Who can have a Carers Assessment?
Carers can request an assessment of their own needs as a
carer. The carer's assessment will cover many
things, including employment, lifelong learning and your wish to
take part in leisure activities. Carers have a right to
a separate assessment of their own needs. A Carer's
Needs Assessment acknowledges you as an individual, so you can
request yours even if the person you care for has refused all
services, or maybe they haven't even been assessed at all
We can support people in their role as carers and help them
maintain their own health and well-being by providing a number of
services. We can do this by:
- Providing care and support to the person being cared for
- Providing support directly to the carer
- Providing information on the support people can get from other
agencies
What is an assessment?
National eligibility threshold for carers
The Care Act 2014 introduces a national eligibility
threshold for carers, which consists of three criteria, all of
which must be met for a carer's needs to be eligible. The carers'
eligibility threshold is based on
identifying:
- whether a carer's needs are a consequence of providing
necessary care for an adult;
- to what extent the carer's needs affect their ability to
achieve specified outcomes, or puts their health at
risk;
- and whether and to what extent this impacts on their
wellbeing.
Carers can be eligible for support whether or not the
adult for whom they care has eligible needs. The eligibility
determination must be made based on the carer's needs and how these
impact on their wellbeing. The determination should be made without
consideration of whether or not the adult the carer cares for, has
eligible needs.
How much does it cost?
There is no charge for information and advice and we are more
than happy to provide it to carers. There is no charge for a Carers
Assessment but there may be a cost for any support services that we
agree you will need to help you continue caring. If there are
any costs these will be confirmed before services start. If
you receive services from a local voluntary organisation these are
generally provided free of charge.
How to get in touch
For carers who feel they need some support in their caring role,
the Adult Social Care Team is the first point of contact for all
referrals and general enquiries. You can contact them from 8.45am
to 5pm, Monday to Friday on (01254) 587547. In an emergency
out of normal office hours contact the Emergency Duty Team on
(01254) 587547.