4.3.4 Reablement

1. The Reablement Service

The Reablement Service is a multi-disciplinary team consisting of: a team manager, team leaders, reablement support workers. The team links in with occupational therapists, social workers and health colleagues.

Team working hours are between 7 am and 10 pm

Outside of these hours, support will provided by the Emergency duty team and the Out of Hours Homecare service

Reablement is provided also within the Heatherstones unit which contains12 apartments that are designed to give adults the time and space to adjust, after being in hospital. Referrals and enquiries about the Reablement Service should be made by contacting Gateway to Care.

2. Definition of Reablement

Reablement consists of services and support provided to adults with care and support needs in their own homes for a specific period of time, usually up to six weeks. Reablement services promote wellbeing and independence by supporting adults and encouraging them to regain, maintain or develop skills and capabilities in daily living, instilling the confidence to carry them out independently. The aim of reablement is to support people in taking greater control of their lives, thus eliminating or minimising the need for further intervention.

Reablement provides support that is tailored to the needs of the adult, focusing on their strengths and abilities and working alongside them to see how they can best get around areas where they are struggling, including seeing if aids and/or adaptations can help them overcome difficulties.  The person is encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves; reablement has a ‘do with’ not ‘do for’ ethos to assist the person in rebuilding skills and confidence and gaining new skills. Progress against individual goals is tracked by regular visits from the team.

The objectives of the service are:

• to help adults regain, maintain or develop skills and capabilities in daily living in their own homes;
• to maximise long term independence and wellbeing;
• to remove or minimise the need for ongoing support.

The reablement service is free for up to six weeks regardless of people’s financial status or whether they meet the threshold set by the national eligibility criteria. Reablement is usually a time limited intervention, but the period of time for which the support is provided may depend on the needs of and outcomes for the individual. When it is provided beyond six weeks, it can be charged for or it can continue to be provided free of charge beyond six weeks if there are clear benefits to the adult and, in many cases, a reduced risk of hospital admission.

Where an adult is considered likely to benefit from reablement, they are supported to access the service. If they have already begun the assessment process, it may be paused to allow time for the benefit of a period of reablement to be realised so that the final assessment of need (and decision about eligibility (see Assessment and Eligibility chapter) is based on the remaining needs that have not been met through reablement.

3. Criteria for the Reablement Service

Anyone who is over 18 and could benefit from a short period of intensive and focused support to maximise independent living. Reablement services are often helpful to people recovering from an illness or a fall or who are experiencing a major life change. Those who may not benefit from reablement services and who may be excluded from them include people with advanced dementia, complex neurological / cognitive deficits, high levels of risk, terminal illness and those involved in drug and alcohol misuse.

Referrals will come from the community teams and via the Gateway to Care Service, the Hospital Discharge Team (see Hospital Discharge chapter), GPs, or community teams following initial assessment.