Adult social care is the support provided to adults with either physical or learning disabilities, or physical or mental illnesses.
The support provided could be for personal care such as eating, cleaning and getting dressed or for domestic routines such as going to the shops. Adult social care can be provided through care services, including care homes or a carer helping in your home.
These services are usually paid for privately by the person receiving the care, or by the local council.
Adult social care standards
We provide adult social care to the standards set out by The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Department of Health.
The CQC is the social care regulator for England. Their aim is to ensure better care for everyone in hospital, in a care home, or those receiving care at home. On their website you can find information on the standards of quality and safety you should expect from social care.
The Department of Health sets standards for social care, and the Department of Communities and Local Government sets standards for housing-related support.
The Care Act
Adult social care has changed significantly since the introduction of The Care Act 2014. This new legislation sets out how people’s care and support needs should be met and is the most significant change in social care law for more than 60 years. These changes have already been introduced in Harrow. See more information about the Care Act.
Adult social care information and advice
The information and advice service enables people, carers and families to take control of their care and support, decide how to fund it, and make well-informed choices.
The service helps promote people's wellbeing by increasing their ability to make their own decisions. In addition it helps to prevent or delay people’s need for care and support.
Adult social care services has partnered with Support and Wellbeing Services in Harrow also known as SWiSH. SWiSH aims to help people in Harrow access information about local services and advice to keep safe and well. Harrow Community Action (HCA) consortium oversees SWiSH. It's run in collaboration by five local charities:
- Age UK Harrow
- Harrow Association of Disabled People
- Harrow Carers
- Harrow Mencap
- Mind in Harrow
Who can use SWiSH?
Anyone aged 18 or over living in Harrow or are considering moving to Harrow can call SWiSH for information and advice.
This includes people looking for help for themselves, as well as carers, staff in local organisations and anyone with concerns about someone else. Download an easy-read guide to SWiSH
Promoting individual wellbeing
The Act’s ‘Wellbeing principle’ sets out a local authority’s duty to ensure people’s wellbeing is at the centre of everything it does. A key part of the Act focuses on preventing or delaying the need for support. This can involve signposting people to any existing community resources, facilities and assets to help prevent their needs from escalating further. View our health and leisure pages.
Submit a comment
If you are unhappy about the quality of your social care, you have the right to raise a concern or make a complaint without fear of negative consequences.