What is START?
START stands for Short Term Assessment and Reablement Team and we provide short term care and therapy under the guidance of social workers and therapists.
The START team provides a flexible short-term care and reablement service, assisting people to maximise their level of ability and independence within their own homes. The Service operates daily from 07:00 to 23:00 every day of the year.
The service is a short term intervention to be provided for no longer than six weeks and frequently for as little as one to three weeks or less to provide one or more of the following;
-
A detailed assessment of activities of daily living and any risks to your safety and independence, which is undertaken with your full involvement and in your home environment.
-
A period of intensive reablement which focuses on improving your confidence and abilities, in order to regain as much independence and control as you can.
-
Assistance to help you complete a programme of rehabilitation which has been recommended by a health professional such as an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist.
-
Advice and support to help you access information, services and other resources which will support you in maintaining independence and control.
-
Support, advice and informal training for family or friends who are involved in looking after you.
-
A care plan to meet your ongoing care needs, which reflects your individual strengths and preferences and is aimed to support you in achieving your goals.
Who do we support?
We work with adults in Sutton who are referred through a social worker or health practitioner to facilitate discharge from hospital and prevent admission to hospital for clients referred from the community.
We work with adults who are vulnerable and in need due to age, ill health, physical or sensory disability, learning disability, or mental health care needs including dementia. We will also work with families with children where a parent is classed as a vulnerable adult.
How long does the service last?
The duration of START reablement is time limited depending on a person's needs and progress, normally this is no longer than six weeks and frequently as little as one to two weeks.
The START service will continually assess an individual’s ability to manage activities of daily living independently throughout the service, and will adjust their input in line with progress. The likely duration of every START assessment is entirely dependent on the individual’s circumstances and needs. Individual goals, level of care support required, including anticipated timescales, will be discussed and agreed with the individual and their family or Social Worker in the first few days of service and progress is reviewed at least weekly, either by phone or through a home visit.
Any person, requiring on-going care services will have their care and support needs assessed under the Care Act 2014 by a Social Worker within the START service, if required we will develop a support plan which reflects your individual strengths and preferences with agreed plans to transfer to appropriate long term services.
Short Term Assessment & Reablement Team
(START - London Borough of Sutton)
CQC Overall Rating
Good