Information about Fair Access to Care Services

This information explains how Adult and Community Services in County Durham decides whether you are eligible for our help and support.

To make sure we spend our money fairly the Government developed Fair Access to Care (FACS) which will be used by all Social Care staff.

Carers and users of social care services were actively involved in the wording of this document to make sure it is easy to understand.

The levels of care services are divided into four bands:

• Critical Band
• Substantial Band
• Moderate Band
• Low Band

The highest is the Critical Band. This describes people who are most at risk and in need of urgent help. The other bands move through groups each of whom are at lower risk, the fourth or Low Band describing people who need some help but are least at risk.

We can offer advice and information to everyone but we must focus our support on those people who are described in the Critical and Substantial Bands.

To use this information, you need to read the criteria in each of the bands and consider which best fits you and your own circumstances. You may find you have different needs that fall into different bands - if this is the case then you should use the wording which is given at the top of each page to check your overall band.

Help for carers is also assessed using similar criteria.

You can view the whole docuent below. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.

Fair access to care.pdf (16 pages, 19094kb)

Fair access to care services - Low Band
Fair access to care services - Moderate Band
Fair access to care services - Substantial Band
Fair access to care services - Critical Band
Fair access to care services - Carers

If you want the categories explained or you are unsure where you fit in, please contact Social Care Direct or your nearest Social Care and Health office. For details, see how to contact us.