Quality Service Charter for Elderly and Special Needs Section - Gozo

 

Contents

This Charter

How do I contact you

What kind of service can I expect from you

Telecare Service

Handyman Service

Assistance to Persons with Incontinence Problems

Home Help / Care Service

Day Centre

Meals on Wheels

Applications for a Special Identity Card for Persons with Disability

If I am not satisfied with our service

How can I make a suggestion?

 

This Charter

At the section for the Elderly and Special Needs Section within the Department of Customer Services, Ministry for Gozo, we provide community care services for elderly and disabled persons.

As people get older, they may need a different kind of support to continue leading an active, healthy and independent life. Likewise persons with disabilities. It is for this reason that in this Charter, we are committed to providing the following services with quality standards:

  • Telecare Service
  • Handyman Service
  • Assistance to persons with incontinence problems
  • Home Help
  • Day Centre
  • Meals on Wheels
  • Special Identity Card for persons with disability

 

How do I contact you?

Our offices are open from Monday to Friday from 7.30a.m. to 2.00p.m. and on Saturday from 7.30am to 12.00pm. If you phone or call at our offices, one of our customer service representatives will be more than willing to help you and provide you with application forms for all the services listed in this charter.

Our address and telephone numbers are:

Elderly and Special Needs Section

Department of Customer Services

St. Francis Square

Victoria VCT 102

Gozo

Tel: 21557661, 21563043

What kind of service can I expect from you?

In all our contacts with you, we will be:

  • caring and understanding
  • courteous and approachable
  • respectful
  • clear and helpful in our dealings with you
  • efficient when dealing with your enquiries or complaints.

We will also respect your privacy and maintain full confidentiality unless you yourself stipulate otherwise.

 

Telecare Service

What is this service?

We offer the Telecare service through Maltacom. Telecare works by using a special telephone (Lifeline) connected through the normal telephone line. When in need, you will be able to get help at the push of a button.

Maltacom PLC will install the telephone apparatus as well as give you a pendent (a small apparatus with a button that you carry with you at all times when in the house). You will now have a 24-hour direct contact with the Telecare centre. When you press the button, the centre will notify the person you would have identified to us as being the one to contact in an emergency (a relative, friend, somebody who has the key to your house or a doctor).

Who is eligible to apply for this service?

Elderly persons as well as registered disabled persons are eligible to receive this service. In order to apply for this service, you may collect a form from our offices. Complete it, sign it, and pass it on to your doctor before returning it to us. It is necessary that your doctor provide us with information about your medical and social needs for us to be able to assess the urgency of your case.

What is the cost for using this service?

You will be charged for the rental of the apparatus installed, and this varies according to the equipment that you require.

 

Category of equipment required - Rent for 3 months

Lifeline with one remote control -  €6.99

Lifeline with remote control which has an active cord - €7.25

Lifeline with two remote controls - €8.15

Lifeline with two remote controls which have an active cord - €9.32

 

This charge will be added to the rent that you pay for normal telephone use.

The rates listed above are already subsidised. If you are entitled to "free medical aid" (pink card) you will be exempt from paying rent for Telecare. However you will still need to pay for the rent of your telephone line.

What happens once I have applied?

When we receive your completed application form, we will arrange to come and visit you within 5 working days. During this visit we will:

  • draw up a contract based on the information that you provide us with
  • ask you for details of any persons you would like the Telecare Centre to contact in case of emergency.

Within fifteen working days from this home visit Maltacom will install the telephone apparatus for you. One of our staff will then visit you within one month to ensure that you are not finding any problems in using the apparatus.

What else do I need to know about the Telecare Service?

In order for Maltacom to install the apparatus, you will need a 13amp socket close to where you want them to install it.

Should you have a fault in the Telecare apparatus, please contact the Telecare Centre on 21483601, 24 hours a day.

 

Handyman Service

What is this service?

We provide a Handyman Service in collaboration with the Construction and Maintenance Unit (C.M.U). We provide advice and assistance and the handyman will take care of small maintenance jobs and repairs round the house, like:

  • woodwork
  • plumbing
  • electrical work
  • adaptations to home in case of impaired mobility.

Who is eligible?

Persons over 60 as well as registered disabled persons are eligible to make use of this service. In order to apply for this service, you can either contact us by phone or call at our offices. You need to contact us each time you need some work to be done and to inform us on the type of work that you need.

Is there a cost for using this service?

You will be exempted from paying for labour costs for the Handyman Service if you are an elderly person and hold a pink card, or if you are a registered disabled person. Yet, you still need to pay for the cost of any materials used.

If you do not fall within the above categories you will also need to pay for labour costs. Details of costs can be found in the application form.

What happens once I have applied?

A handyman will contact you in order to fix an appointment and to discuss further what work you need to be done. He will also let you know about the cost of the materials involved so that you will authorise him to buy them on your behalf. The handyman will visit you to do the necessary work within 48 hours of your request.

On completion of work you are required to pay the handyman for labour costs and/or materials purchased, if any. Always make sure that he gives you a receipt.

 

Assistance to Persons with Incontinence Problems

What is this service?

We provide diapers for persons with incontinence problems through two schemes. Scheme A is for disabled persons under 60 years of age. Scheme B is for the elderly over 60 years of age.

Is there a cost for using this service?

If you are over 60 you are entitled to a subsidy of 0.07 per diaper on the approved amount of diapers needed. If you have a Special ID Card issued by the National Commission, Persons with Disability (under 60 years) you will get a limited amount of diapers for free. This amount is set according to the size of diapers needed as follows:

  • diapers size B, C: 112 monthly
  • diapers size M: 98 monthly
  • diapers size D, E, F: 84 monthly

How can I apply?

You need to collect the appropriate form from our office. If you require the service you can send somebody else on your behalf as long as this person brings your Identity Card. A doctor must sign the form or else you need to bring with you a medical certificate officially stamped that indicates that you have incontinence problems. If you are applying under scheme A, you also need to bring the special ID Card issued by the National Commission for Persons with Disability.

What happens after I apply?

If you are applying under Scheme A, the National Commission for Persons with Disability in Malta will send you a white voucher monthly which you can exchange for diapers when the department indicates.

If you are applying under Scheme B, we will give you a green card when you hand in your application that will entitle you to receive the subsidy.

How do I make use of this service?

You may collect the diapers from our distribution centres. We will inform you about opening hours and location of the distribution centre when you hand in your application. If you need more information, call Servizz Anzjan or the officer in charge on 21553218.

What are my obligations as a user of this service?

You should immediately inform us of any changes that may affect your eligibility to receive this service. For example:

  • you have changed your address
  • your need for diapers in terms of quantity or size has changed
  • you no longer require the service

 

Home Help / Care Service

What is this service?

We offer this service in order to help elderly and disabled persons to be more independent in their homes. This service is intended to provide you with domestic help and personal care. Casual Social Assistants are there to help you in:

  • washing the floors of the living quarters (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen)
  • general dusting of the furniture in these rooms
  • other services (like running of errands, shopping and collecting medicine).

The service can be provided for 2 to 12 hours per week. The Home Help Allocation Board determines the number of hours you may be entitled to. If you feel that you need more hours of Home Help than you are getting, you will need to make a request at our office. We will then resubmit it for the Board’s consideration

Who is eligible?

This scheme is open to persons over 65 years of age and disabled persons at the discretion of the Home Help Allocation Board. In order to apply for this service, you may collect a form from our offices. This form includes a medical report for your personal doctor to complete and you also need to attach two signed passport-sized photographs.

Is there a cost for using this service?

The cost for the services within the Home Help scheme is:

  • 2.33 per week for single persons
  • €3.49  per week for a married couple.

What happens after I apply?

Within two working days of returning the form we will visit you to assess your eligibility for the service. If we do not find you at home, we will call again. If we still do not find you, we will contact you by phone for an appointment.

We will then draw up a report and present it to the Home Help Allocation Board which meets once every ten working days. Within 5 working days of the Board’s decision we will inform you whether or not you will be receiving the service. If your application is accepted, we will then contact you by phone to arrange your first appointment with the Casual Social Assistant.

If your case is urgent, we will assess your needs on the same day of your application, and if it is determined that your case is genuine, service will be provided within 48hours.

If you apply for a new service or additional hours following hospitalisation an assessment will be made before your discharge. The service will be given on the day of discharge.

What else should I know about this service?

  • we will carry out home visits to assess the quality of service being delivered by the Casual Social Assistants
  • we will notify you by phone when the helper is going to be absent
  • we will receive your complaints regarding the helpers in strictest confidence. Remember that you have the right to accept or refuse your helper.

 

Day Centre

What is this service?

At the day centre we aim to provide a social outlet for elderly persons residing in Gozo who might otherwise feel isolated from the community. By enriching the lives of the elderly, this service helps prevent the onset of  conditions that would entail greater dependency on their family.

We run this day centre with the collaboration of Caritas (Gozo) and the local councils of Rabat, Xewkija, Ghajnsielem, Qala, Sannat, Gharb, Ghasri, Zebbug, Fontana, San Lawrenz and Munxar.

Activities program

The services that we offer at the day centre and the activities that we organise are meant to provide physical, emotional, social and spiritual support. We also try to maintain your old interests whilst giving you the opportunity to explore new ones. We provide:

  • transport to and from the centre free of charge
  • breakfast and lunch every day
  • the services of a hairdresser at subsidised rates
  • talkingbook service in collaboration with the Public Library
  • educational talks
  • frequent outdoor activities and recreational excursions.

A doctor, nurse and podologist are also in attendance at this centre on a regular basis.

Who is eligible?

If you are an elderly persons residing in the localities mentioned above, you can contact your local council or directly at the day centre at:

Dar San Guzepp

Triq l-Imgarr

Ghajnsielem

Tel: 21565891

You can also apply at our offices. Registration is free, but for every attendance there is a fee of 2.33, which includes breakfast, lunch and activities.

 

Meals on Wheels

What is this service?

You can start receiving a home delivery hot meal service which we provide in collaboration with the:

  • Ministry for Gozo
  • Friends of the Sick and Elderly (Gozo)
  • Social Action Movement (Gozo).

Every day, a three-course meal will be delivered at your home for which you pay at a subsidised rate of  2.33 . You may apply at our offices, at your local council or at the MAS complex in Ghajnsielem.

 

Special Identity Card for Persons with Disability

How can I apply?

If you suffer from a disability and require other services, you may apply for a Special Identity Card issued by the National Commission for Persons with Disability. The application form may be collected from our offices and needs to be filled in by a General Practitioner.

You will also be required to fill in a questionnaire issued by the Commission. The purpose of the questionnaire is for the Commission to gather aggregate data in order to promote equal opportunities for all, plan services well and render benefits accessible to all.

Our staff will help you fill in all the requested information.

What happens after I apply?

When you submit the application form, we will forward it to the National Commission for Persons with Disability in Malta. Within 3 weeks, the Commission will send you your card that entitles you to receive the following additional services:

  • exemption from Road Tax on a vehicle
  • exemption from Road Licence payment
  • a ‘Reserved Parking/Keep Clear Bay’ in front of your residence
  • a ‘Blue Sticker’ – ‘Disabled Persons Parking Permit’
  • Special Help Service (Advice and/or financial help)

We send all applications for the above services to the National Commission for Persons with Disability in Malta. It is at their discretion to decide whether or not you are eligible for the particular service. If you have any difficulties regarding a reply to your application you should contact the Commission at:

National Commission, Persons with Disability

Centru Hidma Socjali

Santa Venera, HMR 18

Malta

 

Tel: 21487789 / 21448521/ 21245952/ 21441311/ 2 / 3

Fax: 21484609

If you are not satisfied with our service

If you think that we have failed to maintain our service delivery standards for our chartered services, you may write to:

The Director

Section for the Elderly and People with Disability

Department of Customer Services

St. Francis Square

Victoria VCT 102

Gozo

You will receive an acknowledgement within 2 working days of receipt and a full answer within 10 working days of acknowledgement.

If you have followed this procedure and are not satisfied with the outcome, or with the way we tackled your complaint you can write to:

The Permanent Secretary

Ministry for Gozo

St. Francis Square,

Victoria VCT 102

Gozo

 

How can I make a suggestion?

We want to know what you think about these services that we offer, so that we can maintain and improve our standards of quality service. Kindly give us your comments by filling in a Feedback Form and leaving it in a suggestion box we have made available in our reception area. We assure you that our customer service representative taking your feedback will treat it with the strictest confidentiality.

All information is correct at time of going to print. More information is available on the Charter Support Unit website.

 

 

Published by the Charter Support Unit, OPM

http://www.servicecharters.gov.mt

Printed at the Government Press

Photography, DOI

 First published  May 1999

January 2002