What Do I Do Next?

Following on from the things thoght of from the previous page. A good plan is to draw up a diary for each day of the week: putting in one (or possibly two) activities for each morning, afternoon and evening. Click here to access and print a blank 'Diary' for you to fill in.

The next step is to think about the people and places to contact to start getting the help you need. You will have come across most of these as you navigated your way through the 'Pathway'. Most important however is to make contact with the people and organisations responsible for providing you with the help and resources you need:

The Department of Work and Pensions, DWP (for financial 'benefits').

Local Social Work departments (to meet your needs for personal care and support, including helping you to access the activities and opportunities you need for a fulfilling life).

The Health Service (to meet any medical and nursing needs, and to provide physiotherapy, occupational, speech and language and other therapies).

Contact details and other information about 'Benefits' is included in the 'Pathway'. Access to Health Sevice specialists is usually available only through your general practitioner. Your main challenge however will probably be in accessing Social Work support, the first step being to find contact details of your local office - from a telephone directory or using the internet.

A Community Care Assessment is necessary before Social Work can provide you with or arrange support. It is best if you can prepare for this in advance - using the knowledge you have gained in navigating the 'Pathway' You should also fill in the 'Diary' of how you would ideally like to spend your week so that you can give this to the social worker who conducts the Assessment.

Lets now look at what's involved in a Community Care Assessment

It may also be useful to look at a group of sample questions that are similar to those that might be asked in a Community Care Assessment.

Sample Questions