How Adult Social Care can support you

In Camden, we want everyone to be as healthy, active and independent as possible, and to be able to do the things that matter to them.

We know that some people need some support to achieve this. You might want some support with things like connecting to what’s going on in your local community, developing or maintaining relationships with friends and family, or carrying out everyday tasks.

Whatever it is, we will start by having a a conversation with you to find out who you are and what is important to you. We'll work with you to come up with a plan for how we can help you to achieve what it is that you want to achieve. Building on your strengths, interests and values, we'll always focus on what you can do, not what you can't do.

Watch the video to find out more about how we work together with adults in Camden through our 'What Matters' approach.

Who may need care and support?

Adults may need care and support because:

• their health has deteriorated and they need advice and support
• they provide unpaid care for a friend or relative
• their mobility is compromised due to illness, older age or other reasons
• they have a hearing or visual impairment that affects their day to day life
• they have a learning disability or physical disability
• they struggle to look after their personal care and daily living

How to contact us

Find out more about how Adult Social Care can support you by getting in contact with us on:

Phone: 020 7974 4000, and select option 1

Textphone: 020 7974 6866

Email: adultsocialcare@camden.gov.uk

Also, our Camden Care Choices website offers lots of advice, as well as information on local services, and guidance.

In Camden, we want to support people to live healthy, active and independent lives for as long as possible, and to be able to do the things that matter to them. We want to give people more choice, and more control, over their care and support. We will involve people in the decisions that affect them – encouraging them to make the decisions themselves when possible.

To support our residents, we no longer use a traditional approach that focuses on what’s wrong with a person (‘what’s the matter?’), which provides formal services without considering alternatives.

Instead we will:

• focus on what is most important to a person (a ‘what matters’ approach)
• recognise and build on their strengths as individuals and within their networks
• help a person to stay connected to their community
• work with them to identify problems and intervene early. This will help to tackle the root causes of any problems, not just the symptoms.

By focusing on what people can do, rather than what they can’t do, we recognise that people are experts in their own lives, and that their strengths and connections are a vital part of keeping them healthy and independent.

We will continue to work with our residents to help them to stay well, connected, and safe, providing help at a time of crisis, and ongoing support where it is needed.

Through working with our health and community partners, we will focus on preventative, proactive and joined-up care and support.

Working in this way means you have more choice and control over support, and will be involved in the decisions that affect you. The 'what matters' approach ties in to our overall strategy for Adult Social Care in Camden: Supporting People, Connecting Communities.

For more information about the care and support you can receive in Camden, visit Camden Care Choices.

The Camden Companion (PDF) is a downloadable booklet to healthy living in Camden. It provides information about where you can get support and access services to help you stay well in Camden. 

It includes information about the following:

• Assistive technology to support staying independent at home
• Dementia and memory
• Mental health
• Carers
• Smoking and alcohol
• Eating well
• Employment and training
• Volunteering
• Social activities

Download the Camden Companion

Due to coronavirus, many face to face services listed in the Camden Companion may be suspended and some services may be providing support on the telephone or online.  Please check with the relevant service or organisation. 

For information about other support and services such as mental wellbeing, food and shopping, getting practical support if you are staying at home, money and banking, and energy advice, go to Camden Care Choices.

Camden Care Choices is the council’s website for adult care and support in Camden where you can find information and advice about care and support needs.

Go to Camden Care Choices

If you provide care or support for somebody else, below are some places you can go for support:

• Contact Camden Carers via phone on 020 7428 8950 or email at info@camdencarers.org.uk
• Meet other carers for supportive virtual chats through Mobilise – a group of carers coming together for an ‘online cuppa’. Join Mobilise for free on their website
• Visit the Carers UK website for information on what to do if you’re worried about your situation

Visiting people in residential care

There are currently no nationally set direct restrictions on visiting in care homes. However, we recommend you still check directly with individual care homes about their visiting policy before making any visiting arrangements.