Frequently Asked Questions - Vulnerable Adults and Older People

What do I need to do if I think I need help with Social / Personal Care needs.
What do I need to do if I think I need help with Disability equipment and adaptations for my home.
What do I need to do if I think I need help with Day Centres or Respite Care.
What are the opening hours for the Adult Contact Team?
When I have contacted the team to ask for help, what will happen?
What criteria are used to make sure my assessment is done fairly and is right for me?
What will happen when I have had an assessment?
What do I need to do if I want to look for a Care Home in Doncaster?
What do I need to do if I want to look for a Care Home in Doncaster and need financial assistance?
What does the CQC (Care Quality Commission) do?
What types of Service Information can I find out about from CQC (The Care Quality Commission)?
How can I find out how more about what the CQC (The Care Quality Commission) does, and why?
How can I contact local Care Homes?
What should I do if I am concerned that someone is being abused in a Care Home?
What do I need to do if I want to move someone from one care home to another?
What is a vulnerable adult?
What should I do if I am concerned that a vulnerable adult (not in care) is being abused?
Are there any procedures set down for the safety of vulnerable adults?
What do I need to do if a relative is in hospital and we think they will need help at home when they are discharged?
What do I need to do if someone I know is being discharged from hospital, but there is no-one at home who can look after them, or if we do not think they are well enough to be discharged?
How do I get help and advice if I care for someone over 18 years of age?

What do I need to do if I think I need help with Social / Personal Care needs.

You need to contact the Adult Contact Team, using the contact information at the top of this page, to discuss your needs. They will either be able to help you directly or signpost you to other agencies.

What do I need to do if I think I need help with Disability equipment and adaptations for my home.

What do I need to do if I think I need help with Day Centres or Respite Care.

What are the opening hours for the Adult Contact Team?

The duty hours of the team are 8.30am-5pm Monday to Friday

A walk-in service is available between 9.30 – 4pm at Social Care Reception based at Council House in Doncaster.

You can also make an appointment with a member of the duty team or a Social Worker based at the Social Care Reception Points in:

Mexborough Social Care Office,
Thorne Social Care Office
Bentley Social Care Office

For emergencies an Out of Hours service operates from 5pm Monday to Friday, all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. The contact number for the Out of Hours Service is 01302 796000. The person answering your call will take all the details from you and will pass the information onto a duty officer who will call you back.

When I have contacted the team to ask for help, what will happen?

Depending on your requirements, and if a health and social care assessment is needed, you may be offered a telephone assessment as the first step towards getting the help and support you need.

Depending on the outcome of the telephone assessment your case may be referred to an area team to conduct an in-home assessment.

At the in-home assessment, a member of the team will look at your individual needs and discuss them with you. This is so that the right support can be provided where necessary. Services you may need can include healthcare, equipment, help in your home and residential care.

The assessment will provide us with an understanding of which needs are most important and an evaluation of the risks to you if help were not provided.

What criteria are used to make sure my assessment is done fairly and is right for me?

All assessments of need are provided using the ‘Fair Access to Care Criteria’. Further information regarding this criteria can be obtained from the Department of Health Website.

What will happen when I have had an assessment?

Following the assessment, if appropriate, we will put together a package of support for you. This will be discussed with you and a written care plan will be given to you.

NB: The provision and cost of social care services or major adaptations is subject to financial assessment

What do I need to do if I want to look for a Care Home in Doncaster?

In the first instance you may wish to contact the Adult Contact Team using the contact details above. The team will be able to provide you with advice and support when looking for a Care Home. Further information can be found on the Care Homes in Doncaster for older people page. You can also contact The Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 03000 616161, visit their website www.cqc.org.uk , or email them enquiries@cqc.org.uk

What do I need to do if I want to look for a Care Home in Doncaster and need financial assistance?

Under these circumstances you must contact the Adult Contact Team in the first instance, who will be able to advise you further.

What does the CQC (Care Quality Commission) do?

CQC regulates, inspects and reviews all adult social care services in the public, private and voluntary sectors in England.

What types of Service Information can I find out about from CQC (The Care Quality Commission)?

CQC provides independent reports on the quality of all your local care homes, home care and other registered services, plus address and contact details, to help you make the right choice.

How can I find out how more about what the CQC (The Care Quality Commission) does, and why?

You can find out more about CQC by contacting them on 03000 616161, visiting their website http://www.cqc.org.uk/ , or emailing them enquiries@cqc.org.uk

How can I contact local Care Homes?

Doncaster Council has published a guide available here. Telephone numbers for all local care homes can be found in the Yellow Pages, or www.yell.com or by contacting Directory Enquiries. Contact details for local care homes can also be found on the CQC website http://www.cqc.org.uk/

What should I do if I am concerned that someone is being abused in a Care Home?

You should contact The Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 03000 616161, or visit their Website http://www.cqc.org.uk/ , or email them enquiries@cqc.org.uk

What do I need to do if I want to move someone from one care home to another?

If Doncaster Council provides funding for the person to stay in a care home then you must contact the Adult Contact Team to discuss the matter with them,using the contact information at the top of this page.

If the person is in a care home and is paying for it themselves then you should contact CQC (The Care Quality Commission) for advice and guidance.

What is a vulnerable adult?

Vulnerable adults may include people who:
- Are elderly and frail
- Suffer from a mental illness including dementia or a personality disorder
- Have a physical or sensory disability
- Have a learning disability
- Have a debilitating physical illness
- Are substance abusers
- Are carers
- Suffer discriminatory abuse on the grounds of race, culture, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation

What should I do if I am concerned that a vulnerable adult (not in care) is being abused?

Under these circumstances you must contact the Adult Contact Team, using the contact information at the top of this page, who will be able to investigate the allegation further.

Are there any procedures set down for the safety of vulnerable adults?

Yes, there is a joint South Yorkshire-wide Safeguarding Adults Policy, which was launched in 2007. The document establishes procedures that should be followed by all agencies when someone suspects that abuse has taken place.

The multi-agency Policy, Procedures and Practice Guidelines are concerned with vulnerable adults who are 18 and over and unable to protect themselves from abuse, in a variety of domestic and care settings.
Further information regarding the Safeguarding Adults Policy can be found using the following link:

Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures

What do I need to do if a relative is in hospital and we think they will need help at home when they are discharged?

You need to discuss this with the nursing staff who may refer you to the Adult Contact Team.

What do I need to do if someone I know is being discharged from hospital, but there is no-one at home who can look after them, or if we do not think they are well enough to be discharged?

All hospitals operate a ‘Safe Discharge Policy’ so you should discuss the matter with nursing staff and / or the hospital social work staff before being discharged.

How do I get help and advice if I care for someone over 18 years of age?

You should contact the Adult Contact Team, using the contact information at the top of this page, who will discuss your situation with you.

Last updated: 22 August 2011 Printable version