If you need someone to help

This is money you can use to buy your care and support. To get a personal budget you have to have an assessment. This is done by your local Lifelong Service Adults Team. You, your family or friends can call Adults CarePoint on 01243 642121.

An assessment will look at how you manage at home and your needs. It can cover:

• looking after yourself
• cooking and eating
• going shopping
• taking part in activities
• keeping safe
• having a short break (respite).

The Health Facilitation Team  work with GPs and hospital staff. They can help you when you go into hospital or go for an outpatient appointment.

Our Welfare Benefits Team checks how much money you have. This is called a ‘financial assessment’. They look at the benefits you get and give you advice about any other benefits you might be able to get.

The ‘My Network’ service can help you contact Citizen Advice if you need help with debt or benefits decisions.

Some people go to day services where they can learn new skills. For people that want to work there is a service called Workaid which can help you find and keep a job.

Help to get you out and about:

• Gig Buddies is a service that can help you get out and about or connect with others. Wild Rainbows is their LGBTQ+ group for people with a learning disability.
• Self-advocacy groups are a good way to make friends and get support from your peers.

• Easy read guide about finding a job (Mencap)
• Easy read guide about writing a CV (Mencap)
• Easy read guide about going to a job interview (Mencap)
• Easy read guide about starting work (Mencap)