Website of the Department of Health

Finding out about services

Action point: Ask a social worker about any of these services or contact your local authority social services/social work department.

Social services departments publish local Community Care Charters, drawn up together with housing departments and the National Health Service (NHS).These enable users of services and carers to know who is responsible for what and the standard of the service they can expect.

Assessing your needs

If you are a disabled person, you have the right to ask the social services department for an assessment of your care needs. A social worker, care manager or occupational therapist will visit to discuss your needs and wishes. Carers of disabled people can also ask for a separate assessment of their own needs (see the section 'For carers' under 'Help with particular needs').

If you then need a range of services, and are eligible according to local criteria, social services will put together a 'package' of support which may include services from private or voluntary organisations. If necessary they will put you in touch with the NHS or other local authority services like housing.You may have to pay towards the cost of some of the services.

The range of services

Home care or home help services can help you with your personal and domestic care needs (such as cleaning or shopping).

Meals on wheels can deliver a hot meal to your home if you have problems cooking.You may also be able to eat at a day centre or luncheon club, perhaps for a small charge.

Equipment and adaptations
Social services provide a range of aids and equipment for disabled people to use at home.They also work with housing departments and housing associations to provide adaptations. An occupational therapist will usually carry out your assessment (see 'Equipment' and 'Housing and home' under 'Help with everyday needs').

Day centres provide facilities for recreation and training to help people back to work. They may offer some supported employment and educational and sporting activities, and social events.

Day care
If you are a disabled person or your child is disabled or considered to be in need, your child may be able to go to a day nursery, a registered childminder or part-time playgroup.

Help for carers and respite care (see 'For carers' under 'Help with particular needs').

Help with independent living (see the relevant page in this chapter).

Social workers/care managers work in either the community or in hospitals.They will assess your needs and provide services and equipment to meet them if you are eligible.They will provide you with support for benefits, family difficulties and issues that concern you and your family. If you are in hospital, the social worker/care manager will help you to arrange services in preparation for your discharge.

Residential care
The care assessment may result in a decision to provide residential accommodation in a care home or nursing home. If so, the local authority will either provide a place in one of its own homes or contract with an independent (private or voluntary) home to provide a place. Local authorities must make sure that people have a genuine choice of home and that it is suitable for their needs.When an authority provides a place in a home, it assesses on a means-tested basis the ability of the resident to contribute to the cost. Most income and capital, above appropriate levels, is taken into account when arriving at the amount you should contribute.

Registration as a disabled person

You can, if you wish, register as a disabled person with your local authority. Although this is not necessary to obtain local authority services, it may help in getting concessions such as reduced fares (see 'Getting around' under 'Help with everyday needs').

Voting

If you have difficulty in getting to a polling station or in voting, you can apply for a postal vote to your local electoral registration officer using form RPF7 from your local council offices.