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Social care services
Adult Social Care Services (commonly known as social services), play a vital role in your local authority. We protect, care for and support vulnerable people to enable them to live as full and independent lives as possible. Services include those for:- people with physical or sensory (sight/hearing) disabilities
- people with learning disabilities
- older people (65+)
- people recovering from being in hospital
- people with HIV or AIDS
- people with mental health problems
- people with alcohol or drug problems
- people who are carers
For info on the above services or to make a referral for a social care assessment please contact the Access Point.
Also, see the information sheets which outline details about financial charges and specialist services within social care. You may also find the following leaflet useful:
To find out if you are entitled to help from Adult Social Care see information about the service's eligibility criteria.
Social care services for children and families, including child protection, are carried out by the Children and Young People's Trust.
For details about why information is collected about service users and the ways this information may be used, or if you wish to see records held about you by local health and social care services, the leaflet What you need to know about Adult Social Care Services 2010 [pdf 468kb] will be helpful.
Who are responsible for providing local social care services?
Social care services for adults and older people are undertaken by Adult Social Care Services within the Adult Social Care & Housing directorate. The services work closely with local health services (NHS) in the city. Some services are integrated with NHS and 'hosted' by South Downs NHS Trust and jointly commissioned with the Brighton & Hove City Primary Care Trust.Social care services for children and families are undertaken by the Children and Young People's Trust. Children and family services work closely with education and schools, as well as local health services.
For further information
If you would like to request help for yourself or on behalf of someone else, please complete the e-form - Social Care application for services
If you would like further information or are unsure who to contact, please call: Access Point
Tel: (01273) 295555
Mini-com: (01273) 296388
Fax: (01273) 296372
email: accesspoint@brighton-hove.gov.uk
or see the information leaflets about local NHS and social care services
Where else to find help
You can view information regarding Housing & Council Tax Benefit via this link.
The council has it's own welfare rights team offering independent advice all matters to do with social security benefits. If you are having difficulty claiming or want to challenge a decision contact Welfare Rights Team.
For information about all local public services visit www.direct.gov.uk
The government wants to create an Office for Disability Issues - a new body to co-ordinate disabled people's interests. The government also wants to set up a National Forum for Organisations of Disabled People. To find out more visit www.direct.gov.uk/disability.
If you are looking for information on welfare benefits this service is provided by the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus, both part of the Department for Work and Pensions (previously known as the Department of Social Security or DSS).
There are also a large number of local advice agencies in the city offering a mix of advice and information, often combined with other support services - see advice centres.
You can view events and join discussion forums on the Community Care website. They also produce recent Social Care news, and lists jobs in Social Care.