Carers are entitled to a Carers Needs Assessment by law if they provide (or intend to provide) 'regular and substantial care'. In practise this means most carers. Assessments can be carried out by Social Workers, Carers Assessment Co-ordinators, Community Nurses and Health Support Staff. The Carers Needs Assessment is not means tested. It's an important way of getting more support for Carers and the cared for. It is not about judging your caring role. It is to provide whatever is needed to help you do it.
Do not hesitate to contact Herefordshire Carers Support for advice and help in completing a Carer's Needs Assessment.
What is a Carer's Needs Assessment?
- The Assessment considers the needs of the carer separately from the needs of the person they provide care for. It considers whether you are able to provide care, how much help you can give and whether you want to
- It takes into account the pressures on the carer created by their caring role
- It can help Social services to arrange appropriate support for the person for whom you provide care
- A Carer's Assessment may lead to an increase in the range or amount of services arranged for the person you care for, which could, in turn, help you
Before your Carer's Assessment you may find it useful to think over your situation and write down some of the things you want to ask about or tell the worker who carries out the assessment with you
The leaflet "A guide to a Carer's Need's Assessment" can help you to identify areas of your caring role where you might need a little support and guidance. You can also use it as a pre-assessment tool to pick out the points to cover in the Carer's Assessment.
How to get an Assessment
To get a Carer's Needs Assessment please contact us and we will put you in touch with the right people to carry out the assessment.