Needs Assessment
We assess people with community care needs, looking for help from social services. Assessments are usually carried out in your home. The assessment will be carried out in a way that will encourage you to take part and have your say. You may, of course, have an advocate or friend with you during the assessment meeting.
We will ask you questions about how you are coping with things like:
-
your independence
-
maintaining personal safety
-
daily routines and tasks, such as preparing and cooking food, and climbing up and down the stairs
-
involvement in family, social, work activities, etc.
When we do the assessment, we will also ask what help you get from relatives or friends, and whether they are willing and able to carry on in their caring role. Many carers are happy to carry on helping if they know they can have regular support.
If a relative or friend provides or intends to provide you with regular and substantial care (more than 10 hours a week on a regular basis), they will be entitled to a Carer's Assessment (PDF 893Kb)
Their assessment will take account of their needs and will identify any help they may need from us in continuing to support you.
You have a right to see and have a copy of the information we write down about your assessment.
The Care Plan
Following the assessment, we will send you a Care Plan, which explains:
-
what services will be provided
-
when they will start
-
at what times they will be provided
-
who will provide them
-
what the cost will be.
The Care Plan is an agreement made between us, you, and any carers who help you. We will check from time to time in case changes in your services are needed.
We may be able to increase the help if you are having more problems or we may reduce it if your situation has improved.
Eligibility
Assessing needs is an important part of our response to requests for assistance. However, many people with lower dependency needs are unlikely to be eligible for services. Because the money we have to spend is limited, we have to limit who can receive services from us. We do this by applying eligibility criteria (PDF 110.9Kb) which ensures that services are targeted on those individuals with the greatest needs.
It is therefore important that full use is made of help available from families and voluntary help.
Our criteria is based on critical, substantial, moderate and low risk banding's associated with various forms of disability, impairment and difficulty.
Whether or not we can help you directly, we may be able to signpost you to other organisations or individuals that could assist you.
Charges for Services
We will not charge you for the assessment. However, depending on your income and savings, you may be charged for some of the services we provide for you.
The person doing your financial assessment will be able to give you information on how the charges are worked out, so that you will have an idea of what, if anything, you should pay.
We will give you details about any charges for services, and details of how they are worked out and how you can pay them. We will also tell you about where you can get advice about any benefits you may be entitled to.
You have the right at any time to ask us to reconsider a particular charge if you think it is more than you should reasonably be expected to pay.
Information about Services
The person who does your assessment will give you information about different services that may be available to you. Our services are wide ranging and include:
-
offering information and advice
-
arranging support and care services at home, within family units or in day or residential settings
-
supporting carers who look after adults with personal care needs.
Confidentiality
We will treat as confidential the information that you give us.
We will always act within the law if we need to discuss or share personal information with anyone else.
(
top of page)