We provide a range of social care services on behalf of Northumberland County Council. These services aim to promote the independence and dignity of ill or disabled adults and make sure that people can get the support they need to help them to continue to live in the way they want. We do this by:

• Offering information, advice, assessment and professional support
• Arranging rehabilitation and re-enablement support to help people to maximise their independence
• Where necessary, and within set eligibility criteria, arranging care services or by a personal budget to enable people to purchase care themselves.

Listed below is a list of the key services we can arrange through adult social care. Please click on the service you are interested in to find out more. Please note that the links will take you to pages on the Northumberland County Council website.

Short term support and crisis support at home

We provide urgent care and support for a short period to help people to stay at home and live independently after a serious accident or illness. This focuses on making sure that people’s immediate needs are met, and on helping them to recover and become independent. The short term support service also provides personal care and practical support to people with cancer or a life limiting illness and their families.  Many people only need short term or crisis support. Visit this link for more information.

Self directed support

Self-directed support is for people with longer term support needs and aims to put people in charge of their own support arrangements. People are offered a personal budget which they are encouraged to manage themselves, or with help from family and friends, though we can also make arrangements on people's behalf. Visit this link for more information.

Personal budgets

People are offered a personal budget if they meet eligibility criteria, which they are encouraged to manage themselves, or with help from family and friends, though we can also make arrangements on people's behalf.

Personal budgets can be used flexibly to overcome the obstacles which illness or disability put in the way of living in the way you choose. For instance:

• If you need support with day-to-day tasks, or if you need someone to be on hand to make sure you are safe, you can use a personal budget to employ someone you know can help you.
• If you need support to take part in social, leisure or educational activities, you can use a personal budget to arrange that.
• If family members or friends who usually provide you with support need a break, you can use a personal budget to help with this.

Visit this link for more information.

Equipment to help with disability or illness

We can provide a wide range of equipment to help people with long term illnesses or disability. Visit this link for more information.

Social care and health information points

These aim to provide advice to residents with health problems or disabilities so they can remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

They are located in libraries in Amble, Berwick, Haltwhistle, Morpeth and the information centre in Cramlington.

A broad range of information is available, including details of support groups in the area, how social services and other organisations can help you and advice on addressing common issues associated with disability or long-term illness.

They are partnership between ourselves and Northumberland County Council. For more information, please click here.

Home care

Our care managers can arrange to help at home for people who need personal care. Visit this link for more information.

Day care

Care managers can help arrange these services for people who need it to take part in a variety of daytime services. These include traditional day care services or individual services with the help of an enabler. Visit this link for more information.

Carers - how we can help you

Carers are people who support loved ones, relatives or friends who have a disability or illness, or who need support for other reasons such as mental distress or drug use. Carers may provide emotional, physical or practical help. Visit this link for more information.

Protection of vulnerable adults


Care managers can advise and help if you think that a vulnerable adult may be being abused in some way. Visit this link for more information.

Short break care


Long term carers need a break their caring responsibilities from time to time to help them continue in this role. Therefore care managers can arrange short breaks of various kinds for people who need them, to give their carers a break. Visit this link for more information.

Supported and sheltered housing

We contract with a range of organisations to provide housing related support to people who need help to remain living at home. Visit this link for more information.

Adaptations to your home

People with a disability or a long term illness may have the right to receive adaptations to their home to help them live freely and independently. Visit this link for more information

Shared Lives Northumberland (formerly known as the Adult Placement Scheme)

Provides supported accommodation in family homes through Shared Lives carers for adults who have a disability, mental health problem, or people who are unable to live independently because of their age. Visit this link for more information

Care homes


Care homes provide care, accommodation and board for people who need a high level of support to a high standard. Visit this link for more information.

Direct payments


People who need social care services can choose to be paid the cost of the services and make their own arrangements. However, there are some restrictions to this. Visit this link for more information.

Employment/training

Care managers offer a high level of support to disadvantaged or disabled adults to access employment, education and training opportunities. Visit this link for more information.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapists can support people to regain their independence in a number of ways. This could be giving advice, arranging special equipment or adaptations to people’s homes.

Out of hours emergencies - social care

The social services emergency duty team is available at all times when offices are closed. Visit this link for more information.

Person centred planning

Person centred planning is available mainly for people with a learning disability and is a way of working with the person to help them plan out the way they want to live their lives and achieve their goals. Visit this link for more information.

Charges for services - social care

There are charges for services such as home care, short breaks or long-term residence in care homes, and also for meals and transport to day care. Most of these charges depend on people's financial circumstances. Visit this link for more information.

Requests for continuing healthcare assessments

The Department of Health has announced the introduction of deadlines for new cases which require assessment of eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare funding. Visit this link for more information.

How to access services

To arrange an assessment or to access further information about what support may be available, you should contact 01670 536 400. An appointment can then be arranged for someone to come out and talk to you, and your family and friends as appropriate, about what support you may need.

Adult social care services cover the whole of the county. 

The team

Care managers are people who have been trained to understand the effects of disability and illness and the ways they can be overcome. Many care managers are nurses, social workers or occupational therapists.

Contacts

Telephone: 01670 536 400

To speak to someone out of hours, contact the emergency duty team on 0845 600 5252. 

Useful links

Northumberland Life is a local directory of groups and services in and around Northumberland. 

The National Careline is a not for profit company offering information about care and support for older people, their carers and their families.