There will be changes to recycling and waste collections over Easter. Find out more and check your collection days.

Understanding whose services are available where you live

It can sometimes be really confusing to know who to approach and who should be providing what if you live near the edge of Somerset.

When we use the term ‘ordinarily resident’ this means where you usually live.  This is where you have your regular way of life; sleeping, food shopping, commuting to and from your school or employment.  You may have temporary or occasional absences from here, for example students who only live at home during the school holidays.

If you require any further support, or have any comments or concerns, please contact the service who will be able to explain who they support and signpost you a neighbouring authority.

Who do I call if I need urgent help

The process will vary depending on the service.

When there is danger to life

  • 999 help you access health, police, fire and rescue services across England in a life threatening emergency. Our local services respond to incidents across borders to support neighbouring services if necessary.

When you don’t need an emergency response

  • NHS 111 help you access health services across England
  • Police 101 help you access police support across England when you need to report a crime or disorder that is not in progress.
  • Social Care emergency duty team 0300 123 23 27 support children living in Somerset or under the care of Somerset Council.

Education

Education services that are based on the child or young person’s address

Assessment and reviewing of EHC plans is based on where the pupil is ordinarily resident. The school is responsible for providing the support within Somerset’s EHC plan no matter which authority the school is based in.  Find out more for Somerset’s provision on EHC plans page.

Education services that are based on the school’s address

  • Mainstream Education settings and early years settings  in Somerset are expected to follow Somerset’s Graduated Response. For children and young people with SEND living in Somerset but attending school or education settings over the border those schools will be following their own Local Authority’s approach.  You can find out more on what to expect from education.
  • Parent and Family Support Advisers are allocated based on the School. For children and young people with SEND living in Somerset but attending school or education settings over the border those schools will be following their own Local Authority’s approach, they may be called Parenting Support Advisor or Family Support Advisor instead, but the school will be able to signpost you.

Social care

Social care services that are based on the child or young person’s address

Early Help assessments are based on home address.  Where schools, early years, voluntary agencies or health professionals are located in a different Local Authority, the case and service thresholds may need to be considered flexibly and individually by all organisations involved in the Team Around the Child and action plan.

Children with Disabilities team allocation is based on home address.  For children and young people with SEND attending school or education settings in Somerset but living over the border the offer will be following their own home Local Authority’s approach.  You can find out more on the Activities for Families and Young People page.

Social care services that are based on the social services’ address

Where a care order is made, the local authority will share parental responsibility with whoever already has parental responsibility.  The local authority will be responsible for providing accommodation and maintenance for the child or young person.

The local authority responsible for the child in care is also responsible for their education through the Virtual School, including children placed out of authority.

Health

Health services that are based on the child or young person’s address

  • General Practices are assigned based on home address. GP practices tend to refer to local hospitals and services. You can usually choose which hospital or service to be referred to, except where speed of access to diagnosis and treatment is particularly important.
  • Health visitors are assigned based on home address.
  • CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Support) is assigned based on home address.
  • Kooth and TellMi are accessible based on home address.

Health services that are based on the school address

  • School nurses are assigned based on school address.
  • Mental Health Support Team is available in some (but not all) primary, secondary and special educational needs schools across Somerset. If you are not sure the Single Point of Access service will be able to help.

Health services that are based on the GP practice’s address

Children and Young People’s Therapy Service (occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy) is provided to children and young people registered with a Somerset GP.  For children and young people with SEND living in Somerset but registered with GP practices over the border they will be referring to the GPs own health area’s approach.

Health services that are based on the social service’s address

NHS Somerset will arrange for health assessments and provide any necessary support services to children and young people looked after by Somerset Council irrespective of where they are placed.

Health services that are not dependant on an address

People don’t have to see their nearest or local dentist – the NHS website on How to find an NHS dentist explains that dentists do not have catchment areas.

If you are unable to find a dentist, you can raise your concerns with your local integrated care board, for those living in Somerset find out more on NHS Somerset website.

What happens if I have already been referred to a service in a neighbouring authority, or am currently on a waiting list

The process will vary depending on the service.  Find out more for example:

Neighbouring authorities

This is a list of links to local offer information published by other local authorities in the south west.

Last reviewed: February 23, 2024 by Gemma

Next review due: August 23, 2024

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