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Making it easier to contact Adult Social Services

Barnet Council are making it easier for residents to reach Adult Social Services. Social Care Direct has been launched to make it quicker for people to get the services they need when they need them.

As part of the council's move towards a more 'personalised' approach to adult social care services, Social Care Direct was recently introduced to give better access to help for social care issues.

Social Care Direct - 020 8359 5000 - can be called for advice, information, emergency support requests, and making a referral to Adult Social Services. The Social Care Direct staff can also signpost people to other useful services.

In addition, a new website - Social Care Connect - has been launched. This is an online resource that allows people who use social care services, and the wider community to find out about services and activities in their area. They can review services, leave comments and discuss their experience of a service or activity with others.

The enhanced facilities come shortly after disability charity Livability placed Barnet among the top councils after surveying authorities across the country for their communication with disabled people. The latest developments aim to further improve two-way communication with users of social services.

Councillor Sachin Rajput, Cabinet Member for Adults, said: "The number of older people in Barnet is growing while spending across local government becomes ever more challenging. We have already been recognised for our communication with people who have social care needs, and we now need to continue working hard to enable people to have a quicker, easier and more personalised service.

"This is the Mick Jagger generation of older people, many of whom are computer literate and keen to be given the tools to stay in their own home and as far as possible control their own care. Particularly Social Care Connect will enable older people and other users of social services to talk to each other about facilities, services and activities and find new and inventive ways of meeting their needs."

Social Care Direct can be contacted by calling 020 8359 5000. Social Care Connect can be found by visiting www.socialcareconnect.barnet.gov.uk.

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