Fair Access to Care Services

How do we find out if someone is eligible for social care services?

All Local Authorities across the country have to ensure that everyone has fair access to social care services. Doncaster Council is required to concentrate its available social care resources on those people with the greatest need.

Eligibility for social care services is established through an assessment. An assessment is made when a request for help cannot be met simply by advice or information and when it looks as if someone needs help to allow them to continue living independently.

What does the assessment involve?

During your assessment we will ask you questions about:

• Your health

• Your everyday life

• Any things that you can’t do for yourself

• Any help you receive from other people

If you say it’s okay, we may talk to members of your family or people who know you, such as your doctor. If you are in hospital we will try to assess your needs as soon as possible, so you can be discharged as soon as you are well enough. If you want, your carer, relative or friend can be with you during the assessment. Support will be provided that is appropriate to any ethnic, cultural or communication needs.

Your assessment will consider your circumstances and your needs. It will work out what kind and level of need you have, using a national framework introduced by the government called Fair Access to Care Services. This framework sets out four priority bands for access to Care services – Critical, Substantial, Moderate and Low needs. It also provides wording for what kinds of needs fall into the different levels.

Who will Doncaster Council provide services to?

In Doncaster, if you have needs that are assessed as Critical, Substantial or Moderate, you will be eligible for services and you can expect an offer of service to help meet those needs.

If you only have Low needs, you will not be eligible for services unless there are exceptional circumstances or there is a likelihood of rapid deterioration. We will, however, be able to give you advice or provide you with details of services that may be able to help you.

If you have a mixture of needs, some in the Critical, Substantial or Moderate Bands and some in the Low, only the Critical, Substantial or Moderate needs are eligible for help.

For further information

The information found on this page and further details including the Fair Access to Care Services criteria, are available as a printable Fact Sheet. Please click on the link below.

If you would like to speak to someone about the Fair Access to Care Criteria or feel you may need support to maintain your independence, please follow the link below for details of how you can get in touch with the Adult Contact Team.