Providing the way into the Social Services Department for the public and partners which can be easily identified and offers a consistently welcoming, positive, informative and accurate response.
Service Motto: "Yes, we can help".
Access Service staff will help identify whether your problem is something with which Social Services would deal. If it is then our staff can provide you with information about our services, and the process whereby these services are allocated. They may be able to resolve the problem there and then, or arrange the provision of a service, for example, meals on wheels.
However if the situation is more complex, it is possible to arrange to see someone at the Access team office. For example, a family where a child or young person is experiencing problems may benefit from discussing their situation with a social worker.
Where somebody needs to be assessed in their own home, the Access team would refer on to one of the specialist teams. These are teams that work specifically with children, or older people or adults with special needs, such as mental illness or physical disability.
The core responsibilities of the department are to protect the vulnerable or those at risk. The Access Service has to identify these situations and gather the information necessary to ensure a prompt response by the Department.
However the Service’s remit is much wider, seeking to inform, advise and counsel people whether their concerns are for a child or a pensioner, as a carer or as a person cared for.
Where necessary Access staff will redirect to another agency or service callers whose problems are not appropriate for Social Services.
Other Help:
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