Sefton's Adult Social Care teams

There are a number of teams within Adult Social Care at Sefton Council, all working together to support you.

The First Contact Team is usually your first point of contact with Adult Social Care.

They will take the time to listen and understand your situation, what matters to you, and the support you may need. From this, they will work with you to create a personalised assessment and support plan.

The team takes a strengths-based approach, which means they focus on what you can do, your skills, and the support you already have around you. They will also help connect you, and your family, to local services and community support that can help you stay independent and live well.

Their aim is to support you to live as independently as possible and improve your overall quality of life.

Community Teams (North and South Sefton)

We work closely with people in our local community, including those with lived experience, to shape how our services develop.

From this feedback, we created a dedicated Learning Disability and Autism Team in June 2024.

This team carries out the same assessments, support planning, and care arrangements as other Adult Social Care teams. However, they focus specifically on supporting people with learning disabilities and autism.

They take the time to listen, understand each person’s life, and make sure their voice is at the heart of all decisions. The support they provide is tailored to individual needs, helping people to live as independently as possible and achieve what matters most to them.

This is a new team created in 2025 to support young people as they move into adulthood.

The team works closely with Children’s Services to help make the transition to Adult Social Care as smooth as possible. This is an important time, and we aim to make sure young people feel supported, prepared, and understood.

The MFTA team begins working with young people from around the age of 14. They work alongside a Children’s Social Worker to start planning early and understand what support may be needed in the future.

Support continues until the young person moves into Adult Social Care, which usually happens between the ages of 18 and 25, depending on their education and individual needs.

The team’s focus is to make sure young people, and their families, feel confident about the future and have the right support in place at the right time.

Hospital Social Work Teams (Aintree and Southport)

Our Hospital Social Work Teams at Aintree and Southport hospitals support people to leave hospital safely and as soon as possible.

They work closely with hospital staff, patients, and families to understand what support may be needed after leaving hospital. Their focus is on helping people return home where possible, in a safe and supported way.

Social workers carry out care assessments and, where needed, mental capacity assessments. They also help lead Best Interests meetings to make sure decisions are made in the person’s best interests.

Each team works across different hospital wards, offering advice, guidance, and support to help plan a safe discharge.

Where appropriate, they can arrange:

• Reablement support – short-term help at home to regain confidence and independence
• Longer-term care packages – if more ongoing support is needed
• Short stays in nursing care – working with partners to arrange temporary support
• Residential or nursing home placements – including 24-hour care where required

The team works closely with health colleagues, including Mersey Care teams, to make sure the right support is in place at the right time.

Their aim is to make the move from hospital back into the community as smooth, safe, and supported as possible.

This team supports adults under the age of 65 who need support with their mental health.

The team includes a range of professionals, such as social workers, practitioners, and support workers. They work closely with doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and colleagues from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust to provide joined-up care.

They also work alongside specialist services on site, including the Early Intervention Team, Learning Disability Team, and the Park Unit, an inpatient mental health ward.

The team takes time to understand each person’s situation and carries out assessments to identify the right support. They work with individuals to develop personalised support plans that promote wellbeing, independence, and safety.

They also:

• Support people who may be at risk, through safeguarding work
• Help with decisions where additional support is needed, including Court of Protection cases
• Connect people to local community services and ongoing support

Their aim is to help people access the right support at the right time, improving long-term wellbeing for individuals, as well as their families and carers.

Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) are specially trained professionals who assess people under the Mental Health Act.

Their role is to decide whether someone needs to go into hospital to receive additional mental health support. This is always carefully considered and based on each person’s individual situation.

AMHPs will always look at all other options first and try to find ways to support people without the need for hospital admission, wherever possible.

During an assessment, they consider:

• Medical information
• The person’s needs and wellbeing
• Their personal and social circumstances

Their focus is to make sure people receive the right support, in the least restrictive way, while keeping them safe and respecting their rights.

The Safeguarding Team works to protect adults who may be at risk of harm or abuse.

They make sure the Council meets its legal duties under the Care Act 2014 and that people are supported to stay safe.

The team’s focus is to help people keep their independence, wellbeing, and choice, while living a life free from harm.This team helps protect adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect or harm. If you are worried about someone's safety or wellbeing, they will listen, review the information provided and take action where needed.

This service supports people who are unable to make certain decisions about their care and treatment.

The team makes sure that any decisions made are in the person’s best interests and that support is provided in the least restrictive way possible. Their focus is to protect people’s rights, independence, and wellbeing.

Where needed, the team prepares applications and documentation for the Court of Protection to ensure the right legal arrangements are in place.

They work closely with individuals, families, and professionals to make sure people receive safe, appropriate care and support.

This team supports adults aged 18 and over in Sefton who may be experiencing issues with drug or alcohol use.

They take the time to understand each person’s situation and carry out assessments to identify the right support. This includes helping people access treatment services, such as detoxification or rehabilitation programmes.

The team also supports people who may need additional Adult Social Care support, completing assessments and arranging care where needed.

They can help with:

• Accessing treatment and rehabilitation services
• Arranging care and support packages
• Finding and maintaining suitable housing
• Planning support after treatment (aftercare)

The team’s focus is on helping people build their independence, improve their wellbeing, and move forward with their lives. This can include support to access education, training, or employment opportunities.

Their aim is to provide the right support at the right time, helping people to feel more confident, stable, and able to live well.

The Commissioning Team works to make sure the right care and support services are available for people in Sefton.

They do this by planning, developing, and reviewing services to meet the needs of the local community. This includes working with providers to design new services, improve existing ones, and make sure support is high quality and safe.

The team:

• Identifies what support people need
• Plans and develops services
• Works with providers to arrange care and support
• Checks the quality and standards of services

Their aim is to help people live full and independent lives, with access to services that meet their needs and support their wellbeing.

Care Arrangers help find the right services for people who need care. They work closely with individuals, staff, and providers to make sure support is arranged in the best way.

Complex Support Team

This team supports people living in supported accommodation. They work with care providers and social workers to make sure the right support is in place and that arrangements are suitable and cost-effective.

Financial Assessment Team

The Financial Assessment Team looks at what people may need to contribute towards their care. They also support people to access benefits and make sure they receive the financial help they are entitled to.

Payments and Billing Team

This team manages payments to care providers and sends invoices to people receiving services, making sure everything is accurate and clear.

Self-Directed Support Team

The team reviews how direct payments are used, making sure they are meeting the needs set out in the person’s support plan.

Quality and Systems Team

This team supports staff with quality assurance and maintains the systems used across Adult Social Care, helping services run smoothly and safely.

The Community Equipment Team supports people to live safely and independently at home.

The team includes trained assessors and technicians who can fit small pieces of equipment in people’s homes. This might include things like handrails, ramps, or other practical aids.

These simple changes can make a big difference — helping people manage daily tasks more easily, stay independent, or feel safer after returning home from hospital.

Their aim is to provide the right equipment at the right time, helping people to feel confident and supported in their own home.

The Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Team offers advice and support on equipment and technology that can help people live safely and independently at home.

They take the time to understand each person’s needs and recommend practical solutions that can make everyday life easier and more manageable.

If suitable equipment or technology isn’t provided by the Council, the team can also guide people to trusted places where they can find and purchase helpful items.

Their aim is to help people feel more confident, safe, and independent in their own homes through the right use of technology.

The Telecare Team provides equipment and technology to help people stay safe and independent in their own homes.

This includes personal devices such as pendants and fall detectors, which can quickly raise an alert if help is needed.

Sensors can also be installed in the home to monitor safety. If an alert is triggered, the Telecare team will respond and make sure the right support is in place.

Their aim is to give people, and their families, peace of mind by helping them feel safe and supported at home.

Sefton Carers Centre supports people in Sefton who look after a friend or family member without pay.

They offer free advice, guidance, and support to help carers in their daily life. This includes practical help, emotional support, and opportunities to connect with others.

The centre also provides training and a range of wellbeing and holistic therapies to support carers’ health and wellbeing.

Their aim is to make sure carers feel supported, valued, and able to continue their caring role while looking after their own wellbeing. 

Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) is an independent charity that supports voluntary, community, and faith groups across Sefton.

They work with local organisations to help develop services, strengthen communities, and support people to get involved in local activities. This can include advice, guidance, training, and helping groups grow and succeed.

Their aim is to support a strong and connected community, where local organisations can make a positive difference to people’s lives.