How can Somerset County Council help you? We have lots of information available that you can use, which, with the assistance of those close to you, may be sufficient to help you make informed choices and arrange or buy what you need to ensure that your care and support needs are met.
You may like to discuss your needs with someone from Adult Social Care. A good starting point, if you are able to, is to visit a Community Connect centre. See page 5. Otherwise, contact us directly for a needs assessment. See page 4 for contact details.
Needs assessments If you contact us, we will first try to provide the information you need over the phone. If this isn’t possible, we will ask someone from a social care team to talk with you. They will aim to phone you back within 48 hours, but when demand is high this may take longer. They will try to give you the information you need over the phone, or ask that you visit a Community Connect centre, where someone from Adult Social Care will be on hand to talk with you.
Community Connect centre. Alternatively, you or a friend, relative or a health professional like your GP (if they have your permission), can ask for an assessment by phoning us on: 0300 123 2224.
Someone from Adult Social Care may need to visit you in your home and talk with you and other people who matter to you. This meeting will make sure we understand you so that we can help you decide what might work for you. This process is called a ‘needs assessment’ and is something everyone is entitled to.
• what you can do for yourself;
We can assess the needs of adults of working age and older people who have disabilities, mental health issues, a sensory loss or general frailty. Our aim is to actively promote independence and choice, to help people live in their own homes for as long as possible. If someone can’t live at home, we can help them choose good-quality supported housing or care homes.
• what you think you need or would like to achieve; and
If you are in hospital, the nursing staff can arrange for a social worker to speak with you, either during your stay in hospital or once you have returned home. Anyone can ask for a needs assessment, regardless of their financial situation. The assessment and advice are free. How to get an assessment The best way to get an assessment is to visit a
What matters to me? A needs assessment is a discussion to make sure that we understand what matters to you and are clear about what you need. It includes finding out: • what difficulties you have;
• what you cannot manage at all; • what you can’t manage now, but with some support may be able to do in the future; • who helps you now;
• the best way of meeting your needs. With your permission, we will also talk to people closely involved with you. For example, your carer, family and friends. Other professionals, such as an occupational therapist, physiotherapist or district nurse may be included as part of your assessment. This will make sure you are given the right information to make choices about your future. All the information you provide will be kept securely. We will share relevant information with professionals like a doctor or nurse, unless you ask us not to. Throughout your assessment, you can always have your carer, a relative, an advocate (see page 7) or a friend present to support you. See page 55 for information about mental capacity.
Visit www.carechoices.co.uk for further assistance with your search for care
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