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Asessment questions

How to access a service

If you or someone you care for needs social care support then please:

contact your local offices for advice. Our office opening hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
complete our online self referral to see if you or the person you care for may be eligible for our services
or if you need urgent help accessing services outside usual office hours please contact the emergency duty team on 0845 6021043 .

Staff will be able to advise you what options are available and a social worker will need to assess your needs to find out what sort of support you might require. The social worker will decide if your needs are critical, substantial, moderate or low, and this will determine what sort of service you are entitled to. If your needs are low you may not be entitled to receive any service from us, but we will give you advice and tell you about any other organisations who might be able to give you support.

We will assess your needs:

Within 24 hours
where your independence or safety is immediately threatened, or if your health has deteriorated or arrangements for supporting you have broken down and this compromises your independence.
Within 5 working days
if you have substantial presenting needs, such as the need for significant assistance with personal care to help you stay in your own home and your current arrangements are either inadequate or in danger of breaking down.
Within 15 working days
if you have moderate presenting needs, for example a level of disability that prevents you from completing several normal daily routines.
Within 20 working days
for all other assessments.

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