Opening Doors: Social Care consultation

The Government is asking how social care and support should be provided in the future. You may be having problems either with social support services themselves, or what you or the person you care for has to go through to access them.

What is social care? 

The term 'social care' is used to describe the wide range of services which support people in their daily lives. This might be home care, a day centre, a residential or nursing home, or an assistant to help someone lead an active life. This term refers to services provided by the local authority or those which an individual or family organises themselves.

We need to know what matters to you on this issue so that we can tell the Government how things could be better. Please answer the questions on this page to help us campaign for better social care and support for people with mental health problems.

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1. Choosing social care and support

The government wants people to be supported to have more 'choice, independence and control' in accessing services. They say you should be able to decide your own goals and choose the service you prefer.

There may be plans to introduce 'individual budgets'. These would be a pot of money either given to you or held by the Local Authority to spend on services. You would be able to spend this money on the services you think would be suitable for your needs.

2. Funding for social care in the future

The Government is also about the option of individuals saving up, or taking out insurance, for care in 'later life'. Rethink believes this option would discriminate against people with long term health conditions, including mental illness.

3. Your experience of social care or support services

  • Is there anything you'd like to say about existing social care services or the assessment process?
  • Has anything been done particularly well, or particularly badly?
  • Is there anything you think should be done differently - and how?

4. Your contact details

Please enter your details if you would like to be kept updated about the Opening Doors campaign.

Using your comments

To convince people to make life better for people affected by severe mental illness, we need to include your views and experiences in policy briefings, reports and other materials.

We would NOT use your name or any other identifying details.

Please let us know whether we can use your comments in this way.