Social Care Direct If you can’t access Locate you can speak to a social care worker at Social Care Direct.
03000 26 79 79 Open Monday-Thursday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm. An out of hours EMERGENCY service is also available on the same telephone number. SMS text message 07786 027 280 email scd@durham.gov.uk www.durham.gov.uk/socialcaredirect Social Care Direct can provide advice and information and guide you to organisations that can help you live independently. It can also take referrals for a care and support assessment if appropriate.
Care and support assessment and eligibility The aim of an assessment is to identify what care and support needs you or any person caring for you may have. If you are assessed as having eligible needs, you may be entitled to care and support from the council. If you are not eligible, we can put you in touch with other organisations that may be able to help you. A fact sheet entitled Eligibility criteria for adults with care and support needs is available on the Locate website. If you are eligible for support, you will be allocated a Personal Budget to meet your eligible care and support needs. There are different ways in which you can manage your budget such as receiving Direct Payments or having services organised for you by social care staff. If you wish to apply for help with costs you will require a financial assessment. 14