1. What is a Referral to Social Care Services
Social Care Services in Bury support those people who need social care. In order to reach people, frontline contact with referrers and the public is crucial. If you wish to tell the council's Social Care Services about someone you are concerned about or yourself then we call this a referral.
2. Referral Channels
In Bury there are Adult Social Care and Children's Social Care access teams that provide a first point of contact for people who wish to ask for help for themselves or, with their permission for a relative or friend. Contact to any of these teams can be made by phone, letter, office visit, fax or e-mail. These routes are also the first point of contact with Bury Social Care Services by other agencies e.g health, probation etc. Online referrals will be dealt with by either the:
- Childrens Advice and Assessment Team, where the referral is about a child aged 0-17.
- Adult Social Care enquiry referral officers, where the referral is regarding an adult aged 18+, who will also re-direct to specialist adult service teams where appropraite.
3. The Referral
The most efficient and effective ways to make a referral to Social Care Services are by phone or local office visit. This enables the referrer and the worker to fully discuss the situation and possible ways of resolving difficulties. A referral is essentially a two way communication process. However, as this contact is not always possible, a letter, fax or online referral can be made.
When making a referral to the local team using the online form, the following guidance must be observed:
-
The name, address and contact details of the person making the referral must be included. Anonymous referrals will not be accepted via the online form, as more information may be needed or details clarified by the receiving worker.
- The on-line system should not be used where there are concerns about the safety of a child. Any concern of this nature should be telephoned to the children's advice and assessment team, or, out of hours, to the Emergency Duty Team, without delay.
4. What Happens Next
Online referrals to the teams are checked three times per day on weekdays and we aim to assess each referral within 24 hours.
Emergency referrals should be telephoned through to the local office between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm and The Emergency Duty Team out of office hours. 0161 253 6606
The relavant access team will decide whether to make a referral to a specialist team; redirect the referral to another agency or organisation; send out information; or deal with the query on the spot.
5. On line Referral forms
Referral to Adult Social Care Services - Adult (18 years and over)
Referral to Childrens Social Care Services - Child (aged 0 to 17)
