Professional referral questions, answered.

Social Services and other professional bodies or organisations can contact RDF about an adult’s accommodation, care or practical support needs. This may include social workers, housing professionals, healthcare teams, education or employment services, justice organisations and other relevant professionals.

Yes. Admission is through referrals from Social Services and other professional bodies or organisations. An adult, family member or professional can contact RDF for general guidance, but an enquiry does not by itself secure admission, a placement or a particular care arrangement.

Yes. You can explain the person’s circumstances, current accommodation and the kind of support being considered. RDF can talk through its published service routes and the information needed for the next conversation; it does not make automated eligibility, clinical or risk decisions.

Yes, adults and families are welcome to ask for general information. Where formal admission is being considered, RDF will explain how the relevant Social Services team or other professional organisation can be involved in the referral pathway.

Please share what you can about the adult’s current circumstances, accommodation and support needs, the service or setting being considered, relevant preferences or communication needs, your professional role and the best way to continue the conversation.

You may attach relevant supporting documents where they are necessary for the initial referral conversation. Please avoid sending information that is not needed, remove unnecessary sensitive detail where possible and use the secure referral form rather than ordinary email for attachments.

Share information lawfully, fairly and only when it is relevant and necessary for the referral conversation. Consider the adult’s involvement and preferences where appropriate, follow your organisation’s information-governance requirements and do not use the form for emergencies.

Referral attachments are stored privately and are intended for authorised RDF Care CIC staff involved in the operational enquiry and referral-triage process. They are not displayed on public pages or included in ordinary reports.

RDF’s target is to acknowledge a new professional referral within 1 working day and have an initial pathway discussion within 3 working days once the essential information is received. These are target times, not a guarantee of admission or availability.

The RDF team reviews the submitted information, acknowledges the referral where possible and contacts the named professional to discuss the pathway, any missing essential information and the service being considered. Further conversations may be needed before a next step can be agreed.

No. A submitted referral starts a conversation; it does not automatically confirm suitability, eligibility, funding, a placement or availability. Those questions are considered through the relevant professional discussion and RDF’s human-led review of the circumstances.

The website referral route is not an emergency service. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent safeguarding or statutory concerns, use the appropriate local authority, emergency or professional pathway as well as contacting RDF where relevant.

Yes. You can contact RDF by phone, email or the general contact route and explain that you are a professional considering a referral. The team can outline the published pathway and help you understand what information may be useful to share.