Are the Social Services the same thing as Social Security?
What do Social Services provide?
Who can Social Services help?
How can I go about getting help from Social Services for myself or someone else?
How do I contact my local Social Services Department?
Do Social Services charge for the services they provide?
How can I contact Social Services outside normal working hours?
If I want to complain who do I contact?
Are the Social Services the same thing as Social Security?
No. The Department of Social Security (now named Department of Work and Pensions) is a central government department that administers state benefits to eligible claimants.The Social Services are a department of the local authority responsible for the provision of social care for vulnerable adults and children.
What do Social Services provide?
Social Services form part of a local authority’s services for the local community. They work closely with other departments and agencies, including local NHS services and voluntary organisations, in delivering help and support in the form of services for adults or children in need. The types of services provided might include domiciliary or day care, aids and equipment to help maintain independence in the home, residential care, child-protection, carer support or re-settlement support following discharge from hospital.
Who can Social Services help?
Social Services provide a range of support and help from adult to child services. Services for Adults include:
- People with physical or learning disabilities
- Older people
- Those with mental health problems
- Visual and/or hearing impaired
- Those who misuse substances
- Those affected by HIV/AIDS
- Those being discharged from hospital
They also provide support to the carers of people with these needs. Children’s services include:
- Help for children with disabilities or serious health problems
- Children leaving care
- Young people who are homeless
- Children subject to investigation or on the Child Protection Register
Social Services can enable you to cope better living in your own home by adapting the home with appropriate appliances such as switches, ramp, hand rails etc. Depending on your circumstances, you may be asked to contribute towards the costs.
How can I go about getting help from Social Services for myself or someone else?
You will need to get in touch with the relevant social work team and ask for an assessment of needs to be undertaken in order to determine urgency of need and to produce a care plan. In some cases, a GP might make a referral for an assessment on behalf of a patient.
How do I contact my local Social Services Department?
To find out where your local Social Services departments visit our search for social services page.
Do Social Services charge for the services they provide?
The services of social workers provided by Social Services are free of charge. Other services may be at a fixed rate and others may be means tested. Whatever your individual circumstances, the Social Services department will advise you on charges and availability. Charges can be made for the following:
- Contributing towards the cost of equipment
- Home & community based services
- Nursing or Residential Home care
You can get advice regarding charges from your local Social Services offices.
How can I contact Social Services outside normal working hours?
You can telephone the main Social Services number for your area - most of them will have a recorded message explaining how to contact their out-of-hours service. In most cases this will be via the Emergency Duty Team on a separate number. To find your local Social Services out-of-hours contact number, please use our search for social services page.
If I want to complain who do I contact?
You can address your complaint directly to staff or the manager of the service involved. If this is not satisfactory social services departments have a designated complaints officer who can arrange for a formal investigation of your complaint. You should write to the Director of Social Services.
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