What is Adult Family Link?

Adult Family Link provides care, support and accommodation for disabled people and people with a learning difficulty aged 18 and over, who have taken part in an assessment of their needs, and who meet the eligibilty criteria. The Adult family Link Scheme is part of Bath and North East Somerset’s  Social and Housing Services Department. The service is flexible and tailored to meet individual needs.

Support provided includes:

• Outreach: A service offered on a regular or irregular basis, which does not involve overnight accommodation, but uses community activities and venues.
• Short Term Breaks: Periods of time spent in the approved carer's home, which may involve overnight stays where necessary.
• Long Term Care: A service whereby the person receiving the service lives with the approved carer on a long term basis as “one of the family”.

What is an 'approved Adult Family Link Carer'?

Carers come from all walks of life and are adults who live in the Bath and North East Somerset area. They are flexible and caring people with different life experiences, who can offer varied support.

Adult family Link Carers undergo a thorough assessment and training programme before they are ‘approved’ to work for the  scheme by an independent panel.

Matching people

Great care is taken to match people with an approved Adult Family Link Carer. This involves a period of introductory visits and taking into account individual needs and circumstances.

Adult Family Link Carers have an important part to play in meeting the physical, emotional and social needs of the person. The relationship should be supportive and enabling and the person being supported should always be involved in decision making, feel valued and accepted and encouraged to be as independent as possible.

Further information

Adult Family Link Scheme  - c/o Bath Community Resource Centre, Carrswood Day Service, Cleeve Green, Twerton, Bath BA2 1RS.  Tel. 01225 396277.