MINEHEAD-based social work drop-in sessions are being axed from the beginning of October and replaced by a telephone helpline. Somerset County Council said it was changing the way it delivered services to improve efficiency and would be asking people needing social services to use a telephone helpline as the first point of contact from October 1. From that date, social workers will no longer be on duty in the Minehead social care office. Instead, anyone wanting help and information will have to phone Somerset Direct on 0845 345 9133 for adult services or 0845 345 9122 for children and young people's services. The authority stressed that only the existing drop- in service would be affected - people would still be able to attend appointments in the Minehead office and make deliveries and collections. Residents who already have a social worker assigned to them will still be able to arrange an appointment for a home visit directly with their worker by phoning 01643 706124 from Monday to Thursday between 8.30am and 5pm and between 8.30am and 4.30pm on Friday. Cllr Justin Robinson, portfolio holder for adult and community services, said: "Somerset Direct will improve the service we provide to residents in Minehead by making us more efficient. "The phone lines will be open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 4pm on Saturday making it easier for residents to access advice and information." He said people who needed a social worker to visit them should also contact Somerset Direct to ensure their details could be given to their local social care office in order for an appointment to be arranged. The social care team could also be contacted by e- mail at [email protected]">[email protected] for adult services or at childrens@somerset. gov.uk for children and young people's services.