Access to Social Care Services - Adults
Assessment
If it appears that you have health and/or social care needs
we must offer to assess your needs. An assessment will find out if
you are entitled to support to meet your needs.
A Nurse, Social worker, Occupational Therapist or any other
appropriately trained health or social care related professional
could carry out your assessment. They will discuss your concerns
and gather information about your situation and your care
needs.
Any People who play an important part in helping you live
independently in the community by providing you with regular
support will be identified and involved if you wish. They could be
relatives, neighbours or friends and may live near or away from
you. They are often called informal or unpaid carers. They may need
additional support to help you.
An unpaid carer is entitled to have an assessment of his or her
own needs (as a carer)
What happens next?
When we have assessed and agreed your care needs with you, we
can consider how to meet those eligible needs in the best way. We
will consider both your needs and your carers' needs. We will
discuss with you what we are proposing and agree what it is we
should try and achieve. If you have social care or long term health
care needs, we will carry out a risk assessment to find out if you
are eligible for services.
Demand for services is always heavy and each council has a
limited amount of money. We have to make sure that the services
that we provide are given to the people with the greatest need. We
do this by using eligibility criteria. How we decide is the same
for everyone. It also means that we treat everyone fairly and
everyone can see and understand how we decide who receives
help.
You can ask for more information on who is entitled to community
care services.
If you are not eligible for community care services we will
offer you advice and information about other ways your needs may be
met. This may include services provided in the community by other
Council departments or independent and voluntary bodies.
If you are eligible we will then write a 'care plan'.