www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Advocacy for Carers - assessment of carers' needs
Index of Content
- Who is entitled to an assessment?
- What is an assessment?
- Who is eligible for a carers service?
- Is there a charge?
- How to prepare for the assessment?
- What happens after the assessment of carers needs
- How to arrange an assessment of carers' needs?
- Contact Details
If you are a carer you may be entitled to an assessment of your needs as a carer.
This is an opportunity for you to talk about your needs as a carer with someone from health and social care. It gives you time to talk about the things that would make caring easier for you.
Who is entitled to an assessment?
Current legislation gives carers who provide (or intend to provide) a substantial amount of care on a regular basis the right to have their needs assessed. This applies even if the person you care for refuses help. The right to an assessment applies to people of all ages including young people aged 16 or over who care for someone aged 18 or over, and to carers with parental responsibility for a disabled child.
In Wiltshire we suggest that all carers make contact to talk about their needs even if they do not wish to proceed with a full assessment. This is so that information and support can be offered early on in the caring role, even before services are needed. If you care for a disabled child, or a young carer, your needs will be considered as part of an assessment of the needs of the family.
What is an assessment?
An assessment of carers needs is an opportunity
- to talk and reflect on your own needs as a carer
- to share your experience of caring and to recognise your role a s a carer
- to be given information and advice
- to identify and discuss any difficulties you may have
- to make contingency plans if you are ill or cannot continue in your caring role
Who is eligible for a carers service?
Services to support you may be arranged if:
- the community care assessment shows that the person for whom you care for is in the "critical and substantial" band of Wiltshire´s Eligibility Criteria for Community Services
- To request a copy of this document contact socialservices@wiltshire.gov.uk
and you, the carer, are:
- at risk of not being able to continue to care, or
- no longer willing or able to continue to care, or
- at risk of abuse, or
- at risk in regard to your health and safety, or
- unable to leave the person you care for alone
If you are not eligible for services, we can still provide information and advice and help to link you with other organisations which can support you in your caring role
Is there a charge?
In Wiltshire services to carers are free and you will not be asked to pay towards the cost of any services which you receive as a carer.
If the person for whom you care has additional services, in order to give you a break from the caring role, those services fall within Wiltshire´s Charging Policy, and the cared for person will be financially assessed to make a contribution towards the charge. Day services and sitting services arranged through the carers grant, however, are the exception to this rule and are provided at no cost.
How to prepare for the assessment?
You may find it helpful to think about the following, before your assessment. Each carer's situation is different, so not every area may be relevant to you.
If you and the person you care for decide to have an assessment together, it will be helpful if you discuss your thoughts with them too.
Your role
- Do you think you have a choice about what you do?
- How much time does caring take?
- Are there things you would rather not do?
- Do you often feel stressed?
Yourself
- Has caring stopped you seeing people, or doing things which are important to you?
- Can you go out when you want to?
- Do you have someone to talk to or confide in?
Your time
- How much time do you get to do the things you want to do for yourself?
- How much time do you spend doing practical things for the person you care for?
- Can the person you care for be left alone?
- Do you give care at night?
Your work
- Do you have a job? Would you like one?
- What help or training would you need to get a job?
- If you work is your employer flexible about the hours you work?
Money
- Are you sure you have claimed all the benefits and allowances you are entitled to?
- Can the person you care for manage their own money?
- Do they help you with the expenses of living?
Health
- Do you understand the needs of the person you care for?
- Have you someone to help you in an emergency?
- Do you have any health problems of your own?
- Do you get enough rest and sleep?
Housing
- Do you live with the person you care for? Is this satisfactory?
- Who owns the house/has the right to live in it?
- Is the house suitable for the needs of the person you care for?
- Can you get to the facilities you need, the doctor, the post office, the shops, the chemist?
The future
- What would happen to the person you care for, if you were no longer able to provide care?
- What will happen to you if you no longer provide care?
What happens after the assessment of carers needs?
When your assessment is completed, we will discuss with you the help you need. This could be to you or, if they agree, the person you care for. When everything is agreed we will give you a copy of the care plan.
Examples of the types of services available to the person you care for could include:
- personal or practical care at home
- day care services or activities
- adaptations and equipment in the home
- respite care
- a direct payment to enable them to buy their own care
Examples of the types of services to carers could include
- substitute care to enable you to have a break from your caring role
- help with particular tasks or equipment to help you care
- advice and support in your role as a carer
- benefits advice
How to arrange an assessment of carers needs?
You need to contact the local health and social care team where the cared for person lives. These can be found at the bottom of this page.
If the person you care for is already in touch with someone from the local health and social care team, you can ask that person to arrange an assessment.
You may prefer to have an assessment separately from the person you care for, and by a different person. Usually it makes sense for both assessments to be done in tandem, if not together.
A health professional, should also be able to point you in the right direction
Or you can contact the Carers Support Agencies, if you feel you would like some support in doing this.These organisations can offer you information and advice to help you as a carer
Their contact telephone numbers are:
- Kennet Carers Association - 01672 564265
- Carers Support North Wilts - 01249 444110
- Carers Support Salisbury and District- 01722 322746
- Carers Support West Wilts - 01380 871690
- Bridge Project (support for carers looking after someone with mental health problems under 65) 01225 358564
- Young Carers (Youth Action Wiltshire) - 01380 729813
Contact Details
By Post
Social Care Help Desk
Wiltshire County Council
Department of Community Services
(Adult Social Care Services)
County Hall
Trowbridge
BA14 8LE
By Email
socialcarehelpdesk@wiltshire.gov.uk
By Telephone
01225 713001
By Fax
01225 713355
Opening Hours
Monday to Thursday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm
