The Council's Charter for Social Services
AIM
People in need of help from social services and eligible for
assistance will be supported to:
- maintain their personal dignity and self-respect
- increase their independence, choice and control
- stay safe
- improve their quality of life and make use of
opportunities
- improve their health and emotional well-being
- achieve greater economic well-being
- make a positive contribution to their community.
We believe that people using adult services should expect, for
example:
- Services that protect adults from abuse and exploitation
- Fair access to services
- Good intermediate care services which prevent unnecessary
hospital admissions
- Timely provision of equipment and adaptations to help promote
their independence and ability to remain in their community
- Support for carers that enables them to continue performing
this crucial role
- Discharge from hospital as soon as medical needs allow
- Appropriate levels of home care to help prevent admission to
residential care
- Opportunities to develop skills, especially for people with
learning or physical disabilities and mental health problems
- Joined up services, across professional and organisational
boundaries
- Meaningful participation in the planning of services
We believe that children and their families should expect, for
example:
- Services that protect children from abuse and exploitation
- Timely help to avoid children and young people having to be
looked after unnecessarily
- Quality care in placements for children who are looked after
and additional services to meet their educational and health
needs
- Opportunities for leisure and respite care, to support children
and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and
their families
- Action to prevent offending and to reduce re-offending by
children and young people
- Encouragement to participate in decision-making and to work in
partnership with social services