The Directory:
a) aims to provide an information directory for use by the public and DCC staff working on behalf of the public, on individuals and organisations who provide local services to assist the people of Devon in meeting their needs.
b) helps to meet DCC's statutory responsibilities under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, ensuring the citizens of Devon have access to information and advice on adult health and social care to help them make informed decisions about the services they need.
c) helps to meet DCC's statutory responsibilities under the Childcare Act 2006, ensuring the citizens of Devon have access to information and advice on child health and social care, childcare and children’s services to help them make informed decisions about the services they need.
d) offers organisations and individuals the opportunity to publish globally information about the services they operate in Devon, how these can be accessed, in what quantities, where, when and by whom.
The Directory's primary function is to hold information on organisations and individuals providing local services. A local service is one that:
is provided within Devon by an organisation based in Devon
is provided within Devon by an organisation based outside Devon
is provided close to the border of Devon.
The Directory’s secondary function is to hold information on organisations providing services nationwide that may be useful to the people of Devon.
The term 'Devon' is the local authority area covered by Devon County Council. This does not include the unitary authority areas of Plymouth and Torbay which operate their own directories.
The Directory may refer users to other directories which hold comprehensive information on particular subjects, such as:
Active Devon for physical activity and sport.
Yell.com or other sources for general trades and trades people that are not in short supply, for example, plumbers, electricians, builders, gardeners and hairdressers unless they offer discreet health and social care services and children’s services.
Where DCC believes that including it would add value, the Directory may harvest data from other websites or receive regular data updates from other organisations, presenting such data in the Devon Community Directory, For example:
Care Quality Commission data on care home and personal care providers.
Ofsted data on registered childcare.
NHS Choices data on surgeries, hospitals and dentists.