Kirklees Integrated Community Equipment Service (KICES)

Nigel Bunker - October 2011

gatewaytocare@kirklees.gov.uk

Kirklees Integrated Community Equipment Service (KICES)

Older people or people with disabilities, and their carers, often need equipment to help them with daily living. Equipment such as grab rails, bath boards and bed raisers, help people to carry out their normal day to day activities independently and safely.

Community nurses and home care staff also need equipment to help them care for people who need support to remain in their own homes.

Kirklees Integrated Community Equipment Service (KICES) is a partnership service funded by Kirklees Adult Social Care Services, Kirklees Childrens & Young Peoples Service and Kirklees Primary Care Trust. They can provide you with some equipment on free loan.

Who can we help?

Equipment is availiable on loan to people living at home, and to their carers, who meet the Eligibility criteria, or who have nursing needs.

Eligibility criteria is guidance that Kirklees adult social care services and Kirklees Primary Care Trust use to work out if people are eligible or not for services. We use the criteria to make sure we treat everyone fairly and that those people most in need of help receive our services.

Most equipment is provided following an assessment of need by a social worker, community care officer or a health assessor. However, a small range of items are provided by KICES following an assisted self assessment through Gateway to care.

Loans are free regardless of income. Equipment is provided to people of all ages to meet their assessed needs. Equipment is also provided to help home care staff to safely move and handle people who live in their own homes.

You must have a care plan with Kirklees home care service, or one of their partners, to be eligible for movement and handling equipment. The home care service or the Kirklees movement and handling advisor must apply to us for the items you need. Examples of this type of equipment are:

hoists and slings
slide sheets
handling belts
glide and lock cushions
turntables
wheeled commodes

Equipment is also provided to help community nurses to nurse people with a health need in their own homes. You must have a care plan with your local district nursing team to be eligible for health equipment and your district nurse must apply to us for the items required. Examples of this type of equipment are:

pressure relief cushions and mattresses
bed pans
commodes
hospital beds

What if I don't meet the eligibility criteria?

If you are unsure whether or not you meet the eligibility criteria, you can contact your local Gateway to Care or pick up a leaflet called 'Are you entitled to help from Kirklees adult social care services?'

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria Gateway to care will continue to assist you in accessing the support you need in the most appropriate way possible. Although this may not always be through directly selling equipment Gateway to care will:

direct people to equipment retailers or suppliers
help people to place orders for equipment with suppliers for direct delivery to them at home.

There is wide variety of equipment available for you to purchase, from local equipment suppliers:

Where to buy equipment - Local and national retailers of assistive technology

For further guidance on equipment see:

Assistive technology equipment
Equipment, products or systems that can be used to increase maintain or improve the functional capabilities and independence of people with physical or communication difficulties
Assistive technology equipment storyboards
Storyboards showing the difference assistive technology can make to people's lives

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See also

Other websites

Contacts and Maps

Kirklees Integrated Community Equipment Service (KICES)