Adult Services

Health and Social Care Services work in partnership to provide advice and assistance to help vulnerable adults live their lives to the full.  We aim to encourage and enable people to live as independently as possible in their own homes or in a homely environment with support if and when they need it.   Whatever your personal situation, finding the right services to meet your needs is important. - you may be an older person and are finding it difficult to look after yourself at home, you might have been ill or in hospital and need some support until you recover, you may have a physical, sensory or learning disability, a mental health problem or substance misuse issues. 

We hope that our website provides you with the information you need about our care and support services, who can get help, what kind of help is available, how to apply for it and what happens when you apply.  We have included links to the websites of voluntary support organisations which you may also find useful.

Who can get help?

If you or the person you care for is having difficulties managing with everyday tasks you may be entitled to help from Adult Social Services.

In line with Government guidance called ‘Fair Access to Care Services’; we will assess, plan and provide care for adults who have needs that fall within the agreed criteria.  The eligibility criteria agreed in Barnsley consists of two bands; Critical and Substantial. 

Critical
•    Where there is immediate risk to life or physical safety.
•    Serious abuse has occurred or will occur.
•    Significant health problems have developed or will develop.
•    Where someone is homeless or potentially homeless.
•    Where someone is unable to carry out basic personal care or domestic routines.
•    Vital involvement in work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained.
•    Where carers providing substantial and regular support are no longer able to cope.
•    Where vital family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken.

Substantial
•    Inability to maintain a safe/sanitary environment.
•    Abuse or neglect has occurred or will occur.
•    Where someone has little control over the home environment.
•    Where someone is unable or will become unable to carry out the majority of personal care or domestic routines.
•    Involvement in many aspects of work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained.
•    Care network is at substantial risk of collapse or not well supported by others.
•    Where the majority of family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken.

You will be contacted by a care manager or social worker within 48 hours of your request.  The assessment should then be completed within 28 days.

Charging for Services

The law allows local authorities to decide what to charge for non-residential social care services as long as it is not more than the services cost to provide.  Adult Social Services will take into account how much you can afford to pay when setting the charge, including your income, savings and any benefits that you are in receipt of.  Home care is charged at an hourly rate and day care is charged per session subject to an agreed maximum charge.  You will receive information about charges for services at your assessment.  Charges for transport are set at a low level and you will normally have to pay the charge regardless of how much income and savings you have.

You can ask for advice and assistance with benefits claims at the time of your assessment or you can contact the Welfare Rights service on 0800 915 3339.

Click on the link below for more information about how we charge for Non-Residential services including some frequently asked questions.

Paying for services

Adult Social Services Charging Policy 2007/8

If your needs do not fall into one of the above categories but you feel that you need some support to help you to remain living independently in your community there may be other services which can help. Contact your nearest Adult Social Services Locality Team for more information. Adult Social Services contacts and addresses

For information about Barnsley Primary Care Trust log onto barnsleypct.nhs.uk

The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) are responsible for making sure that social care services in England are as good as they can be.  Their website contains lots of useful information about finding the right care service for you http://www.csci.org.uk