An assessment is an opportunity for you to tell us about your circumstances and discuss your care needs. The aim is to reach an agreement about what help can be provided. The assessment will be made with your full involvement.
During your assessment the Care Manager (social worker) will ask how you are managing to take care of yourself, what you can do for yourself and what you need help with. If necessary, staff such as health workers and anyone who gives you help now, may also be involved in your assessment.
We ask questions, so that we can build up a picture of what you need to help you live as independently as possible. We only ask questions that are necessary to help decide what help you need.
We will treat the information you give us during your assessment as confidential. We will only share it with people outside Adult and Community Services if you give your consent, unless someone's safety is at risk or the law requires it.
Only staff who are involved in providing the services you need will have any information about you. If there is a personal matter that you do not want passed to other staff, tell the care manager who is doing you assessment.
We answer calls from about 2-3,000 people each month. Whilst many are straightforward, a large number concern people who will be at risk unless help is provided quickly.
We aim to start all assessments for Older People within 2 days and to complete within a month. For more details on assessments, please contact the Adult Intake and Access Team.
Yes - this can be a person of your choice, for example a relative, friend, carer or advocate. If you don't know anyone who can be with you, but would like support from an independent person, we will try to help you find someone.
The assessment is free, as are some of the services that we provide. There are charges for some services.
Carers are entitled to receive a separate assessment of their needs. If you are caring for someone and feel you need help, you should contact the Adult Intake and Access Team.
You will receive your own copy of the assessment. We can also give a copy to your carer, if you give your permission. If your carer has asked for a separate assessment of their needs, we will give them a copy of this. This is called a carer's assessment.
Unfortunately, not everyone who asks us for help can be given a service because we must make sure we can help those in greatest need. In order to obtain services, you will have to meet our eligibility criteria.
If we cannot arrange services, then we may refer you on to the most appropriate agencies, for example, this could be the Citizens Advice Bureau.
If because of your assessment, we are going to arrange services, we will discuss this with you and then write down the arrangements in a Care Plan. We will also ensure that we monitor and review your situation.
If you do not agree with the conclusions of the assessment, you can ask for the decisions to be reconsidered. Please ask your Assessor, or alternatively, please see our information on how to make a complaint, comment or compliment.
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