How do I get help?

Social Care aims to enable people to live safely in the community whether this is in their own home, a specialist home, a residential home, a nursing home or in the home of other families. Under Social Care arrangements, Cheshire East Council’s Social Services assesses the needs of people and can then help plan the support services considered necessary to meet these needs.

Your first point of contacts is one of the four locality based teams who assess need and arrange service provision in these areas:

1. Knutsford, Wilmslow and Poynton
2. Macclesfield
3. Congleton
4. Crewe and Nantwich

During normal office hours you can contact the team in your area by calling: 0300 123 5010

Don't worry if you are not sure which team is the closest to you. If you quote your address and postcode then you will be put through to the correct locality team.

Visit the Contact us page for more detail and information about emergency contact routes

What happens then?

It may be possible to resolve your situation by simply providing information and advice (for instance about local charities and community groups). This will be given immediately whenever possible.

Where it is likely that more support is needed then there are just 3 steps:

1. Assessment of your needs
2. Allocation of a Personal Budget based on the above assessment
3. Agreeing a Support Plan outlining how you wish to spend your Personal Budget

1. Assessment of needs

A Care Manager will help to establish whether you have eligible needs by completing a Joint Assessment form with you. This will help to determine what level of support you need, what it might cost and how much social care funding may be available to you. A carer’s assessment can also be included.

2. Allocation of a Personal Budget

If you are eligible for social care funding you will be offered a Personal Budget and the option to buy the services you need instead of having them arranged for you.

This means you will have control and more flexibility over your support arrangements. You may also be eligible for an Empower Card to help you to manage your budget.

If you don’t qualify for funding you will be offered information, support and guidance whatever your level of need.

3. Making and agreeing a Support Plan

Once it is established that you do qualify for social care funding we will help you develop a Support Plan showing how you would like to spend your Personal Budget.

The different types of support you choose and how the services will be delivered should be discussed with our staff. If you prefer this can be done with the help of your family.

What happens if I need help urgently?

Support planning can take a little time and so we will still arrange social care and support for you for short periods of time in urgent situations. However, we would then be working with you to develop your longer term support plan once your situation has settled.