PEOPLE who use social services in Wiltshire are to be asked to help shape new style services as the county council launches its wide-ranging review of day care and transport.

Hundreds of people are expected to take part in the consultation which will start this month with meetings planned at venues right across the county.

A report will go to the council cabinet in September incorporating the findings of the review and the consultation then decisions are expected to be taken about any changes to specific services.

The go-ahead to the consultation was given on Tuesday last week by the cabinet after considering two papers on reviews of day care and transport for older people and for people with learning disabilities.

The council says the reshaping is part of long-term plans to modernise the service and make it fit for the future.

These service changes have been speeded up as a result of financial deficits facing the Department of Adult and Community Services (DACS).

Everyone who has a care package is being reviewed using the new stricter eligibility rules introduced in May and those changes may result in fewer people being entitled to services and may affect the way day care and transport services are provided.

It is expected people who are not eligible for council help will be using services provided in the community and through the voluntary sector.

Intensive work is ongoing to develop and shape more community-based services to suit their needs.

"These changes to our service will promote people's independence by enabling them to use universal community services and facilities but still provide that net of safety for people who really need our services," said Salisbury councillor Mary Douglas, who is cabinet member for DACS.

She pledged that no-one in real need would be deprived of services and that no changes would take place without explanation to each individual.

"I know that people are concerned about these changes. We fully recognise that a different type of service is appropriate to each person.

"Some people using day centres could greatly benefit from being included in the community and yet there are some people who will never be independent. We recognise these diversities.

"We are keen to modernise our services and help people be part of their local community. We want the people who use our services to help us to do just that," she said.

The Cabinet was told that the changes to services for people with learning disabilities was the latest move in a long-term modernisation of services which began in 2004.

The new eligibility criteria will mean stricter rules for who is eligible for day care and day care will be focused on helping people to be more independent.

Transport too will change DACS currently pays around £2.2m annually to commission transport for people who attend day centres.

A new eligibility criteria just for transport was introduced in January saying commissioned services would only be used if a service user was put at risk using other forms of transport.