Useful Links
Government organisations
The Department of Health – www.dh.gov.uk
You can download continuing care legislation and related materials from this website including the National Framework document.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) – www.cqc.co.uk
The CQC regulates the safety and quality of all health and social care services providers in England. Launched in April 2009, it replaces the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and the Mental Health Act Commission. The CQC’s website contains full details of what the organisation does and how to contact them. You can also access information and reports relating to the three previous bodies.
The Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman – www.ombusdsman.org.uk
This website provides more information about the Ombudsman’s work and how to contact them. You can download reports that the Ombudsman has issued on continuing care such as their report on the Pointon case.
Office of Fair Trading – www.oft.gov.uk
You can download the OFT’s leaflet “Fair Terms for Care” from this website. This leaflet aims to help older people get fairer contract terms from care homes.
Office of the Public Guardian -www.publicguardian.gov.uk
The Office supports and promotes decision making for those who lack capacity or would like to plan for their future within the framework of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. A series of guidance booklets can be downloaded from the website, including one to help friends and family understand the implications of the Act.
Government website for carers – www.direct.gov.uk/en/caringforsomeone/index.htm
A source of information for carers including details of support that is available and a section on Carers’ Rights.
(Note: the address was previously www.carers.gov.uk)
PALS – www.pals.nhs.uk
The website of the national network of NHS Patient Advice & Liaison Services (PALS). Contains contact details of all local PALS offices who can help you liaise with your local PCT on continuing care issues.
NHS Choices section on continuing care – http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2392.aspx
The NHS Choices website now contains some information about continuing care and its funding that was previously available on the NHS Direct website.
NHS PCTs and SHAs
For contact details of PCTs and SHAs, please see our factsheet List of PCTs and SHAs & contact numbers
Charities & support groups
Age Concern – www.ageconcern.org.uk
The UK’s largest charity working with and for older people. You can download several useful factsheets on continuing care from this website, in particular Factsheet 20: ‘NHS continuing healthcare, NHS-funded nursing care & intermediate care’.
Age Concern and Help the Aged merged to form a single charity in March 2009 (see Age UK below).
Age UK – www.ageuk.org.uk
Age UK is the new charity formed from the merger of Age Concern and Help the Aged in 2009.
The Alzheimer’s Society – www.alzheimers.org.uk
This Society provides information about all types of dementia and supports people, their families and carers. A range of useful leaflets on continuing care can be downloaded from the website. You can also read Barbara Pointon’s personal account of her battle to secure continuing care funding at home for her husband, Malcolm.
Help the Aged – www.helptheaged.org.uk
Help the Aged is an international charity fighting to free older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. There is a useful section on the website about care home costs and finding out if you can get funding for care. There is also a great deal of information about benefits and how to claim them.
Age Concern and Help the Aged merged to form a single charity in March 2009 (see Age UK above).
Counsel & Care – www.counselandcare.org.uk
Counsel and Care is the national charity working with older people, their families and carers to get the best care and support. They provide personalised, in-depth advice and information, which informs their research and campaigning work. Their website features downloadable guides and factsheets on choosing and paying for a care home as well as care in your own home.
Counselling Directory– www.counselling-directory.org.uk
This website is a support network of UK counsellors and psychotherapists, with information on their training and experience, areas of counselling covered, fees and contact details. This service is free, confidential and easy to use.
Dignified Revolution – www.dignifiedrevolution.org.uk
Dignified Revolution is a group of indivuals, mostly nurses, who want to improve the care of older people in hospital. Their website contains a list of useful documents and other resources around health and social care for the elderly as well as details of conferences and workshops that are being held on related issues.
Elderly Accommodation Counsel – www.housingcare.org
A charity that was founded to provide information on all kinds of accommodation, support and care for older people. The website contains useful information about care homes and hospices.
The Relatives & Residents Association – www.relres.org
The Association gives advice and support to older people in care homes, their relatives and friends. The website offers a range of publications that can be purchased online as well as a selection of factsheets about care homes that can be downloaded free of charge.
The English Community Care Association website – www.ecca.org.uk
This charity works on behalf of independently-run care homes to promote high standards of health and social care in the homes.
Commission for Social Care Inspection website – www.csci.org.uk
The CSCI inspects and reports on care homes, care services and councils to improve social care and stamp out bad practice.
Mind – www.mind.org.uk
Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. You can read all about ‘Aftercare under section 117 of the Mental Health Act’ on their website.
Crossroads – www.crossroads.org.uk
Crossroads has around 180 schemes throughout England and Wales that offer support and respite care to carers. Their website will tell you if there is a scheme in your area.
Carers UK – www.carersuk.org
Carers is a registered charity that promotes the rights of carers. They offer advice and support to carers as well as campaigning to improve the quality of carers’ lives. You can find out about the various benefits that carers may be entitled to on the website, and how to apply for them.
Princess Royal Trust for Carers – www.carers.org
This charity has similar aims to those of Carers’ UK. It has a network of 144 Carers’ Centres that provide support to carers throughout the UK. It also supports younger carers with 85 young carers’ services and its website www.youngcarers.net.
Help the Hospices – www.helpthehospices.org.uk
The national charity for hospice care. It offers an enquiry service to the public and professionals on UK and international palliative care. The website enables you to search for hospices and palliative care services in the UK and provides details of other organisations that can provide help and support in related fields.
