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Social care

Social care is practical, professional support for people who need extra support with everyday life. This might be help with cooking, shopping, personal care or support with managing money or getting a job.

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What is this service?

Social Care

Tens of thousands of people with a learning disability and their family members currently get social care support which is funded by the government. This ranges from a few hours of support a week for some people to round-the-clock care for others.

Assessments and eligibility

If you believe you need support, the first thing you should do is contact your local authority and request a needs assessment.

What are eligibility criteria?

You must be unable to do **two or more **of the following things:

  • manage and maintain nutrition

  • maintain personal hygiene

  • manage toilet needs

  • be appropriately clothed

  • be able to make use of your home safely

  • maintain a habitable home environment

  • develop and maintain family or other personal relationships

  • access and engage in work, training, education or volunteering

  • make use of necessary facilities in your local community, including public transport and recreational facilities

  • carry out any caring responsibilities you have for a child

  • because of the above there is, or is likely to be, a significant impact on your wellbeing.

Please visit https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/social-care for more information.

Personal Support Services

You tell us what you need and we will give you a personalised support package.

The assistance we provide supports people to become more independent and grow in confidence to the point where they need less from us.

Where can we support you?

Our support is tailored to individual needs and can be provided in different places. We can support you wherever you choose – it could be living with your parents, living on your own or sharing with other people. That might be in a supported living house or a residential care service.

When can we support you?

Mencap’s support is available from a couple of hours a week to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What types of personalised support do you have? Our support is more than just a list, but below are examples of the support we offer:

  • support to get involved in the local community

  • support to meet new people

  • support to participate in different activities

  • care and support at home, this could be anything from help with chores to having a shower

  • support with shopping and budgeting

  • support with being safe, healthy and taking medication

  • specialist support.

We are an experienced provider of supporting people with more complex needs, including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as autism and challenging behaviour. We also offer support for people at risk of committing a criminal offence.

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