Getting 'out of hours' emergency help from Social Services
Please call us if:
- a child or young person is in urgent need of protection from
harm
- a parent, foster carer or child needs emergency help, advice or
support
- a carer or a vulnerable adult (those with mental health
problems, physical or learning disabilities or older people) is in
urgent need
We cannot help if:
- The situation can wait until the next working day, without risk
of harm
- It is a working day. (you will need to contact your local
Social Services)
- It is a medical emergency (you must phone your GP or an
ambulance)
How do I get help?
You can phone: 01639 895455 between: 5.30pm to 1.30am (Weekdays)
9am to 1.30am (Saturday/Sunday/Bank Holidays)
In the most serious emergencies only a Social Worker is ‘on
call’ every day of the year from 1.30am to 8.30am. Contact can be
made via the police who will then contact the social worker.
Who are we?
The Emergency Duty Team is made up of three senior social
workers and a coordinator. We can also draw from pool of sessional
staff if needed.
What help do we provide?
- Information and advice
- Social worker visit
- Arrangement of services
Our help is designed to safeguard a situation until the next
working day.
How will the service deal with my request?
The service prioritises requests on the basis of the information
you give. We will then decide whether a visit from a Social Worker
is needed. If a Social Worker is going to visit you, it will
usually take them 20-45 minutes to arrive depending on where you
live. It may take longer if they are already on another call. The
emergency duty team does not receive visitors under any
circumstance. If we do not agree you need emergency help, we may be
able to give you advice about where you can get help.
How much does the service cost?
Only the cost of a telephone call. The service provided by the
Emergency Duty Team is free.
What else should I know about the Emergency Duty Team?
The Emergency Duty Team works closely with the day time
services. If you already have contact with day time services we
will pass on any information relating to your call to us onto the
relevant team.