What happens if I need help from Social Services?
If you think you might need help then contact the Adult Care Team, an experience worker will provide advice and information to help you.
if appropriate a referral will be taken and you will be visited by an officer who will discuss what help you need and whether you qualify for services to support your needs. This process is called “assessment.’’
The assessment is about you, and is completed with you. With your agreement, we may also talk to other people who know you, or support you, including your doctor or nurse if you have one.
You may be entitled to an assessment if you are over 18 and finding it difficult to look after yourself, or live the way you want to because you have:
- a learning disability
- a mental health problem
- dementia
- lost some or all of your hearing or sight
- a physical disability or injury
- health problems that affect your independence
What if I am looking after someone?
If you are a carer, and you think you need help, Social Services can also carry out an assessment of your needs. This is known as a ‘carers assessment’. The carers assessment helps us consider the best way to support you in your caring role.
If you would like to talk to someone about having a 'carers assessment', contact the Adult Care Team
How quickly will you do my assessment?
When you or someone else on your behalf contacts us, we will decide how quickly to do your assessment. This will depend on how urgent your needs are, and to what extent your difficulties are affecting your independence. No matter what your circumstances are, we will always start your assessment within 48 hours of the original contact, and your assessment will be completed within 28 days.
What happens after my assessment?
Your assessment will give us the information we need to decide whether we can get you some help. The kind of help you will be entitled to will depend on your situation.
The government has decided that we should make decisions about whether you should receive help on the basis of looking at the difficulties you are experiencing, and how much these affect your independence.
The extent to which your difficulties affect your independence will be separated into 5 ‘bandings’ which help us consider the degree of risk to your independence either now, or in the near future, if help were not provided:
- Critical
- Greater Substantial
- Lesser Substantial
- Moderate
- Low
So what does this mean?
Those people whose needs are assessed as being at critical or greater substantial will receive services to support those needs.
Those people who are assessed as lesser substantial, moderate or low will receive advice and information.
Fair access to Care Services - Eligibility Policy
In 2002 the Department of Health issued policy guidance on Fair Access to Care Services (FACS). This guidance provides a framework for determining eligibility for all adult social care services. For more information please read the document below.
What sorts of services are available to help me?
After your assessment, if we decide that social services can help you, we will discuss with you what services could help you.
Some examples may be:
- A formal carer to support you with washing and dressing or using the toilet, or other personal or daily routines
- Short term services aimed at helping you regain your confidence and independence
- Day care facilities aimed at providing your carer with a break, or giving you the opportunity to get out and meet people, and participate in activities or learn new skills
- Meals on wheels, where there are no other options
- Respite or short stay options in residential or nursing homes
- One to one support designed to help you access or participate in education or learning opportunities
- Equipment and technology designed to help you stay at home safely
Depending on your situation, we can tell you which services you could receive, how often you could receive them, and for how long you could receive them.
We can also provide you with information about Direct Payments (see Related Pages below). Direct Payments can be made to you if we have decided that you are entitled to some help, but you would like to arrange and manage this help yourself.
Will I have to pay for the help I get?
You may have to pay for some of the help you get.
During your assessment we will discuss this with you, and complete a financial assessment form to determine how much you should pay towards any help you receive.
What happens if Social Services cannot help me?
Where your assessment has shown us that the difficulties you have and the corresponding risks to your independence fall within the Lesser Substantial, Moderate or Low bands we will provide you with information and advice to enable you to arrange help for yourself. In some circumstances, we may help you to do this.
If we cannot offer any services to help you, we will let you know. We will always try to tell you about any other help that you may be able to get with any particular problems you may still have.
The Council provides financial support to many voluntary sector organisations who can help you with advice, information, and services designed to help you stay independent in your own home.
What if I disagree with the decisions that are made?
You have the right to challenge decisions made by the Council. These may be decisions about
- The ‘difficulties’ or ‘needs’ you are not eligible for help with
- The type of service we feel would be appropriate for you
This is called the ‘appeals process.’ Your response officer, care manager, care co-ordinator or social worker can:
- provide you with information about the appeals process and what you need to do. (see How to appeal - Financial Assessments)
- put you in touch with advocacy organisations that will provide you with independent support throughout our assessment and decision-making processes, or if you need help to express your wishes or concerns.
Related Pages: