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What to expect from Kent adult social care

We will treat you with dignity and respect and ensure you are empowered to make your own decisions about what is right for you to live a healthy, fulfilled and independent life.

Collecting and sharing personal information

People often require several services to support their needs at any one time. For example, you might receive support from the NHS at the same time as receiving support services through us. To provide the most effective support and get a clearer picture of your progress, we may need to share some of your personal information with the other organisations that we work with to jointly deliver services to you.

Information will only be shared on a ‘need to know basis.’ Another organisation that receives information from us has the same legal duty to keep it confidential and secure. For more information please refer to the Adult Social Care and Health privacy notice.

What we do

We have a responsibility to support people with specific needs to live independent and fulfilled lives safely in their local community. We do this by providing information, advice and guidance as well as support and services. We offer support to the following groups of people who are over 18:

  • people with physical disabilities
  • people with sensory disabilities
  • people with learning disabilities
  • older people
  • people with mental health problems
  • people with autistic spectrum conditions
  • people who provide care and support to friends or family
  • people supported by children’s social services who are approaching 18 years old and may require support from adult social care.

When you contact us

The quickest way to get an assessment is to fill out the online referral form, but if you need to speak to us:

  • call 03000 41 61 61 (Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm)
  • call 03000 41 91 91 (outside of office hours - for emergencies only)
  • text relay 18001 03000 41 61 61
  • email social.services@kent.gov.uk.

When you first contact us we will:

  • take full details of the issues you are contacting us about
  • decide with you whether an assessment is appropriate
  • point you in the right direction if another service is better placed to meet your needs.

Whenever you contact us we will:

  • always listen to what you say
  • be polite, honest and understanding
  • give you our name and details
  • let you know what will happen as a result of the contact with us
  • if agreed, follow up the contact in writing.

You might come into contact with adult social care because:

  • you are finding everyday activities difficult to manage due to age, disability or ill health
  • you are in hospital and have been assessed as needing adult social care to support your recovery at home
  • you are moving on from children’s social care and your care manager is arranging your support
  • your doctor has referred you.

Once you have been referred or contacted us yourself, and you agree, we can complete a care needs assessment.