Welcoming people with a learning disability into your home

We are looking for people to become Adult Placement Carers.  

The Adult Placement Scheme offers accommodation and support within approved family homes to people aged 18 years and over who have a learning disability.  This could be for a short break or a longer-term arrangement.  It is similar to fostering but for adults.

Who can become an Adult Placement Carer?

All types of people can become Adult Placement Carers.  What is important is that you can offer your time and be aware of an individual's needs.  

We welcome people:

• Of all ages, backgrounds and ethnic groups
• Who are single, married or living with a partner, with or without children
• Who own or rent their own home.  You need to have a spare bedroom in your home.

Experience of caring for others or working with people with learning disabilities is desirable but not essential.  You do not need formal qualifications to be an Adult Placement Carer. We provide full training and ongoing support for Carers.

What does an Adult Placement Carer do?

Adult Placement Carers provide a welcoming home to an adult with learning disabilities.  Carers offer encouragement and support to people with learning disabilities so that they can:

• develop independence and confidence
• learn new skills
• manage daily tasks
• join in with the household
• participate in the local community
• share family outings
• experience family life.

Why do people become Adult Placement Carers?

Adult Placement Carers can help people with learning disabilities overcome many of the barriers that can occur in daily life.

Adult Placement Carers get a lot of satisfaction from building a relationship with people who use the Scheme. Carers on the Scheme say being a carer is rewarding but also challenging.

Rebecca	Rebecca from Mapperley is an Adult Placement (AP) Carer, providing long-term care for a 24 year old woman with moderate learning disabilities “It’s not just renting out a room and having a lodger – the person you care for becomes part of your family.  It’s not all plain sailing.  But it’s really rewarding knowing that you’ve giving someone a loving, family home. The support for AP Carers and for service users from social care services is fantastic. They are always on the other end of the phone. The person I care for is a lot more confident and independent now. She goes to a day centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and volunteers there on Fridays, and she goes out to see friends on other days. She’s always busy.”
John	John from Carlton has been an Adult Placement Carer for about 8 years. He and his wife provide long-term care for two people with learning disabilities, and also offer respite care for other people with learning disabilities throughout the year. “It’s very rewarding being an Adult Placement Carer, but it’s not always easy. All sorts of problems can crop up, whether medical, financial or personal, and you need to be there to help sort them out. You have to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The people who have stayed with us have gained a real feeling of belonging, of being with a family that cares. There’s an ongoing training scheme with social care services, and I’m working towards NVQ qualifications at the moment.”

How long do Placements last?

It can vary. The Adult Placement Scheme offers alternative types of care called short-term care, long-term care, and day support.

• Short-term care - adults stay temporarily with an Adult Placement Carer to get a break from routine or to give their carers (family or friends) a break.
• Long-term care - this is where adults live with Adult Placement Carers, sharing their lives and their home.
• Day support - this is where Adult Placement Carers offer support for an adult with a learning disability during the day - either in the carer's home or in the community. Carers can offer as many hours each day as is needed.

Generous fees

Generous allowances are paid to you for the help you offer once you are approved.  The amount you are paid depends on the type and length of care you provide.

Approval process

Once you have submitted your application form to be a carer, you will have a police check, health check, employment check and two personal reference checks.  A home study then takes place which looks at your history, lifestyle and experience.  Applications are then taken to an Approval Panel for the final decision.  This process can take 2-3 months.

What if a Placement doesn't work out?

Before a placement goes ahead, the person to be placed, their own carer and the Adult Placement Carer are introduced and meet over a period of time, getting to know each other.  A placement doesn't go ahead until everyone involved is happy about the arrangement.

If at any time during a placement, things aren't working out, other arrangements will be made for the person using the service.  As a Carer you can still offer placements to other people.

Have you got what it takes to be an Adult Placement Carer?

We need people from all over Nottingham, so even if you have only a few days each week or the odd weekend to offer you are still needed by the Adult Placement Scheme.

Interested in finding out more?

Whether you are a potential Carer, or you feel you would benefit from the Scheme yourself, or know someone who might benefit, please contact us for an informal chat.

Tel. 0115 915 1996
Email. adultplacement@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Adult Placement Scheme
Denewood Centre
Denewood Crescent
Nottingham
NG8 3DH