• Tel.  0845 6000388

Public Access times:

• Monday-Thursday from 5.00pm until 9.00am the next working day
• and Friday's from 4.00pm.
• and throughout every weekend and all bank holidays until 9.00am on the next working day.

What Service is provided?

• The Emergency Duty Service will discharge Devon County Council's statutory social care responsibilities whilst ensuring public safety, by providing an emergency social care crisis response outside of normal office hours.

Who can get support from the Emergency Duty Service?

• Adults, children, mental health and learning disability users and their families and carer's
  
  plus
  
  
• Concerned neighbours or individuals wishing to report important information or social care concerns about Devon residents or social care users.

We will respond to requests where there is a likelihood of harm without some help being offered, and those situations that cannot wait until the next working day.

What Standards Can I Expect?

• We aim to provide a high quality service in which both referring agencies and direct service users can have confidence. The service is available at all times when Social Services offices are closed.

When a request is received:

The Emergency Duty worker will:

• determine the nature and degree of risk presented, and
• gather information.

He or she will then either determine that:

• A service is required but does not require action outside normal office hours.
  
  or
  
  
• The request does not meet the criteria for social care intervention but, where possible, will suggest other ways of overcoming the problem presented.  
  
  or
  
  
• The potential user receives a service from a specialist social care team or other agency.
  
  or
  
  

• A visit is made to establish the nature of the problems first hand if practicable and essential to inform the assessment or discharge of the authority's statutory duties.

Anyone making an enquiry will be advised of the next steps being taken and the estimated timescales involved.

The Emergency Duty Service can be contacted on:

• 0845 6000388

But remember - this is an emergency 'out of hours' service.

• The Emergency Duty Service can also be contacted for routine enquiries only through this contact / enquiries form.