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Core Care Standards

People who use the services of the Trust have the right and expectation to the following Core Care Standards:

Click on one of the topics above to learn more.

More information and 'waiting well'

Please see the Your Care booklet to help understand what services can be provided to help meet your needs. 

While you wait for an appointment, you may find the waiting well page of this website helpful. Please also take a look at the Recovery and Wellbeing Centre section of this website.

Assessment - we will find out with you what your needs are

Assessment is the way we find out about how you are and what difficulties you might have, work out what treatment or support you might need and how we can help. Assessments are carried out by trained health professionals. 

We will talk to you about your situation, any difficulties you have, discuss what you would like to happen, and what’s important to you.

The assessment process may vary depending on your needs and the service you are referred to. We may sometimes be asked for an opinion (a consultation) but may not need or be able to fully assess your needs.

Waiting for an appointment - You may have been given an appointment to meet with a member of staff from our services. Please read our Waiting Well guide which gives hints and tips about keeping well whilst waiting to see someone

We will find out with you what your needs are

When you are referred to our services, we will arrange for someone to assess your situation and work out with you what your needs are. This will be someone who knows about the type of difficulties you have.

We will:

  • Listen to you, and hear what you say
  • Involve you in your assessment as much as you want or are able to, and explain what happens in a way that makes sense to you
  • Involve other people or agencies if we need specialist advice or information
  • Find out about any assessments or tests you’ve already had, and try not to ask you the same questions again
  • Include information from parents/carers, relatives, or others (with your agreement if you are able to consent) 
  • We will ask about who is important to you and if we can contact them to talk about how we support you.  We will only do this if you give us permission
  • We have learnt over the years that who you live with and who is important in your life (this is both family and friends) are key to working through any health conditions that you have
  • It may seem easier not to tell your family and friends that you accessing help, we find in the majority of cases it is a relief when you talk about things with these important people in your life so please tell them and expect our team to ask to speak to them
  • Being a carer or parent can often be incredibly stressful as well as rewarding, we will ask you about how this is for you

Think about:

  • What’s the background to the situation you are in? 
  • What are the things that worry you at the moment?
  • What are the most important things you’d like to deal with?  

Find out more

These sites have online help pages and telephone helplines for you to be able to call, both in and out of hours and also you can read about getting help.

Care planning - you will have a clear care plan

A plan of care is something that describes in an easy, accessible way the services and support being provided, and should be put together and agreed with you through the process of care planning.

Agreeing a care plan with your health professional means being able to talk about your situation, how it affects your life, what you want to do, and what you can do for yourself with the right support.  It's about being given all the information you need, being listened to, being able to ask questions, and feeling able to say what's really important to you.  The plan that is agreed should be the result of this process.

Care plans will also recognise that people can be in control of their lives and can regain a meaningful life despite a serious physical or mental health problem.  Staying well and wellbeing approaches, and health promotion initiatives such as smoking cessation, physical health etc. will be an important part of this, as well as Recovery Tools and techniques such as Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP). 

You will always be involved in your plan and receive a copy of it.  Ask your health professional for a copy to take away with you.

The care plan is a way of working out with you what we are going to do to help you.  We want to help you to be as well as you can be.  We write these plans down in something called a care plan which is how we can make sure everybody is doing what is agreed. 

You have a right to:

  • have someone else (of your choice) involved to help you consider what is being said or discussed
  • be involved in putting the plan together as much as you are able and want to
  • be offered a copy of your care plan, which should be in a format that is most useful to you
  • discuss what is in the plan so that everyone involved understands it and what everyone's roles and responsibilities are
  • talk to someone about the plan if you disagree with anything in it
  • have someone who is responsible for making sure the plan happens
  • a regular review of the plan and your goals/needs

What should be in your care plan:

  • Your care plan should include all the things we have agreed with you.  This will be personal to you and should make sense to you. 

Your care plan will include:

  • Why are we doing this? (needs/goals)
  • What are we planning to achieve? (aims and objectives)
  • How are we going to do it? (actions)
  • Who will do it? (responsibilities)
  • Where will it be done? (times, locations)
  • When will it be done by? (timescales)
  • How do we measure that we've done it? (outcomes and achievements) 
  • Numbers to contact (your main contact and any others, including out of hours if needed)

What your care plan will look like

Your care plan might be in a letter or on a form or in another way that suits you.  This might include any of the examples shown below.  Please click on any of the links below to view the example forms.

Many people will have their care plan in a folder like the one shown, we can email your care plan to you, please confirm and check your email address and ask the team to do this. 

Your Care Plan

You can download a copy of the Your Care booklet to read more about your Care Planning and how you can be involved in making things work for you.

The booklet contains lots of useful phone numbers and links to websites which might be helpful as you work out what works best for you.

You might also look at:

Writing Good Care Plans is a booklet provided to staff which gives information and advice about how to write good care plans: care plans that are clear, accessible, developed in partnership, and meet the needs identified.

The booklet is structured into different sections and provides information about Care Planning Standards, Person Centred Planning, Managing your own Care Plan, Safety Planning, Involving Families and Carers, Communication and Choice.

Any plan of care needs to be monitored and evaluated to see how it’s working. It will get out of date in time, and needs to be reviewed regularly to make sure it’s still right. It’s important to check that you are happy with the way things are going.

Reviews should be designed around the needs of the person concerned, and should include contributions from everyone involved in the care plan. Review is an ongoing process, and not necessarily a single meeting.

We want to make sure that your care plan is implemented, flexible, regularly reviewed for effectiveness, changed if it turns out it's not working, and kept up to date to support your changing needs. Reviews are the way we do this.  Having a copy of your care plan with you when you attend appointments is a good way for you to refresh what your goals are and what you want to achieve.  The important message is review your care plan constantly, that way you will always be progressing.

When held:

  • at least once a year, or more often, based on need
  • if the person or anyone involved in providing a service asks for a review urgently if:
  • the person wishes to withdraw from their care plan, or part of it, or discharges themselves from hospital against medical advice         
  • there are specific circumstances where informal carers or relatives should be told if you are in a difficult place, why we do this is to help them support you and achieve wellness.  There will be periods when you are in a dark place or sad place and the people who are important to you are key to helping you move forward        
  • there is any sudden major change in their mental health, personal or social circumstances. This can sometimes be a sign that you are in a period of instability and we need to review your plan with you and the person that is important to you

How:

  • Organised by a health professional        
  • Agreed in advance (date, time and place)
  • Held in a way that means people can get the most out of the review meeting       

What:

  • Updating the care plan and services provided based on what needs and goals we’ve identified with you
  • Recorded and our joint plan shared with the people who are involved with providing your care        

Including such as:

  • Recent Progress and your achievements       
  • Physical and Mental Health. We will contact your GP before your review to make sure we know about any relevant treatment
  • Treatment, including medicines prescribed and being taken, and any associated testing. We will reconcile  medication in our records at least every 12 months to make sure we know what you've been prescribed 
  • How we will support you and others if you have specific needs such as neglect or harm from others       
  • Day time activities
  • Family/Carer perspectives and how we will ensure they are included
  • Your safety plan and how we work together to keep you safe        
  • Any legal requirements
  • Ongoing support
  • Anything else in the care plan that is important to you        

Your review

A review is a chance to see how the plan is working, and your care plan should be reviewed regularly with you, at least once a year. Before your review, think about how you feel about how things are going:

  • Are the services working? 
  • Are they the right services?
  • Are they helping you to reach your aims?
  • What else would help?

Click here for the 'How well is the plan working?' grid which your health professional may use with you.  Or you can download a copy of the Your Care booklet.

Don't forget, you can bring someone with you to a review who knows that you think.  You might also like to read our information leaflet on Advocacy.

Click here to see our leaflet - How to get more out of your appointment with your psychiatrist 

Co-ordination - your care will be co-ordinated

Any care process is improved by having a co-ordination role. Co-ordination of care means that a named worker will oversee your care and treatment, keep in close contact with you, and liaise with others involved.

The way co-ordination works will be different in different services:

  • For people with a mental health problem, you will have either a CPA Care Co-ordinator or a lead professional
  • For children or young people you might have a Lead Professional if you need the support of the Common Assessment Framework Children (CAF)
  • For people with a learning disability, you may have a Care Co-ordinator if you need CPA

Whatever the system or name, they are there to make sure that services work for you, and that you have continuity in your care, treatment and support because of good communication between you and all of those who provide it.

Who:

  • Having a named person and their contact details known to everyone involved
  • A shared understanding of the co-ordinators role and responsibilities.

What:

  • Keeping in touch with the person and their family/carers
  • Knowing about the situation, and any changes, and keeping others informed
  • Making sure there is a care plan which is reviewed regularly
  • Handing over the role as necessary to someone else
  • Working in partnership with Primary Care, Social Care, and other agencies.

For you (the person using the service) this role would include making sure that:

  • your plan is agreed and happens
  • your plan is regularly reviewed and updated
  • you and your relatives/carers are involved (as much as you want/are able to be) in everything that happens
  • everyone involved in the care plan knows what’s happening.

Care Co-ordination 

Co-ordination of care means that a named worker will co-ordinate your care and treatment, keep in close contact with you, and liaise with others involved.  Sometimes they have extra responsibilities, such as Care Co-ordinator's do under the Care Programme Approach (CPA). The way co-ordination works will be different in different services.

You can download a copy of the Your Care booklet to read more about Care Care Co-ordination. 

Discharge and transfer - we will make sure your transfer or discharge works well

We want to make sure that if you need to move between services, or when you no longer need our support, that the process works smoothly and well for you. This might be when you leave hospital, change staff or services, or leave a service.

Any transition, whether discharge or transfer, could be unsettling.  However, when done well it can be empowering and a positive experience because it means you are moving forward.

It’s important that the process is clear and that everyone understands it and you are actively involved with the important people in your life.


 Discharges and transfers will:

  • Be planned and prepared for
  • Always involve the person in planning them and those they have nominated as important to them
  • Be co-ordinated by a named professional
  • Ask for your feedback as you leave one service and move to another 
  • Inclusive in how they involve everyone including other organisations or services where needed, such as general or specialist inpatient services
  • Record any information that’s been transferred, which is your clinical records  

 

The plan will include:

  • The reason for the discharge or transfer
  • Where from, where to, when and how
  • What is the agreed plan 
  • How will we know that we have achieved our shared goals for a safe transition or discharge
  • Who needs to know
  • Any medicines that were used and whether there have been any changes to the prescription
  • Any support needed if the person has a caring role       

 

Your Care and Discharges and Transfers.

We want to make sure that if you need to move between services, or when you no longer need our support, that the process works smoothly and well for you.  This might be when you leave hospital, change your staff or services, or leave a service. It is important that the process is clear and that everyone understands it.

Click here to download the Your Care booklet and read more about Discharges and Transfers

Read the helpful guide from MIND about leaving hospital after a mental health crisis or the MIND guide on Planning for Recovery after leaving hospital.

Families and carers - we will work with families and carers

Families, parents, and carers are often a vital part of the life of someone who needs the services of the Trust, and they can be the people who are keeping them well and living in the community. Where the person being supported is a child or young person, parents and families are an essential part of the process. The Trust values the role that families and carers play as partners in care, wants to support this role, and work with them for the wellbeing of the person.

If children or young people are supporting a relative as a young carer, they are likely to be a child in need.

Where carer/relatives relationships are not identified as supportive, the individual will be supported to decide how this will be managed

We also recognise that caring for someone who is unwell, or has problems, can have an impact on the lives of families and carers, and we want to help identify any needs they have, and to support their wellbeing wherever we can.

Who is a carer

‘A Carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support’

Carer and Family Handbook

Families, parents, and carers are often a vital part of the life of someone who needs the services of the Trust.  We understand that caring for someone who is unwell, or has difficulties, can have an impact on the lives of families and carers and we want to help work out any needs they have, and to support their well-being wherever we can.  If you have family or friends who help you with day to day needs, or support you emotionally, there are ways in which they can get help themselves.

Support

Carers in Derbyshire is a website dedicated to providing support and information to Carers living in Derbyshire. The website is packed with information about how you can get help and includes information about mental health, learning disabilities, young carers and much more. 

Derbyshire Carers Association provides advice and support for mental health carers in Derbyshire and Derby, and carers of other people in Derbyshire and Derby.

Derby City - find out about Talking Points, an opportunity to talk face to face with a social care worker or contact and Creative Carers in Derby City for support and advice and a chance to take a break and meet other carers.

For older adults in Derbyshire try contacting The Derbyshire Dementia Support Service on 01332 208845.  In Derby City call Derby City Dementia Support on 01332 497640 or call the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 

Derby City and South Derbyshire Mental Health Carers Forum
A pro-active, self-help group that has been supporting mental health carers for over 20 years. 

The group is run by Carers for Carers and it offers a warm welcome, free refreshments, and an opportunity to meet others Carers, chat, and share experiences. You can also hear from guest speakers who join the group to provide information, advice and support. 

New members are always welcome and please see the forum's poster for all the information about meeting dates, times and the venue. 

For further information please contact Sandra Austin on  07779 107 087 or email sandra.austin99@gmail.com.

 

Advocacy and Advice for Carers

There may be times when you need help, or someone to speak on your behalf, for example if you're having difficulty accessing benefits or services. An advocate is someone who can help make sure people listen and understand what you need to say.  Click here to read about Advocacy Services in Derbyshire and Derby City.

Carers UK has a free advice line for carers. Call 0808 808 7777 or visit the Carers UK website for advice. Carers UK doesn't provide an advocacy service, but can give you information on where to go for help.

You can also call Carers Direct on 0300 123 1053, they provide free, confidential information and advice for carers. Lines are open 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays), 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines and mobiles.

The Herbert Protocol initiative is named after George Herbert, a Second World War veteran of the Normandy landings, who lived with dementia and repeatedly went missing from his care home whilst trying to return home.

The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme being introduced by Derbyshire Constabulary and other agencies which encourages carers to compile useful information which could be used in the event of a vulnerable person going missing.

Carers, family members and friends or professionals can complete the form in advance.

It is a form which records all vital details, such as medication required, mobile numbers, places previously located, a photograph etc which will help locate the person if they ever go missing. Click here to find out more about the Herbert Protocol

Young Carers are...

children and young people who look after someone in their family who has an illness, a disability, or is affected by mental ill-health or substance misuse. 

Young Carers are children and young people under the age of 18 who regularly care for someone within the family with a physical illness or disability, mental health issues or alcohol or drug dependency. 

Young Carers may have little time for themselves and are often unable to attend after school activities, go on school trips or socialise with friends. 

Services for Young Carers

Derbyshire Carers Association have a service for Young Carers in Derbyshire and Young Carers can get support and advice from Derby City Council. These organisations can help Young Carers find help and advice and also offer opportunities to meet other Young Carers.

Triangle of Care Membership Scheme

Triangle of Care logoDerbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is part of the Triangle of Care: Carers Included Membership Scheme run by the Carers Trust.  We have been awarded two stars by the Carers Trust for our work with Carers and Families.   Visit the Triangle of Care website for more information.

The six key standards state that:

1) Carers and the essential role they play are identified at first contact or as soon as possible thereafter

2) Staff are ‘carer aware’ and trained in carer engagement strategies

3) Policy and practice protocols re confidentiality and sharing information are in place

4) Defined post(s) responsible for carers are in place

5) A carer introduction to the service and staff is available, with a relevant range of information across the acute care pathway

6) A range of carer support services is available

When people access our services we respect their rights to confidentiality, sometimes this means we cannot share information with carers and families.  However, sharing information is a key part of how we provide better, more effective services that are co-ordinated around the needs of the person and we encourage the sharing of information wherever possible. 

We have produced a leaflet which explains the benefits of sharing information with family and carers and this includes a form which can be completed about what types of information you are happy to share.   If you choose to complete this form it is also helpful if it is shared with your health professional.

Sharing Information with Family and Carers Booklet

Advance statement about information sharing and involvement of family/carers

The Who Cares? newsletter is sent out to carers of people using our mental health services.

Click on one of the links below to view an issue of the newsletter.

If you would like a copy of any previous editions please contact our CPA, Carers and Core Care Standards Co-ordinator on 07824 596690.

Carers Champions

We want to provide the best support possible to Carers who use our Services. The Carers Champions are a network of staff members located around our healthcare services who are leading on Carers issues. They are a local link point for staff and Carers to get information and advice.

Click here to view our list of current Carers Champions.

Involvement and choice - you will be involved as much as you want and are able to be

Services only work when the people who use them are equal partners in the care process.

We will take into account peoples history and culture, particularly around communication and access, and respect.

The service will protect your rights, as well as those of other people, and will protect you and others from harm wherever possible.

We will always try to make sure that people are involved as much as they want and are able to be, and have choices wherever possible.

We want to support you to make informed choices through:

  • taking part in planning your own care and understanding the care, treatment and support choices you have
  • consider the range of options and then you can make your choice to achieve your shared goals 
  • having information to help you make informed choices and decisions about things like psychological therapy and medication
  • being involved in working out what circumstances make your health worse, and using advance decisions if you want to, to say what you would like to happen
  • having family and carers involved in decisions about your care when appropriate

Sometimes your ability to make decisions and understand the impact of them can fluctuate.  We will take this into account and ask you questions or your thoughts at different times of the day or in different stages of your life.  This is really important that we give you the opportunity to really think through decisions even when you might be unwell.  If you are not able to make decisions, we will help to protect and empower you.

For local Advocacy services, please see below under 'Advocacy'

“You have the right to make choices about your NHS care and to information to support these choices. The options available to you will develop over time and depend on your individual needs.” “You have the right to be involved in discussions and decisions about your healthcare, and to be given information to enable you to do this.”NHS Constitution

This would include:

  • Taking account of differences in and barriers to effective communication including making provision for languages other than English
  • Being aware that everyone's communication ability varies depending on physical and mental health and many other factors
  • Respecting your rights to privacy and confidentiality
  • Promoting equality, recognising respecting and valuing diversity
  • Applying principles of person-centred approaches in assessment, care planning, review and discharge
  • Telling you about the risks and benefits of any intervention or treatment, including the potential side effects of any medication
  • Identifying any networks of support you have
  • Protecting your interests where your capacity to make decisions is impaired
  • Offering opportunities for Self Directed Support, such as Direct Payments, Individual Budgets etc. where these apply, or signposting to agencies that can help
  • Listening to what care you do and do not want, including any Advance Directive or Statement of Wishes you make
  • Working within safeguarding procedures
  • We also comply with any legislation in this area, such as the Mental Health Act Code of Practice 2008 which says:

‘Patients must be given the opportunity to be involved, as far as is practicable in the circumstances, in planning, developing and reviewing their own treatment and care to help ensure that it is delivered in a way that is as appropriate and effective for them as possible. The involvement of carers, family members and other people who have an interest in the patient’s welfare should be encouraged (unless there are particular reasons to the contrary) and their views taken seriously.’   

We want to make sure you can access the information you need.         

If you need information in another language, click on the buttons at the bottom of the front page to translate the whole site, or contact us for a leaflet translation

If you prefer Easy Read, click here

If you need a care plan or other form translating, let us know

If you need the text larger to be able to read it better, click on the text size at the bottom of the page - the more you press on the + button, the bigger the text will get

Every day we make decisions about lots of things in our lives. The ability to make these decisions is called mental capacity. People may have difficulty making decisions some or all of the time. This could be because they have:

  • a learning disability
  • dementia
  • a mental health problem
  • a brain injury
  • had a stroke

If we are concerned that you may not have the capacity to make major decisions about your health and welfare (including personal care), property and financial affairs, or where you live, we will assess your capacity to make these decisions. If you are unable to make some decisions, the Mental Capacity Act says:

  • you should have as much help as possible to make your own decisions
  • people should assess if you can make a particular decision
  • even if you cannot make a complicated decision for yourself, this does not mean that you cannot make more straightforward decisions
  • even if someone has to make a decision on your behalf you must still be involved in this as much as possible
  • anyone making a decision on your behalf must do so in your best interests
     

The Mental Capacity Act (2005) provides a framework to protect and empower vulnerable people who are not able to make their own decisions. See below for a brief guide to the main provisions of the Act.

Service Users/Patients
Please click here for a booklet Making decisions: who decides when you can't?

Carers
Please click here to find out about Carers and the Mental Capacity Act and a booklet Making decisions: a guide for familiy, friends, and unpaid carers. Carers and advocates will normally be involved in planning care, and in any reviews.

Advocacy is a way of giving people a voice

There are different models of advocacy:

  • Self-advocacy: this is where people speak for and represent themselves, with some support
  • Peer advocacy: where the advocate has common ground with the person being represented, such as shared experience
  • Volunteer Citizen advocacy: Unpaid volunteers who represent the persons views
  • Professional Advocacy: A paid trained advocate who provides advice and support 

If you need someone to help you have a voice in discussions, you might want to think about having an advocate. You can bring a friend, family member or carer, or use a volunteer or paid advocate.You can access different types of advocacy support, this may depend on where you live or what you need help with.

Specialist advocacy and representation is available for people with mental health problems who have substantial difficulty in being involved in their own care. This includes people who qualify under the Mental Health Act (IMHA service) and/or the Mental Capacity Act (IMCA service).  Click here to read about Advocacy Services in Derbyshire and Derby City

Contact:

  • If you live in Derbyshire -  Derbyshire Mind, Telephone: 01332 623732. Click here for more information 
  • If you live in Derby City - ONE Advocacy Derby, Telephone: 01332 228748. Click here for more information

 
Independent Community Advocacy

Independent Community Advocacy is a new requirement on Local authorities.  If you are likely to have substantial difficulty in being involved in your care and if you do not have an appropriate person to support you the Local Authority has a duty to arrange independent advocacy.

  • If you live in Derbyshire -  Derbyshire Independent Community Advocacy Service, Telephone: 01332 623732. Click here for more information 
  • If you live in Derby City - ONE Advocacy Derby, Telephone: 01332 228748. Click here for more information 
     

From the 1st April 2009, changes in the law meant that some patients have a legal entitlement to the specialist help of an IMHA.  The service is available to anyone who is detained under the Mental Health Act

IMHA's help people to understand and exercise their rights in relation to the Mental Health Act, this can include representing them and speaking on their behalf in a variety of settings including ward rounds, CPA meetings and tribunals.  The Mental Health Act Code of Practice provides further information on the role, rights and responsibilities of the IMHA's. 

Advocates offer independent support to help people express their views and wishes in relation to the mental health services they are using or wishing to access. 

Click here to find out more about Derbyshire County IMHA Service 

Contact details: Derbyshire Mind, Derby West Business Centre, Ashbourne Road, Mackworth, Derby, DE22 4NB. Telephone: 01332 345966, email: enquiries@derbyshiremind.org.uk

Click here to find out more about Derby City IMHA Service 
Contact details: ONE Advocacy, Stuart House, Green Lane, Derby,  DE1 1RS. Telephone: 01332 228748.

What is an advance decision?

The term advance decision (previously known as an 'advance directive', or a 'living will'). means a statement explaining what medical treatment the individual would not want in the future, should that individual 'lack capacity' as defined by the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

It can relate to all future treatment, not just that which may be immediately life-saving.

An advance decision is legally binding in England and Wales. Except in the case where the individual decides to refuse life-saving treatment, it does not have to be written down, although most are and a written document is less likely to be challenged.

Carers and relatives

If the person you care for is aged 18 or older and has mental capacity they can appoint a personal welfare lasting power of attorney (LPA). The person who is given power of attorney (the 'attorney') will be able to make decisions about future medical treatment on their behalf if the person doesn't have the mental capacity to make the decision.

If the person you care for wishes to refuse medical treatment in the future, they should make their wishes known by making an 'advance decision'. This is made when the person still has capacity and is used if they're not able to make the decision themselves at the time of the proposed medical treatment.

If the person you're looking after makes an advance decision, you can't override it unless the LPA was made later and specifies that you have the power to do so.

What should be in an advance decision?

The code of practice in the Mental Capacity Act provides a checklist of information to be included in any written statement. The statement should include:

  • Full details of the person who is making the statement, including their date of birth, home address and any distinguishing features (so that an unconscious person, for example, could be identified)
  • The name and address of their general practitioner (GP)
  • Whether the GP has a copy of the statement
  • Something to say that the decision is intended to have effect if the person lacks the capacity to make treatment decisions
  • A clear statement of the decision, specifying the treatment to be refused and the circumstances in which the decision should be used or which will trigger a particular course of action
  • The date the document was written and, if appropriate, the date it was reviewed
  • The person’s signature. If the person can't write, they must give authority to somebody else to sign on their behalf in their presence
  • A signature from a witness to the above (you may wish to seek legal advice about this)

For more information    

We want to help you to make informed choices through:

  • Understanding your care, treatment and support choices
  • Being a partner in decisions about your care
  • Having information to help you make choices and decisions about things like medication
  • Being involved in working out what makes your health worse or better, and using advance statements or advance decisions if you want to, to say what you would like to happen
  • Your family and carers being involved in your care when they need to be (when you’re happy with this)

Read more about how you can be involved in the Your Care booklet

Safety - We will help you and others to keep as safe as you can be

We want to make sure you are as safe as you can be, and so we will work with you to find any potential areas where you don't feel safe, either with your own or others health and wellbeing. This is so that we can help you to manage these situations, and help you keep safe, as well as your family/carers, staff, and the public.

When you come to our services we will call this Safety Planning and you are key to undertaking this piece of work well.  When we talk about a Safety Plan what this means is that you will sit with a health professional and you will explore your history, the social context that you live in, the impact of others upon you and some of life's stresses.  You will explore quite a lot of your history and what that means to you fully.  Some of us growing up have experienced adverse childhood events which means we are more vulnerable than others as we move through life.  It is key that we understand you today in the context of your life experiences.  This means we are going to have to ask you some tricky questions, this could be very personal information about hurt or harm.  If you don't tell us about these experiences then we cant help you.  A key issue in working on these health issues that you want to address is the impact of your physical and psychological health.

We will work together to agree your Safety Plan and we will need to review this regularly in partnership with you.  What is key is feeling supported through times of emotional or physical distress.  We are here to support you and give our advice on what we think is in your best interests but at the end of the day it is your life and your choices.  This will sometimes mean that we will have to way up, on balance, if you continue in your life to make unwise decisions what we will do to support you. 

Safeguarding and you

We want to make sure people who use our services are as safe as they can be, and so we will work with the person to find any potential areas where they don't feel safe, either with their own or others health and wellbeing. This is so that we can help them to manage these situations, and help them keep safe, as well as family/carers, staff, and the public. We will always consider safety for children, young people and vulnerable adults, and try to safeguard them.  Things we would be concerned about would include: self-harm; self-neglect; suicide; violence; bullying, domestic violence, substance misuse, vulnerability to abuse or neglect, sexual exploitation, moving and handling, infection control, physical health, and falls.

We want to make sure people who use our services are as safe as they can be, and so we will work with the person to identify their personal strengths and skills and identify potential areas or circumstances in which they feel at risk either with their own or others health and wellbeing. This is so that we can help people to manage these situations and enable people to develop some plans for keeping safe. 

Think Family

Derbyshire Healthcare believes that safeguarding is everybody’s business and has put measures in place to protect those least able to protect themselves. ‘Think Family’ means securing better outcomes for children, young people, adults and families by co-ordinating the support they receive from all services.  This approach encourages everyone involved in supporting individuals to think about the needs and the situation of the whole family.

Keeping yourself and others safe

We work with other agencies to try and make any safety or safeguarding plans for you, personal to you and all about your support needs

  • If you are referred to a team to talk about safeguarding you should expect that when you first meet your safeguarding worker you should be asked what you want to happen
  • You should feel listened to during conversations and meetings about helping you feel safe
  • You should feel like your perspective and your story is valued and if you don’t agree with the plan, your worker should tell you why they are concerned and why your wishes can’t be met, and you should still be involved
  • When you have a plan in place to support you, and your shared safety goals are met, then you should talk to your worker on how the experience was for you 

Getting help

If you are worried about someone or are concerned they are vulnerable or at risk of abuse it is important to let others know.  You can visit the Safeguarding section of our website and can find sources of support for adults and children who you think maybe at risk. 

You can also find out about more information from Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council by accessing the links below.

If things get difficult enough that you need some extra help in an emergency, keep a list of numbers you can ring.

You could try:

  • 24/7 Helpline: When you are experiencing immediate distress, contact the helpline where you will be supported over the phone by an experienced mental health professional who will be able to facilitate advice and guidance and where necessary onward mental health care.
  • Your GP: If there is an emergency, GP’s can refer for a crisis assessment
  • The service you’ve been referred to
  • If you’ve had thoughts of self-harming or are feeling suicidal, contact someone immediately such as a friend, relative or someone you trust.  In medical emergency and life-threatening situations only, where a person has taken an overdose or needs urgent medical attention, please dial 999 or attend your nearest hospital A&E department.
  • 101 for a non-emergency police response
  • The Samaritans on 116 123 (free, open 24 hours)
  • Campaign against living miserably (CALM) for men on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm - midnight
  • Papyrus for people under 35 on 0800 068 41 41 (10am – 10pm)
  • Social care - support to make people feel safe until the next working day
    • Derby City Careline: During office hours ring 01332 78696 - for out of hours support, please call 01332 786968. The service operates from 5pm to 9am Monday to Friday and 24 hours a day on weekends and bank holidays. 
    • Call Derbyshire: Call 01629 53319 - the call centre is open between 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 4pm Saturdays to provide you with a speedy and direct response.
  • If you’re worried about a child or adult experiencing or at risk of abuse, you can ring the Police on 999 or 111, or contact:
    • Derbyshire County Council on 01629 533190. If it's out of hours and you need to speak to someone urgently call 01629 532600
    • Derby City Council on 01332 642855.  If it’s out of hours and you need to speak to someone urgently call 01332 786968

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