Community care and who qualifies

Community care is the help and support Social Services provides to adults, and those who care for them, so that people can live independent lives in the community. We can provide the support either in people's own homes (wherever possible) or in other care settings such as sheltered or 'very' sheltered housing or in a care home. People aged 18 and over who may need community care services include those with needs arising from:

• old age and physical frailty
• physical disabilities
• sensory disabilities (problems with your hearing or sight)
• learning disabilities
• mental health difficulties

We give priority to people with the greatest care needs when providing help or support. Community care also takes account of the needs of carers. We do not provide community care support for life because the services we provide can change as the needs of the individual change. Many people only need help for a short time (sometimes for a few weeks after coming out of hospital) and are then able to look after themselves without any more help. As well as assessing care needs, we provide some community care services, although we buy the greater amount from independent or voluntary care providers.

Who is entitled to community care services?

You are entitled to a community care assessment if you have a disability or any social care needs. The type of assessment we carry out will depend on what your needs are. In most cases we can start the assessment within days and complete it within a month. To find out more about community care download the following guide.

• Community care for adults