Who does what (adults)

Arranging and managing social care support can be a complicated process, with lots of people involved.

There are lots of different people who can help you in different ways.

Find out who does what below.

 

Social work professionals

Social work professionals have a main role in the process of arranging social care support.

Social work professionals include social workers, social work assistants, care managers, assessors, and people with other job titles.

Their roles include:

• Working with you to understand what your strengths are and what you need support with
• Completing an assessment for accessing funded social care support
• Working out an indicative support budget, which means the rough amount of money you will have to pay for your support
• Helping you understand the options for arranging and managing your support
• Explaining where you can get help from organisations separate from the council
• Agreeing your support budget
• Completing reviews to check how your support is going.

 

Local Authorities/ Councils

As well as social workers, the council is involved in social care support in other ways.

Councils have their own care and support services and if you choose to be supported in this way, you will get direct care and support from them.

Councils also have Finance teams who deal with anything to do with money. If you choose to manage your own support budget you will probably have contact with the council Finance team.

 

Independent Support Organisations

In most parts of Scotland there are organisations which are separate from the council that can also help you.

Independent Support Organisations can give you advice, information and practical support with arranging and managing social care.

They have an in-depth understanding of the processes involved in getting support. They can often provide emotional support and understanding too.

Some Independent Support Organisations will advocate on your behalf and will communicate with professionals for you when you need help.

You can search for your local Independent Support Organisation using the Find Help search tool.

 

Advocacy services

Advocacy services can support you in meetings and with communicating information to professionals.

They can help to make sure your views, wishes and needs are being fully understood.

You can search for a local advocacy service on the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance website.

 

Other third sector organisations/ charities

Other third sector organisations or charities can often provide you with different types of help and support.

Some charities focus on helping people with specific health conditions or needs, for example older people.

They may give you advice and information when it comes to social care support. They may also run support services or groups in your area.

 

Peer support

In some parts of Scotland there are local peer support groups.

Peer support groups are groups of people who have similar needs. Many people in these groups will already use social care support, or have been through the process.

Peer support groups use their experience and knowledge to help others. These are sometimes also called Lived Experience groups.

It can be helpful to speak to people who are in the same situation as you and understand how it feels.

There are also some peer support groups online, for example Facebook groups.

You can search online for peer support groups in your area.

 

Care and support providers

There are lots of organisations which provide direct care and support, to help with day-to-day life and support you to be independent.

Some of these care and support providers are charities and some are private businesses. Some specialise in care and support services for people with particular needs, for example, people with learning disabilities.

You may choose to be supported by a care and support provider or to get your care and support from the council.

You may choose to employ your own workers to support you, which are called Personal Assistants or PAs for short.

 

Healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals (such as GPs, physiotherapists, specialists, or consultants) may also contribute towards an assessment for social care support.

They do this by providing information about any health conditions you have and how this affects your life.

 

Occupational therapist (OT)

In some councils, an occupational therapist (OT) may complete the assessment for accessing social care support.

Occupational Therapists may also contribute to an assessment by saying what a person needs to support them to live more independently, for example equipment or technology.

 

People involved in support for children and unpaid carers

If you are an unpaid carer, or arranging support for a child or young person, there are likely to be other people involved.

Find out more in these articles:

Who does what (children and young people)

Who does what (unpaid carers and young carers)