1. What Are Social Services?

Social services, also known as adult social care, provide support to adults who need help with daily living due to age, disability, illness, or other circumstances. They're funded by local authorities and aim to help people live as independently as possible. For vulnerable adults in supported housing, social services can be an important source of additional support.

Social services assess people's needs and, if eligible, provide or arrange support. This might include help at home, equipment or adaptations, day centres, or residential care. Understanding what social services do and how to access them is valuable if you need additional support beyond what your housing provider offers.

2. When to Contact Social Services

You might need social services support if you're struggling with daily tasks due to physical or mental health difficulties, disability, or age. Situations where social services might help include:

  • Needing help with personal care like washing or dressing
  • Finding it hard to manage at home safely
  • Needing equipment or home adaptations
  • Requiring support to stay independent
  • Being a carer for someone else and needing support

If you're unsure whether social services can help, it's worth contacting them anyway. They can assess your situation and advise on what support is available.

3. Making a Referral

Anyone can contact social services to ask for help. You can refer yourself, or someone else like a support worker, GP, or family member can refer you with your permission. To make a referral:

  • Contact your local authority social services department
  • Explain what you need help with
  • Provide your details and consent
  • Be honest about your difficulties

Once a referral is made, social services will decide whether you need an assessment. Not everyone referred will get one, it depends on whether your needs meet the criteria.

4. Assessments

If social services decide you might be eligible for support, they'll arrange an assessment. This involves a social worker or assessor talking to you about your needs, what you can manage, and what you need help with. The assessment considers:

  • What you can and can't do
  • How your needs affect your daily life and wellbeing
  • What you want to achieve
  • What support you already have
  • What additional support might help

Be honest during assessments. Don't downplay difficulties because you worry about seeming incapable. The assessment is about getting you the right support, which requires understanding your real situation.

5. What Help Is Available

If you're assessed as eligible, social services can provide or arrange various types of support. This might include:

  • Support workers to help with daily tasks
  • Equipment like mobility aids
  • Home adaptations for accessibility
  • Day centres or social activities
  • Respite care if you're caring for someone
  • Direct payments, money to arrange your own support

Not all support is free. Depending on your finances, you might need to contribute to the cost. Social services will do a financial assessment to work out what, if anything, you need to pay.

6. Working with Social Workers

If you have ongoing involvement with social services, you'll likely have a social worker. Building a good working relationship with them helps ensure you get appropriate support. Tips for working effectively with social workers include:

  • Being honest about your needs and circumstances
  • Keeping appointments or letting them know if you can't
  • Communicating clearly about what is and isn't working
  • Asking questions if you don't understand something
  • Keeping records of conversations and decisions

Remember that social workers have high caseloads. Being organised and clear in your communication helps them help you more effectively.

7. When Things Don't Go as Planned

Sometimes social services don't provide the support you think you need, or decisions don't seem fair. If this happens:

  • Ask for clear explanations of decisions
  • Request a review if you disagree
  • Use formal complaints procedures if needed
  • Seek advocacy support to help you navigate the system
  • Contact your local councillor if issues aren't being resolved

Don't give up if the first response isn't what you need. The system can be navigated, though it sometimes requires persistence and support.

8. Final Thoughts

Navigating social services can feel daunting, but they exist to help. If you need support beyond what your housing provider offers, don't hesitate to contact them. With the right approach and support, you can access the help you need to live as independently as possible. And if you find the system confusing, ask your support workers for help. They can guide you through the process and advocate on your behalf.