Specialist support
Reablement at home
Short-term, practical support with one aim: helping someone do things for themselves again after an illness, a fall or a spell in hospital. We have a specialist team in Torbay.
- A specialist team based in Torbay
- Commissioned service, arranged through a social worker or discharge team
- Short-term and goal-based, not open-ended
Working in partnership with the NHS
Regulated by the Care Quality Commission. See our rating and the full inspection report.
What reablement involves
Reablement is deliberately different from ongoing care. The aim is less support over time, not steady support, so the work is about confidence and practice as much as tasks.
Goals are agreed with the person at the assessment visit and reviewed as they progress.
After a hospital stay
Coming home can be the hardest part. Support can start at the point of discharge, so the house is not something to face alone on day one.
Support we can help with
- Practising getting up, washing and dressing again
- Moving around the house and managing the stairs
- Getting back to preparing meals and drinks
- Keeping on top of medication independently
- Building confidence to get out of the house again
- Support with equipment already in place at home
- Physical disabilities, challenging behaviour and associated mental health needs
- Stepping down as independence returns
How it differs from ongoing care
Both are care at home, but they are aiming at different things. It is worth being clear which one is being arranged.
Reablement
- Short-term, with an end in mind
- Built around goals the person chooses
- Doing things WITH someone, not for them
- Support reduces as confidence returns
- Often follows hospital, illness or a fall
Ongoing care
- Steady support for as long as it is wanted
- Built around a good week rather than a goal
- Reviewed as needs change
- Can be daytime, overnight or both
- We can move across from reablement if needs turn out to be long-term
How support starts
You get in touch
Usually a social worker or hospital discharge team gets in touch. Families are welcome to ring us too and we will point you the right way.
An assessment visit
We come out to understand what is needed and what the person wants to get back to.
Agreeing the goals
What the person wants to be able to do again, in their words, and how we will know it is working.
Support begins
We introduce the team, and the plan is reviewed as things change.
A specialist team in Torbay
This work is not the same as general home care, so it is not staffed the same way. Our specialist team is based in Torbay and covers the surrounding area. If you are not sure whether we reach you, ask.
Questions families ask us
How long does reablement last?
It is short-term by design, but the length depends on the goals and how things go, and it is set as part of the commissioned package rather than by us alone. We would rather agree it at the assessment than put a number on this page.
Who decides what the goals are?
The person being supported, with us and anyone they want involved. Goals are usually specific and practical, like managing the stairs again or making a meal unaided.
What if the support is still needed at the end?
Then it was still worth doing. If needs turn out to be longer-term we can move across to ongoing care without starting the process again.
Can it start straight from hospital?
Yes. Ask the discharge team or social worker to contact us, or ring us yourself. See our For Professionals page.
What areas do you cover?
Plymouth, Torbay, Newton Abbot and Teignmouth, plus the surrounding towns and villages. The specialist team is based in Torbay. If you are not sure whether we reach you, just ask.
What will it cost?
Reablement is a commissioned service, which means it is arranged and funded through a commissioning team rather than bought privately. If you think it would help, the route is usually a social worker or a hospital discharge team. Ring us and we will point you the right way.
Which kind of support is this?
Personal care
Hands-on help with washing, dressing, medication and the rest of daily life.
Open to anyone. No referral needed, just ring us.
Enablement
Keeping hold of independence and building it back, for as long as it helps.
Open to anyone. Not an add-on and not time-limited.
Reablement
Short-term, goal-based support to get back on your feet after illness, a fall or hospital.
Commissioned. Arranged through a social worker or discharge team.
Could you do this work? Reablement is some of the most rewarding work in care: it is targeted, you can see the progress, and you hand people back their independence. We are recruiting across Devon and no experience is needed to start.
Ready to talk about reablement?
There is no pressure and no obligation. Just an honest conversation about what would help.