Social Care
Social Care for people with mental health issues in Wales should be provided by your Local Authority (LA). You may hear your Local Authority being called the ‘Local Council’ or ‘Council’.
Social Care for people with mental health issues in Wales should be provided by your Local Authority. Your Local Authority is obliged to provide social care if you meet the qualifying criteria determined by The Social Services and well being (Wales) Act 2014.
To determine eligibility for managed care and support, Local Authorities use the Care and Support (Eligibility) (Wales) Regulations 2015.
In all cases, it is the need(s) that someone has, rather than the person, that are assessed against the eligibility criteria.
There are four conditions that have to be met.
- The need arises from your physical or mental ill-health, age, disability, dependence on alcohol or drugs, or similar circumstances.
2. The need relates to one or more of the following outcomes:
- Ability to carry out self care or domestic routines,
- Ability to communicate,
- Protection from abuse or neglect,
- Involvement in work, education, learning or leisure activities,
- Maintenance or development of family or other significant personal relationships,
- Development and maintenance of social relationships and involvement in the community, or
- Fulfilment of caring responsibilities for a child.
3. The need is such that you are not able to meet that need either:
- Alone or
- With the care and support of others who are willing to provide such care and support or
- With the assistance of services in the community.
You are unlikely to achieve one or more of your personal outcomes unless the local authority provides or arranges care and support to meet the need or enables it to be met by making a direct payment.
- Your care and Support Plan
If the assessment indicates that your needs are eligible for support or services from Social Services they will talk to you about the options for support that may be available and draw up a Care and Support Plan with you. The Care and Support Plan says how your needs are going to be met and what outcomes this support is trying to achieve. You will get a copy of this to keep.
There is no charge for the assessment or for giving you advice and information but The Local Authority and their third sector partners charge for some of the services that they provide.
They will tell you about any charges you will have to pay before you start receiving any services.
You can find more information on this topic on our website or in our paying for social care section.
