The term social care covers a wide range of services provided by local authorities or privately.

A person’s deafblindness, whether congenital or acquired, or if they have an additional disability, are important factors in what forms of care they choose or need.

Social care can mean personal care assistance in your own home, to residential services in a care home. For deafblind people it can include communicator-guides, specialised equipment, or intervenors for children at home.

Eligibility

Firstly you must either make yourself known to a local authority (LA) or be referred to one. It is set in law and guidance that the LA must undertake an assessment of the person, and determine their needs. Then the LA decides which needs it will meet and drafts a care plan together with you.

Payments

The local authority will calculate how much money is needed to meet the person’s needs.

The person can choose to take direct payments or receive their services directly provided by the council.

A financial assessment will be undertaken to see whether the person can contribute to the care themselves.

How Sense can help

The social care process is complicated and that is why we have information throughout this section to help you.

If you have any questions please contact our Information and Advice service.