Find out about short term care and therapy that help if you've left hospital or had a change in circumstances

How we help

We provide short-term care and therapy under the guidance of social workers and therapists. This service is delivered by our START team. START stands for Short Term Assessment and Reablement Team.

You will be referred to us through a social worker or health care provider. This is usually to help you to leave hospital safely or to prevent a stay in hospital.

The START service has a CQC overall rating of good. You can read the full report on the CQC website.

Who we support

We support adults who have left hospital, had an illness or fall, or change in social circumstance such as a bereavement. We work with adults who are at-risk and in need due to:

  • age 
  • ill health
  • physical or sensory disability
  • learning disability, or 
  • mental health care needs including dementia  

We also work with families with children where a parent is classed as a vulnerable adult.

The service is free of charge and can last from as little as a week, up to a maximum of six weeks. The Service operates daily from 7am to 11pm every day of the year.

To be eligible for this service, you must be:

  • living in Sutton
  • aged 18 years old or over
  • eligible under the Care Act 2014

Deciding what care you need

We’ll decide how much care you need by completing an assessment of your daily living and any risks to your safety and independence. The assessment will happen in your home, with you. 

We will continually assess your ability to manage daily activities throughout the service, and will make changes to your care if needed. 

Making a care plan

After the assessment, we’ll put together a plan for your care or treatment. This might involve:

  • helping you to improve your confidence and abilities, to regain independence 
  • health professionals such as an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist
  • helping you access information, services and other resources to support you to live independently 
  • support, advice and informal training for family or friends involved in looking after you
  • a care plan to meet your ongoing care needs