What are the first steps when care is suddenly needed?

If care is suddenly needed, contact either the hospital discharge team (if the person is in hospital) or your local council's adult social care team and ask for an urgent assessment. If the person is in hospital, engage the discharge team immediately and ask what support will be in place before they leave. If the person is at home and the situation has changed rapidly, contact the local council's adult social care team and ask for an urgent care needs assessment — explain clearly that the need is immediate. In parallel, contact care agencies directly. Do not wait for one process to complete before starting the next — run them simultaneously.