What is an assessment?
If you are finding it difficult to manage everyday activities, such as looking after yourself, doing household tasks or getting out and about, we can offer you a needs assessment
A needs assessment is a conversation where we discuss the difficulties you are facing and explore how you can be supported to live a full, active and independent life. We are also interested in what you can do and what works well for you.
If there is an urgent need for support, we can prove help before the assessment to make sure that you are safe.
Please note that not everyone is eligible for care from us, and if you are, you may have to contribute towards your care costs. For information about this visit Paying for social care
What happens during an assessment
We will talk to you about what matters the most to you and the things that are important in your life. We will ask about any goals you may have, what you want to achieve. We would like to understand the life you want to live.
We will look at how you are managing with day-to-day life at home and when you are out and about. Our aim is to help you to maintain independence, well-being and connect you to services in your local community that improve your quality of life. During the assessment we will also discuss the support that your friends and family are currently providing or could provide in the future.
Planning your assessment
Before your appointment, we will confirm the date, time and place with you. To make sure the assessment works well for you, it helps if you tell us about:
- Language or communication needs.
- Any religious or cultural preferences.
- What you would like to be called.
You are welcome to have a family member, friend or carer with you during the assessment. If you don’t have anyone to support you and feel you may have difficulties understanding or communicating, we can arrange for an advocate to help you.
Things to think about before your assessment
You don’t have to, but it can help to make a few notes about what you want to tell us and any questions you have. Here are some ideas to help you:
- What does having a good life mean to you and what needs to change so you can have one?
- How you look after yourself and are there things that might help you manage better.
- How you move around and get out and about and are there any challenges you face with mobility or transport.
- How you keep in touch with people who are important to you and do activities you enjoy
- How you keep yourself safe and secure
- Does anyone rely on you to look after them?
- Have you arranged care for yourself or had any other assessments, such as health or housing assessments?
- Do you receive any help from other organisations, such as AgeUK, the NHS or housing?
- Do you already have support from family or friends? (People providing unpaid care can have an assessment of their own needs (a carer’s assessment).
Getting ready for your assessment
Here are some things you might want to do before your appointment:
- Gather any documents you wish to show us, such as letters from your doctor or care provider about your needs
- Talk to family and friends about ways they might be able to help you and about their ideas on what you need
- Have available contact details of anyone else that you would like us to talk to about your situation
- Arrange to have someone with you, or for them to talk to us separately before or after your assessment.
- Let us know if you have given someone Lasting Power of Attorney
If you have any immediate questions, please contact with us on 01926 359190.
After your assessment
After your assessment, we will agree what happens next.
You will receive a copy of your assessment and can let us know if you want to suggest any changes. You can share it with anyone you want to if you think this will help.
If you are eligible for support, we will talk to you about this and do our best to give you choices about how your needs are met. We will talk to you about a financial assessment to work out what (if anything) you would have to pay towards your care. For more information please see Paying for social care.
If you are paying for your own care (Self-Funder) we can help you to find suitable support.
We will explain what to do if you have any concerns or questions and how to contact us if your situation changes.
Eligibility for Adult Social Care Support - Who can get help from us
We use the national eligibility criteria to decide who is entitled to support. These are set by legislation – the Care Act 2014.
There are three questions we need to answer:
Firstly, are your needs related to a physical or mental impairment or illness?
These could be physical, mental, sensory, learning or cognitive disability or illness, a brain injury, or a condition caused by substance misuse. You do not need to have a formal diagnosis.
Secondly, because of your needs, are you unable to do two or more of the things listed below?
- maintaining your daily food and drink intake
- managing your personal care needs
- using the toilet
- getting dressed/undressed and keeping clothes clean
- keeping your home safe
- keeping your home clean and paying bills
- staying in contact with family and friends
- maintaining employment, training, education or volunteering
- getting out and about, including using public transport
- caring for any children you're responsible for
Thirdly, if so, is there or is there likely to be a significant impact on your wellbeing?
The impact on your wellbeing is significant if it has an important or a major effect on your daily life and independence.
If the answer to all three questions is yes, you are eligible for care and support.
If the outcome is that you are not eligible, we will still provide advice and guidance with the needs you have described. There may be things you can do, and local groups and organisations that may be able help you.
Reviewing the care you're receiving
We regularly check that your support is meeting your needs and you are receiving the best help we can provide. These are called reviews, and the first review is usually within 6 weeks of your support starting. After this, we will review your care every year.
You can ask for a review at any time if your circumstances change and you need more or less care by contacting us on 01926 359190.
Your review might be completed over the phone, by video call or we might come and meet you in person. You are welcome to have a family member, friend or carer with you when we plan a review with you.
If you don’t have anyone to support you and feel you may have difficulties representing yourself, we can arrange for an advocate to help you.