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Who gets help from Social Services?
How we work out who needs help the most
To work out if we can help you we will ask you some questions about you and the problems you are having. We may also discuss your problems with other people like your health visitor, family doctor or relatives - after seeking your permission. If you have appointed someone to manage your finances or property (Power of Attorney) you can ask us to speak to them, and you can ask for a relative, neighbour or friend to support you if necessary. We call this an assessment of your needs.
The answers you give to the questions we ask are important, as they help us work out whether your needs make you eligible to receive help from Social Services. We use eligibility criteria to make sure that our resources are used helping those people in greatest need of support.
Who do you help, care for, support and protect?
- vulnerable older people
- children in need
- people with a physical disability or sensory impairment
- people with a learning disability
- people affected by HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis C
- people with mental health problems
- carers of all ages
(a carer is someone who provides regular care for a relative, partner or friend, who needs support because they cannot manage at home by themselves)
How do you help?
Everyone can ask for information and advice from Social Services. This might be all you need. If you need more support then examples of the types of help we may provide include:
- home care
- meals on wheels
- residential care
- day centres
- child protection
- family support centres
- rehabilitation after an accident or illness
- adoption and fostering
- respite care
- occupational therapy
- equipment and adaptations
- city wide alarm service
These web pages contain information about our priorities and criteria - how we prioritise our budgets to make sure we support those most in need of our help. There's more information about the wide range of voluntary and community organisations who provide information, advice and help. You'll also find details of some of the companies you can contact to purchase equipment and services - such as help with shopping, or practical help such as cleaning.
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