When it becomes difficult to live independently, whether due to illness, frailty or a disability, there can be a lot to think about. The Support with Confidence scheme may be able to help you right now – whether you’re in need of help at home you can trust or if you’re a person who can provide the services needed.

Support with Confidence (SWC) is a directory of vetted and approved providers who offer a wide range of care and support services for adults in East Sussex.

This includes:

  • Domestic duties such as cooking, shopping, cleaning and ironing.
  • Supporting with social or education activities, helping with paperwork or offering transportation.
  • Supporting to work or maintain the household and garden.
  • Personal support, such as assisting to wash and dress, and to mobilise as required.
  • Employment and education opportunities.

If you could use the support of a Personal Assistant (PA) or service but are worried about how this might work with the current COVID-19 restrictions in place, rest assured that the Support with Confidence team have ensured help can be carried out safely. As you can imagine, the scheme has had to adapt to the COVID-19 situation. The SWC team have quickly got to grips with new ways of working, resolving any obstacles quickly and efficiently. 

Adapting the scheme to COVID-19

When the pandemic was first announced, aiding the members of the scheme was paramount. Personal Assistants often work alone as self-employed care workers and operating in situations where the needs of the people they support were being heightened.

At the beginning, when the national focus was on NHS PPE and shops and suppliers were quickly running out of items in demand, the SWC team worked with colleagues in the Adult Social Care department to ensure needs were all catered for. They have (and continue to) gather as much advice and information as possible and send out regular updates to all applicants and members.

On top of this, their PA networks have provided peer support to each other. This was particularly important in the early weeks when statutory support was more focused on the regulated care system. We can see that the SWC members have proven to be a dynamic and resilient responder to the pandemic.

Access to up-to-date training

Face to face training given by expert learning and development colleagues has been redesigned for online learning. The adult social care training team work in partnership with SWC, offering support and all courses at no cost to ensure PAs and businesses who apply to the scheme have access to training that is relevant to supporting vulnerable people in the community.

The scheme ensures all members are committed to the highest level of quality, safety and training. All providers are subject to background checks including references, enhanced DBS and insurance. Service providers are monitored to ensure continued quality and are compliant with the latest legislation.

Here are further details on finding help at home you can trust:

 

 

 

If you need help at home you can trust, search the directory of providers.

 

 

 

Learn how you can become an accredited personal assistant.

 

 

 

If you provide a service or are a business, find out how to become accredited.

Or feel free to contact the Support with Confidence team on 01323 463440 or at supportwithconfidence@eastsussex.gov.uk.

eastsussex.gov.uk/supportwithconfidence