UK Guidance
Services You May Encounter (UK)
Who may be involved in care and support.
Care often involves multiple services and professionals.
You may not be told about all of them, so it helps to know what to look for.
Community health services
GP
Your first point of contact for medical concerns and referrals.
District Nurse
Provides care at home, including wound care and ongoing medical support.
Community Nurse
May be involved in ongoing care and monitoring.
Palliative Care Team
Supports end-of-life care and symptom management, usually as part of community nursing.
Support services
Occupational Therapist (OT)
Assesses how someone manages daily activities and recommends support or equipment.
Falls Prevention Team
Supports people at risk of falls and helps improve safety.
Continence Service
Provides support and guidance for continence needs.
Frailty Team
Supports older adults with complex needs to help prevent hospital admission and manage care at home.
Reablement Team
Provides short-term support to help someone regain independence after illness or hospital discharge.
Equipment / Adaptations Team
Arranges equipment or home adaptations such as rails, beds, or bathroom changes.
Social care
Adult Social Care
The main contact point within your local authority for requesting assessments, support, and services. This is often referred to as the “Front Door” in your area.
Care Coordinator
Helps organise care and communication between services.
Safeguarding Team
Handles concerns about safety, abuse, or neglect, and may carry out safeguarding enquiries.
Ask what is available
You may not be told about all available services.
It is often necessary to ask directly what support is available.
How to find services locally
You can search for:
- “Adult social services [your area] contact number”
- “District nurse referral [your GP surgery]”
- “Occupational therapy referral [your area]”