.
We initially provide a free 15 minute evaluation of your situation and to ascertain your concerns which can be followed up with a more thorough consultation as required. Alternatively, we are happy to redirect you to your local social services department or voluntary organisations that may be able to assist you. Being equipped with the right information and advice enables informed decisions to be made with confidence and the reassurance that the right decisions are being made
Knowledge is power and at Epiphany our level of experience and insight ensures we are in a strong position to advocate on your behalf. We can empower you with relevant information and knowledge to enable you to advocate independently, accompany you to provide support or we can actively advocate on your behalf via representation; to seek the outcomes you are pursuing. Assistance with complaints, challenging unsatisfactory decisions or accompanying you to a meeting to ensure your voice is heard, and listened to. We will always provide honest impartial advice pertaining to the feasibility of success for the care outcome you are pursuing, in line with pertinent and relevant legislation.
The Care Act 2014 also states that Local authorities have a duty to involve people in decision making pertaining to their care and support. Irrespective of the complexity of a person’s needs, local authorities are required to help people express their wishes, feelings and support them in weighing up their options, and assist them in making their own decisions.
The advocacy duty will apply from the point of first contact with the local authority and at any subsequent stage of the assessment, planning, care review, safeguarding enquiry or safeguarding adult review. If the authority determines a person has care and support needs, then a judgement must be made as to whether that person has substantial difficulty in being involved. Where there is not an appropriate individual to support them, an independent advocate must be appointed to support and represent the person for the purpose of assisting their involvement.
An assessment is free via social services however, due to the increasing pressure on the public sector it is not feasible for vulnerable clients to be seen straight away
Our assessments are holistic in nature to ensure we fully encapsulate your overall needs and we are subsequently able to advice on the most appropriate level of support to meet your identified needs.
With your consent, we will liaise with your GP or any other professionals involved in your care, so as to work in a multi-disciplinary fashion that facilitates full insight into all aspects of your needs. Underpinning our assessments is a risk analysis which ensures that all risk factors are clearly identified. We critically evaluate all the information gathered and will always provide logical common-sensical recommendations, with the objective of alleviating risks and maximising health, safety and well -being. Our assessments will also enlighten you as to your position in line with The Care Act’s statutory eligibility needs criteria which is used by social services to determine eligibility to service provision. Our assessments also fully evaluate your home environment and its long-term suitability for your needs.
Upon completion of your assessment clearly outlining your needs; you are provided with a copy and subsequently free to pursue your own care arrangements. Alternatively, Epiphany is happy to assist you with the next stage of your care journey via support planning.
Upon identifying your need’s, we are able to undertake support planning on your behalf. A support plan is a detailed document outlining identified needs alongside specifically how each need will be met. For example, a need for assistance with personal care would require the provision of a carer to visit at an agreed time to undertake the task. We pay great attention to detail within our support planning so as to ensure the care delivered is precisely in line with every client’s personal preferences and expectations. Once you conclude on your preferences for service delivery, we are able to act on your behalf to procure your desired services in accordance with your support plan. Epiphany can assist as much or as little as you desire in sourcing the right caliber of people to provide the care you require.
We understand that each individual is unique and should have their care delivered in a manner that ensures dignity and respect, alongside expressed preferences while maintaining full control Therefore upon completion of your support plan the next step is to identify the right care provider for you. Procurement entails the process of seeking and identifying a suitable service provider to meet needs identified within the assessment and the ensuing support plan; which stipulates how those needs are to be specifically met.
Epiphany can provide advice and information about appropriate providers to meet your specified needs in accordance with your personal wishes and preferences. We provide you with the relevant information within a report enabling you to pursue your preferred choices or we can take advice from you as to your preferred providers and actively facilitate your preferred option on your behalf.
Services We Facilitate
We are able to facilitate the procurement of an appropriate service providers for you to select from; be it a home care agency or directly employing appropriate carers who have been vetted and hold a current DBS. We encourage clients and their families to be actively involved in the selection process. Epiphany Currently provide our concierge service, with our staff providing support and assistance with all activities of daily living apart from personal care. The provision of personal care falls into the category of a regulated service and can only be legally delivered when a care provider is registered with CQC.
Domiciliary care services can be facilitated via a home care agency registered by CQC or via an introduction agency where self-employed carers are matched to your requirements for you to directly employ. This entails a contract between client and the carer with the relationship managed between you independently.
However, in comparison a domiciliary homecare agency is registered and inspected by CQC and must consistently evidence that stringent requirements are being met in line with expected CQC care standards. This provides a safeguard to clients and has the added reassurance that the overall management and service provision of your chosen homecare agency; must adhere to and meet CQC requirements so as to maintain registration.
| Domiciliary Care | Introduction Agency |
| Staff can be employed or self- employed | Staff self employed |
| CQC Registered | No registration required |
| Duty to ensure staff training | Staff accountable for own training |
| Public liability insurance | Staff accountable for own liability |
| Contract is with agency | Contract is with individual carer |
| Emergency cover feasible | Need to manage emergencies |
Should a residential or nursing placement present as the most appropriate option we are available to assist every step of the way. Our level of expertise and insight enables us to research and present you with suitable care homes able to meet your identified needs and cater for your individual preferences. Our comprehensive assessment ensures that your level of need is clearly identified and outlined so as to facilitate a weekly cost that is proportionate to your specific needs. In addition to the location and weekly cost of your chosen home, there are a variety of significant factors that should also impinge upon your final decision. Above all we are able ensure a smooth and seamless transition into your residential or nursing care home. For self – funders an assessment at the point of entry into a care home is essential in providing clarity and reassurance as to whether your needs are in line with the national eligibility criteria. This determines the likelihood of social services funding for your care once your personal finances deplete to the funding threshold and you no longer have the resources to fund your care privately.
Reviews are a functional pre-requisite to ensuring the care being provided is of the expected caliber and standard. Our detailed support plans should circumvent the potential for any confusion pertaining to expectations.
Reviewing Service Provision
Once your desired support plan is implemented it is recommended that the service is reviewed within six weeks in line with statutory requirements. This is to ensure all expectations are being met on both sides. Epiphany are able to undertake a review to ensure the best interests of clients and make relevant recommendations to address any arising concerns or issues.
Unscheduled Review
Following the review, we can be contacted at any time after the six weeks to assist and intervene, as and when required in resolve any arising concerns or conflict.
Annual Review
Should the arrangements function effectively and efficiently in line with your desired outcomes we are able to undertake an annual review on your behalf as you wish.
Troubleshooting
Epiphany are able to review all aspects of any care provision you may already have in place. We are able to trouble shoot and resolve any concerns with your care provision, determine how current services can be further enhanced or reconfigured to facilitate greater cost effectiveness while ensuring your needs and well-being remain paramount and that vulnerable clients are afforded the quality of care required and deserved Don’t suffer in silence or uncertainty about raising validated concerns as Epiphany can advocate on your behalf to ensure positive outcomes.
NHS continuing healthcare consists of a package of ongoing care that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS. Eligibility is determined by an individual being found to have a ‘primary health need’… Such care is provided to an individual aged 18 or over to meet needs that have arisen as a result of disability, accident or illness. Continuing healthcare is not means tested as adult care services are. Clients meeting the criteria do not have to contribute towards the cost of the care provided which is provided free under the NHS.
Eligibility is determined by completion of a full an assessment completed by a health professional and social worker. An initial checklist assessment is completed first to ascertain whether clients have a sufficient level of health needs to potentially meet the criteria. Epiphany are ab le to complete the checklist with clients to ascertain whether there are sufficient health needs to facilitate a full NHS assessment.
We understand time is precious and the heightened stress of dealing with the conflicting demands of an adult with care needs alongside work and family commitments. Epiphany are able to provide balance by taking on the numerous tasks associated with ensuring the welfare of a vulnerable adult. We can act as an interface between yourself and social services or arrange and manage the care of the vulnerable adult privately. Being instructed by you enables us to step into your shoes and effectively represent you due to our level of expertise and understanding, as well as ability to advocate for and ensure the best interests of our clients.
Acting on your instructions we can instigate a referral to social services for a statutory assessment and carers assessment in line with the Care Act 2014, provide representation at assessment to ensure all the right information is relayed and levels of risks made clearly prevalent. Following assessment, we can also play a role in ensuring the support plan is adequately personalised and in line with your specified care needs. Alternatively, as some local authorities now charge those with savings in excess of £2,250 (self-funders) a fee for procurement/brokerage, we are happy to undertake this on your behalf.
With provision via social services there is often the choice of: Personal budget allocated via Direct Payments to clients to purchase care independently, a personal budget managed by the authority to purchase care on your behalf from private or in-house domiciliary care provision. We are able to assist with Direct payments to ensure you are able to expediently employ the right caliber of staff to meet your needs and ensure your allocated funds are effectively spent from the outset rather than start accumulating due to difficulties identifying a suitable carer. This is particularly prevalent as social services can claw back funds that are not spent by the end of the financial year.
Entails all of the above on a fully private basis. Liaising with all relevant professionals to ensure all the necessary care and support is appropriately addressed provided and maintained. Support planning and facilitating care provision, reviewing and ensuring client satisfaction as well as addressing any arising concerns or crisis situations that might emerge. This is an ideal scenario where family and support networks are struggling to find sufficient time to support a vulnerable adult. Due to our experience and knowledge of the care sector, we can ensure you have the relevant information required to make sound decisions. This provides you with peace of mind that important tasks are being addressed, while alleviating your stress and allowing you quality time with your loved one. Ensuring the health and well-being of a vulnerable adults support network is imperative and the reassurance that Epiphany provides by alleviating stress can be invaluable.
We can assist as much or as little as you require, either fully representing you and your interest’s or supporting and enabling you to do so. All aspects of care are effectively, facilitated and managed in line with the instructions of our clients, in a manner that ensures that the best interests of the client remain paramount.
We operate a visiting service which is ideal both for those within their own homes or in a residential /nursing placement or supported housing. This is ideal to reassure those who are geographically remote from their vulnerable relative or are overwhelmed with the conflicting demands of work and family. We undertake welfare visits to any vulnerable client in any location, simply to ensure all is well and that the standard of care provided is adequate and appropriately meeting needs. A report is provided outlining our findings and any welfare recommendations which we are then able to instigate to ensu8re the best interests of our clients
