When you request a service from social services, we do an assessment with you. For assessment a worker is assigned to work with you to find out what your needs are and how best to help you.

 

Getting an assessment

To request any service from social services or housing, contact us. 

 

Our response time

When you call to ask for help, we will begin the assessment process within 48 hours.

When your health and safety is at risk if you do not receive immediate help, we will do the assessment within 24 hours.

 

The assessment

For assessment a worker is assigned to work with you to find out what your needs are and how best to help you. Whether you get a service or not can also depend on our eligibility criteria.

Eligibility There are many people who might benefit from a range of care services but there are limited resources. For that reason, social services uses clear eligibility criteria to decide priorities for individual access to care services. More information about eligibility criteria

After the assessment, we will write to you. The letter will set out details of the services you will receive, who will provide them, and when they will start.

We will clearly explain our decisions to you. If services are refused, we will give you advice and point you to more appropriate services.

We will tell you what you can do if you disagree with our decision.

 

Assessment for carers

If you care for someone, you have the right to an assessment of your own needs and your ability to continue caring. This can be done as part of assessment of the person you are caring for. But you have the right to a separate assessment.

Services may be provided to you as a carer to assist you to provide care and to offer respite from caring.

 

Charges for services

Some services are free, depending on your needs. If there are changes we will tell you and we will also tell you if there is any help available for paying them.

The fairer charging team will look at your finances and also advise you on benefits which you might be entitled to.

Fairer charging More information about our fairer charging policy

 

Mental health

If you receive specialist mental health services, the standards set out in the 'Care Programme Approach' (CPA) apply. If you want to know more about CPA, please ask.

 

Review

If you receive a service from social services it will be reviewed within 28 days of the service starting.

It will be reviewed again within 12 months of the service starting and yearly after that. However if your situation changes before your next review, please contact us so that the review can be brought forward.

 

Sharing information

Social services and health services work closely together. We want to improve quality of life by providing well co-ordinated services.

To do this, we sometimes carry out joint assessments, or share information that would assist other professionals in providing care. Information is shared on a need to know basis. It is always shared with your consent.