We work with people to help them continue to live as independently as possible and with choice and control over their lives.
Regardless of your financial position or eligibility for a community care service, you are entitled to information and advice about the services available from the Council and from other organisations that may be relevant to you.
Social Care Services
This may involve short term support after a hospital stay or a bout of illness or longer term assistance with personal or domestic care, accessing/maintaining social activities and work, adaptations to your home or equipment to help you carry out everyday tasks. If necessary, we can help you to move to a more supported setting.
We also support carers, who may need a break to do things for themselves on an occasional or regular basis.
Most Social Care services are now delivered through Personal Budgets. This means that service users have more choice and control over their support. You can choose whether your services are arranged by the Local Authority or you can arrange your own support using a Personal Budgets Direct Payment. To receive a Personal Budget, you first need to have an assessment against our eligibility criteria and our financial criteria.
Assessments are carried out by Virgin Care; Virgin Care Services Limited have provided the majority of the services previously provided by Sirona Care & Health since 1 April 2017. The services provide the same support, are funded in the same way and in most cases the same colleague as you have seen before. If you have questions, please speak to the team from the service you work with – or you can contact Virgin Care’s Customer Services Team on 0300 303 9509, or by email: customerservices@virgincare.co.uk. See http://bathneshealthandcare.nhs.uk/
Information and advice on HIV and AIDS
Support, advice and information on HIV and AIDS, including information for people who are HIV+, their families and carers is available from THT Direct. They are also contactable via telephone Monday to Friday 10am – 8pm on 0808 802 1221. This number is free to call from all UK landlines and most UK mobiles and will not appear on your telephone bill.
Local HIV testing and clinic for HIV+ people
Free, friendly, non-judgemental and confidential testing, treatment and advice for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and a specialist clinic for HIV+ people is available at the Riverside Clinic, James Street West, Bath, BA1 2BT. Testing, treatment and advice is open to anyone, of any age and both walk-in and booked appointments are available. For more information or to book an appointment please log onto the Riverside Clinic website or phone 01225 831593.