Out of hours service

Our emergency out of hours service is available from:

  • Monday to Thursday 4.30pm-12midnight
  • Friday 3.30pm-11pm
  • weekends and public holidays 9am-11.30pm
  • each night there is an emergency service from offices closing to 8.45am

Emergency social work services out of hours are provided by our Emergency Duty Team. The service is there to provide emergency social work intervention, relieve situations of acute risk and meet statutory obligations.

What help is available?

A wide range of social work services are covered, with the most urgent problems being dealt with first. There is no drop-in facility.

  • referrals are usually taken by phone when the issue will be discussed and a course of action decided upon
  • if immediate action is required, this will be taken
  • if action is needed but not immediately, the information will be passed on to day staff to be dealt with on the next working day. This may involve a visit from one of our teams or referral to another service

Partnership working

The team works in co-operation with other agencies and services such as our Emergency Planning Team, Adult Social Care, the Police and NHS Borders.

Other useful contact numbers

  • NHS24: 111 
  • Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111 
  • Police Scotland: in an emergency call 999 and for non-emergencies call 101
  • Alcoholics Anonymous: 0800 9177 650
  • Samaritans: 116 123. SMS: Text 'SHOUT' to '85258'
  • Scottish Women's Aid: 0800 027 1234
  • Power cut: 105
  • Electricity: 0800 40 40 90
  • Gas leaks: 0800 111 999
  • Scottish Water: 0800 0778 778
  • Floodline: 0345 988 1188

Emergency out of office hours

Address: Council Headquarters
Newtown St. Boswells
Melrose
TD6 0SA

Telephone: 01896 752111