4.4. Carer’s Assessment (Preview)

The Care Act gives carers additional rights which mean that local authorities must provide support to all carers. The Act acknowledges that caring comes in many forms and states that the local authority has a duty to carry out a Carer’s Assessment whether the carer has or may have needs for support, and if so what those needs are.

The assessment looks into the well-being of carers and how they can fulfil their own lives, in addition to their caring roles. This might be to continue working, or studying, or simply to be able to socialise with friends and family to stay healthy.

The Carer’s Assessment is delivered through local Adult Social Services and is your opportunity to discuss with your local council what support or services you need personally. They will look at how caring affects your life, including your physical, mental and emotional needs and focuses on what you need to continue fully or partly with your caring role.

Different Local Authorities may use different terms to describe Carer’s Assessment these include sometimes known as a:

Different Local Authorities may use different terms to describe Carer’s Assessment these include sometimes known as a:

• Carer’s Needs Assessment
• Care Assessment
• Care Needs Assessment
• Community Care Assessment
• Joint Needs Assessment
• Shared Assessment
• Single Shared Assessment
• Carers Self-Assessment

The Carer’s Assessment (for the person providing unpaid care) differs from the Needs Assessment (for the person needing care). You can agree to have a combined or joint Needs Assessment, but having a separate Carer’s Assessment can be more beneficial, because this looks at what things could be done to make your role as a carer easier and what support is needed to enable you to stay healthy and have a life of your own.

TIPS: Things to think about when taking a Carer’s Assessment:

To get support from your local authority you have to meet with certain eligibility criteria, to

• What do you do for the person you look after?
• Do you live with the person you care for?
• Does caring affect the quality of your sleep?
• Is your health affected (e.g. back problems) by your caring role?
• Are you able to leave the person you care for?
• Are you able to spend enough time on other family responsibilities?
• Do you work and are worried about having to give your job up?
• Do you have any quality time for yourself?
• Do you need any training to support you in your caring role?
• Would you like to get emotional support?

You may also want to mention how caring has affected your family life, work or other activities and commitments. The assessment will also discuss what you would need to know in an emergency, as well as what support is available to help you get back into work, take part in leisure activities and improve your own health and wellbeing. The Carer’s Assessment only gathers information about the carer’s needs.