Home » Living » Care & health » Contact Social Services » How to get social services » Assessment » FACS

Fair Access to Care Services

We decide who to help by using government guidance called ‘Fair Access to Care Services’. This says that we must decide the degree of risk to independence a person faces. These risks are in four bands: critical, substantial, moderate and low.

In Salford we can arrange or help fund services for people if they fall into the top three bands (critical, substantial and moderate).

To get services, you also need to have

• a physical or learning difficulty, or a sensory impairment or
• have an illness or be frail or
• have a mental health problem or
• have a drug or alcohol-related problem or
• be a refugee/asylum seeker who requires consideration under the National Assistance Act 1948 or
• be an informal carer (friends, relatives, neighbours) who would also be entitled to an assessment of their own needs.

In general people who are in the top band (critical) receive most services as their independence is at greatest risk.

What does independence mean?

The guidance says that we must take into account the following factors when we're assessing the risks to your independence:

• Your autonomy and freedom to make choices
• Your health and safety including freedom from harm, abuse and neglect, and taking wider issues of housing and community safety into account.
• Your ability to manage personal and other daily routines.
• Your involvement in family and wider community life, including leisure, hobbies, unpaid and paid work, learning, and volunteering.

If you disagree with the decision about the band you fall into then you can discuss this with your social care worker or their manager. You could also complain by telephoning 0161 793 2233 or filling in a complaints leaflet available from the worker.

People are at critical risk when

• Life is, or will be, threatened; and/or
• Significant health problems have developed or will develop; and /or
• There is, or will be, little or no choice and control over vital aspects of the immediate environment; and/or
• Serious abuse or neglect has occurred or will occur; and /or
• There is, or will be, an inability to carry out vital personal care or domestic routines; and/or
• Vital involvement in work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• Vital social support systems and relationships cannot or will not be sustained; and /or
• Vital family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken.

People are at substantial risk when

• There is, or will be, only partial choice and control over the immediate environment; and/or
• Abuse or neglect has occurred or will occur; and/or
• There is, or will be, an ability to carry out the majority of personal care or domestic routines; and/or
• Involvement in many aspects of work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• The majority of social support systems and relationships cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• The majority of family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken

People are at moderate risk when

• There is, or will be, an inability to carry out several personal care or domestic routines; and/or
• Involvement in several aspects of work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• Several social support systems and relationships cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• Several family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken.

People are at low risk when

• There is, or will be, an inability to carry out one or two personal care or domestic routines; and/or
• Involvement in one or two aspects of work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• One or two social support systems and relationships cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• One or two family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken.

This page was last updated on 30 October 2008

• Assessment
• FACS
• Standards