Disability Services

What are disability services?

Services for people with disabilities are intended to support people to lead fulfilling lives in their own community.

How do I get a service?

Services for people with a disability are available as self-directed support (also called personalisation).

Apart from initial information and advice it is usually necessary to be assessed for a service. We will use our   eligibility criteria (PDF) [50KB]  to decide which level of need you fit into - low, moderate, substantial or critical. We will give priority to people with substantial or critical level of needs.

If you already have a social worker then you should continue to contact them in the usual way, if you've not contacted social work before then contact Health and Social Care Connect.

How much do services cost?

There is no charge for assessment but for some services, for example, Home Care, there may be a charge, but this normally depends on your income, read our Guide to Client Contribution for further information.

Shared Lives - what is it?

Shared Lives and Short Breaks Service is a service for people aged 16 and over with a wide range of disabilities, conditions and other support needs. Shared Lives and Short Breaks include the person in family and community life which, in many cases, leads to that individual naturally becoming a permanent part of a supportive family.

The service provides both transitional and long-term placements to people who require care and support because of their disability or support need. Shared Lives Carers provide a safe, secure and stimulating family environment for the person to help them develop a sense of belonging within their community.

Every placement is unique, and the support provided is tailored to meet the individual needs of the person, whilst creating a natural and supportive family environment.

If you would like more information on Shared Lives or how to become a Shared Lives carer then you can find more information in the  Shared Lives Leaflet (PDF) [825KB]