Social Services

What do Social Services do?
Each day Social Services work with hundreds of people providing care, support and protection. People who work for Social Services are organised into teams, and each team works with a different group of people. There is a team for young people up to 18 who have severe disabilities, and teams for young people up to 18 who have mild or moderate disabilities. There are also teams for young people who are over 18 with all sorts of disabilities, and a team for anyone with a sensory impairment. The kinds of help and support they could offer include:

An assessment of your needs
Help to go out playing and socialising
Help in your home
Information and advice
If you think they could help you let them know by contacting one of the teams below, or click here (1.3mb pdf) for more information.

If you are under 18

Services for Disabled Children
Services for Disabled Children cover children and young people from birth to eighteen year, who have a permanent and substantial disability, which may be a physical disability. a learning disability or a communication disorder. For information contact:

Services for Disabled Children, Gilpin House, Blind Lane, Houghton-le-Spring, DH4 5HX, Tel: 0191 566 2190, Fax: 0191 566 2191, e-mail: child.disability@ssd.sunderland.gov.uk.

Initial Response Team work with children and young people including those with mild or moderate disabilities. Contact: Initial Response team, Cassaton House, Fawcett Street, Sunderland.
Tel: (0191) 566 1500

Sensory Impairment Team: work with children, young people and adults with a sensory impairment. Contact: Sensory Impairment Team, The Council Offices, The Broadway, Houghton. Tel: 0191 553 6444. Minicom: 0191 553 6502

If you are over 18

Physical Disability Team: help physically disabled people, their carers, family and friends. Contact: The Council Offices, The Broadway, Houghton. Tel: 0191 553 6420

Sensory Impairment Team: help children and adults with a sensory impairment live as independently as possible. Contact: Sensory Impairment Team, The Council Offices, The Broadway, Houghton. Tel: 0191 553 6444. Minicom: 0191 553 6502

When you reach 18: Moving on from a Children’s to an Adult’s Team
Most teams in Social Services work with either children or adults. You are an adult when you reach 18. If Social Services are already working with you, your workers will plan with you for what will happen when you reach 18. If you will still need help from Social Services once you are 18 your worker will write a Transition Report for an Adult Team. They will then introduce you to the person who will be your worker in the Adult Team, and both workers will work together with you until you are 18. Once you turn 18 the worker from the Children’s team will stop working with you and the Adults worker will take over.

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