Information Guide for Independent Assessors - …

1 Information Guide for Independent Assessors 1 1 Contents 2 About the Family Fund Who are we? What we do How often can we help? What we can help with What we cannot help with How do families find out about the Fund? 3 Applying The journey of an application After applying Checking progress of an application 4 Assessing Eligibility Once you have accepted an assessment During a home visit assessment During a telephone assessment Completing the report What happens next? 7 Awarding Grants Unusual requests awarded Family Fund Travel Insurance 8 Child Eligibility Criteria General indicators o The physical environment o Education o Communication o Access to social activities o Personal care, supervision and vigilance o Specialist resources required o Medical or therapeutic treatment and condition management 12 Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding policy Notifying the Family Fund about safeguarding issues Definition of risk category Useful contacts and Information 16 Data Protection Purpose Use of computers and printers at home Families records 17 Keeping Families Informed 2 About the Family Fund The Family Fund was formed in 1973 by Sir Keith Joseph, former Secretary of State for Social Services.

2 In response to the Thalidomide crisis. Since then, the Fund s reach to families has grown and we now help any family raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person aged 17 or under, providing they meet the Fund s eligibility criteria. Who are we? The Family Fund is a registered charity covering the whole of the UK and receives grants from private donors and the four governments of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. We are the UK s largest Independent grant-giving organisation helping low income families raising a disabled or seriously ill child. We support families by providing grants that relate to the needs of their disabled child or young person. The Family Fund works within an annual fixed budget and there is no automatic entitlement to our help. Grants are discretionary and dependent on available funding.

3 As well as being a registered charity, the Fund is also a company limited by guarantee. What we do The Family Fund helps families raising disabled or seriously ill children or young people to have choices and the opportunity to enjoy ordinary life. We give grants for things that make life easier and more enjoyable for the disabled child and their family, such as washing machines, hospital visiting costs, computers and family breaks. We give grants to families on the lowest of incomes to help relieve the stress of everyday life. We have a team of Regional Development Managers (RDM) who attend events and keep in touch with local organisations to let more families know about the Family Fund. The RDMs also manage the assessment process for families applying to the Fund for the first time. This includes deciding which families will receive a home visit or telephone assessment.

4 How often can we help? We can consider an application every 12 months from the date the last grant was awarded. The Fund understands that sometimes the need for help can be greater, especially if there is an emergency or critical situation relating to a disabled or seriously ill child or young person. Applications outside of these parameters may be reviewed by a panel of grant makers who will decide if there are exceptional circumstances that require additional help from the Fund s limited budget. What we can help with We will consider any grant request that will make a difference to the lives of a disabled or seriously ill child, young person and their family. Families can apply for family breaks, kitchen appliances, laptops, hospital visiting costs and many more items and experiences. We encourage grant requests from young people that have particular meaning to their age group such as laptops and equipment for college.

5 What we cannot help with The Family Fund is unable to help with items for which there is an underlying statutory requirement. Our policies also state that we will not help with grants towards adaptations or alterations to the home, building works, medical treatment, therapies or equipment, household bills or debts, childcare, the purchase of a car, reimbursement for an item already purchased or any item where a statutory agency has a responsibility to pay for the item needed. 3 How do families find out about the Fund? The Family Fund helps over 65,000 families a year with grants that can often be a lifeline. Each year the Fund works hard to reach new families and remind those who have applied before that they can apply again for help. Families tell us that they find out about the Fund through friends, family, schools, hospitals and professionals supporting families.

6 It is important that the Fund continues to reach new families and helps those on the lowest of incomes. We promote the Fund across the UK and also use sector colleagues, website, local and national press, printed materials and social networking sites to reach families. Applying If a family are applying for the first time they can download an application form from our website or contact the Fund s office in York for a copy by using the online contact form (on our website) or emailing Families can contact us by telephone 08449 744 099. If a family has applied before, they can apply for a grant online by setting up an online account, using their Family Fund number, which is quoted on all correspondence from the Fund. The journey of an application All applications received are checked and Information is input into our grants system by the Grants Services team.

7 Application forms that have Information missing are sent back to the family at this stage to avoid unnecessary delays later in the process. After applying If a family are applying for the first time we need to check that the family s household income is within our limits and that the child or young person falls within our eligibility criteria. To do this we require an application form completed in full, with proof of income from employment or benefits and to see DLA confirmation for the child if the family receive this. In addition we may arrange an assessment to establish eligibility. The Information from the application form is sent to the RDM team. They decide whether an assessment is required or not. If an assessment is required, then the assessment is offered to an Independent Assessor (IA).

8 If an assessment is not required, the form is sent back to York and processed accordingly. It can take up to three months for us to complete a first application and we contact the family in writing to let them know the decision. For families making further applications, we may ask for up to date Information so we can confirm they are still eligible for help. It may take up to eight weeks for us to make a decision on a subsequent application and we will write to the family to let them know our decision. If a family applies online this timescale may be reduced. Checking progress of an application Families can check the progress of their application by logging on to their online account via the website. If they have not already done so they can set up an account using their Family Fund number.

9 If they cannot find their Family Fund number, or have not yet been given one as they are a first time applicant, they can request this through the online contact form: All first time families should have been allocated a Family Fund number within 3 weeks of sending in their application form. Although the Family Fund has a dedicate team to answer telephone and email correspondence from families, funding restrictions mean this team is very small. The Fund receives over 200,000 phone calls every year to the main contact number and over 52,000 emails. 4 We try to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible but there can sometimes be a delay, particularly during busy periods. The most reliable way for a family to ensure we receive their communication is to use the online contact form on the website: and we will respond as quickly as possible.

10 Assessing Eligibility The Family Fund will offer assessments to IAs from time to time and we require that they are accepted or declined within 3 days of the offer date. The following Information sets out the standards we expect IAs to adhere to. Once you have accepted an Assessment Upon accepting the Home Visit or Telephone Assessment, the IA phones the family to arrange a convenient time for both parties to complete the assessment. For telephone assessments this may be right away. If you are unable to contact the family by phone or email you may wish to send the family a letter to offer a time and date for the assessment to take place. This letter should contain your contact details so the family can confirm their availability. A suggested template letter is available for use on the IA s Portal.