If your local authority assesses you as needing services, there are several ways they can meet this need.
They can:

• directly provide their own services;
• arrange for services to be provided by voluntary organisations and private agencies; and 
• give you cash to arrange and manage your own care, known as 'Direct Payments' (see the page on Direct Payments for more information).

Your 'care package' could include services from a number of organisations. For example:

• social services may provide grab rails for your bathroom;
• WRVS might provide you with meals on wheels;
• a private agency might come in and help you to get up in the mornings; and
• you could have a place in a day centre run by a local voluntary group such as Age Concern

But whoever provides your services, social services is still responsible for ensuring that they are right for you, and that your needs are being met.

If you have any problems with your services you should contact your care manager.

If you need help outside of office hours, telephone the main social services number and a message will give you the number of a duty social worker. If you ever have a crisis and need help urgently, you can always contact someone at social services.

Will I get all the help I need?
Unfortunately, because social services and the NHS have a limited amount of money to spend on services, they will often ration the amount of help they will give. This can mean that you might not be offered all the services that you think you need. When they decide what services they will provide, the local authority are allowed to set their own rules (often called 'eligibility criteria') about who they will give help to. They should be able to give you a copy of these criteria if you ask them.

The local authority can also limit the amount of help they will give you at home to no more than it would cost them to pay for a place in a care home. For example, if it would usually cost the local authority £270 a week to pay for a place in a care home, they can restrict the package of care in your home to £270 worth of services.

However if there are special reasons why you need to stay at home they should take these into account.

If you feel that you have not been offered enough services to meet your needs you can make a complaint.