The First Contact Team look after people who are contacting social care services for the first time. They provide a screening process which helps them to get a clearer idea of a person’s needs. This allows them to offer the right support and assistance linking in with appropriate services and agencies to support the needs of the person.
They can also help anyone who has social care issues and safeguarding concerns.
How First Contact can help
The team is made of Care Navigators who provide a telephone service for people to have their needs assessed. They ensure all the necessary information is captured to support and direct the person to the correct team to assist them.
They encourage people to self-help where appropriate by increasing the person’s confidence to find new ways to do things.
Should the screening process show that a more in-depth assessment of a person’s needs is required, they will refer people to specific teams. These include:
Integrated Community Care Teams (ICCT) (link to service page)
This team looks after complex cases such as; clients with high level of need; respite; day care; carer crisis and support; palliative care; discharge from hospital and carers assessments.
STAR (Short Term Assessment and Re-enablement)
This team looks after anyone who is new to social care services or requires further functional assessment. This includes; clients who have re-ablement potential; require a functional assessment to establish longer term care needs; require equipment; discharge from hospital and carers assessments.
POPIN (Promoting Older Persons Independence Network)
Free to anyone over the age of 60 years, the team provide assessments and support in order to arrange private services (domiciliary care, shopping, domestic, day care, housing issues); benefits; assistive technology; falls prevention; identify equipment and supporting carers.
Crisis Response (link to service page)
This team is contacted if there is risk of admission to hospital and/or there is an urgent requirement due to declining health and/or the carer has been admitted to hospital.
How to contact the team
Referrals to First Contact come via the Central Advice and Duty Team (CADT) Tel: 0151 514 2222 – option 3
Referrals can be made by a wide range of professional services including but not limited to: hospital staff, GPs, housing associations, third sector agencies, probation, courts, fire service, community nurses, nurse practitioners, schools).
Referrals can also be made by clients themselves, relatives, neighbours and the general public.
Am I eligible for support?
Link to ‘Am I eligible for support?’ page under Adult Social Care.
Part of Single Point of Access and Referral to Community Services Integrated Gateway Team (SPARCS)
