How we help you stay independent, safe and well
Given the choice most people want to stay living safely in their own home, for as long as possible. Sometimes adults need help with their care and support needs to live independently. We want to make sure the right support is there for you at the right time and in ways that really make a difference to help you stay as independent as possible.
We are committed to providing good quality information, advice and support about the range of services available, which you can access yourself or with our help. This will enable you to make informed choices about your current and future care.
The Care Act
The Care Act helps make care and support, and the way everyone pays for it, clearer, easier to access and more consistent across England. Any decisions about your care and support will consider your wellbeing and what is important to you and your family, so you can stay healthy and remain independent for longer.
You can read the care and support statutory guidance on the GOV.UK website.
Find out how adult care and support needs are assessed. There is also a guide to the Care Act 2014 and how it affects you on the Find information for adults, children and families website.
How to manage your own care and stay independent
By providing a wide range of information, advice and guidance we aim to help you take more control in managing your own care to have your needs met in ways that best suit you.
Our Find information for adults, children and families website includes details about local organisations, services and support as well as community groups, events and activities in your area to help you stay independent and active.
What you might need help with
This can include equipment to help with the daily tasks you are finding difficult, technology to create a safer home environment, or an assessment to work out the help required for your care and support needs. We can also signpost you to the help and support available locally.
Our what you might need help with section provides further information.
Funding your care and support
For care arranged by the council you can use our care cost calculator to get an idea of what the costs could be. The calculator will give you an estimate of how much you may need to pay towards long-term residential care, care in your home or a short stay in a residential home. It is a confidential and easy-to-use tool. Get an estimate of how much you may need to contribute towards care costs.
You can find more information on care and support charges and financial assessments on our funding care and support page.
Asking someone to act on your behalf
If you need help to manage your services with the council, you can ask for someone you know to act on your behalf. To do this you must first set up a South Gloucestershire online account with your email address and a password. Once logged in to your account, you can then send an ‘Act on behalf of’ request to the person you would like to help you.
The person you nominate to act on your behalf will receive an email informing them about your request. The email includes a link for them to log in to their account and either accept or decline your request. If they do not already have a South Gloucestershire Council online account, they will need to set one up before they can see your request.
If the person you nominate does not live in South Gloucestershire, they should still select the ‘Resident’ option when creating a new account to manage your services with the council on your behalf.
See our South Gloucestershire Council online account and digital services page for more information about the online account.