Eligibility criteria and fair access to care

Please tell us what you think about our website, we welcome your feedback.

Assessment and Fair Access to Care Services Fact Sheet
Last updated: September 2010

How do we assess your eligibility for care services?

We carefully consider every request for care services. We use national guidelines from the Department of Health, called Fair Access to Care Services (FACS). If it appears that you may need one of our services, you and/or your carer will be offered an assessment.

We have a duty to assess people who appear either to have an illness or to be disabled, and who may benefit from care services. Carers also have a right to an assessment when they are substantial and regular carers - see our Carers’ Fact Sheet if you are a carer.

Our staff may carry out such assessments in a variety of ways, including over the telephone. You or your carer may also ask for a home visit. This assessment will help us to decide whether your level of needqualifies for a service. We must give priority to people with the greatest need.

Does everyone get help from adult and community services?

Everyone can ask for information and advice from Wiltshire Council; care services are provided by all kinds of organisations, and you may prefer to arrange the services yourself. If you need more help, staff will discuss your needs with you. You will not be discriminated against on the grounds of your age, gender, ethnic group, religion, disability or living and caring arrangements.

There are three stages we go through:

• We talk with you so that we understand your care needs.
• We compare your needs with our eligibility criteria.
• We then decide if you are eligible for our assistance.

How do we help?

When you enquire about receiving our support you will be asked about your circumstances. We will then discuss with you what options are available and agree the best course of action for you. This may be giving you information or advice, or arranging for an assessment of your needs. An assessment helps us to understand your needs.

We compare the information gathered during your assessment with four types of social care needs:

• health and safety
• daily routines and home environment
• family and social responsibilities
• carer needs.

What are our eligibility criteria?

Our eligibility criteria is divided into four bands which represent the seriousness of the risk to your independence:

1. Critical
2. Substantial
3. Moderate
4. Low

How do you assess who is eligible for a service/s?

At present, you are eligible for community care services only if your needs are assessed as critical or substantial, and where your safety and independence would be at risk without a commissioned service being delivered to meet your needs. You must meet at least one of the risks in either band below.

Critical risk to independence

Harm or danger may occur in the next few days

• Life is and/or could be threatened.
• Major health problems have developed and/or are likely to develop.
• There is, or could be, an extensive loss of choice and control over vital aspects of the immediate environment.
• There is, or could be, an inability to carry out essential personal care, domestic, family or other daily routines.
• Vital social support systems and relationships are, or could be, at great risk.
• Individuals cannot undertake or will be unlikely to be able to undertake, vital family and social roles and responsibilities that are important to them and others.
• There is a critical risk to your carer’s ability to sustain any of the essential/critical aspects of their caring role.

Substantial risk to independence

Harm or danger may occur in the next three months

• There is, or could be, some substantial loss of choice and control over the immediate environment.
• Involvement in some substantial aspects of work, education or learning is, or could be, at risk of not being sustained, causing substantial risk to your independence.
• There is, or could be, an inability to carry out some personal care, domestic or other daily routines, causing substantial risk to your independence.
• Some substantial social support systems and relationships are, or could be, at risk.
• Individuals cannot undertake or will be unlikely to be able to undertake, some substantial family and social roles and responsibilities that are important to them and others.
• There is substantial risk to your carer’s ability to sustain some key aspects of their caring role.
• Substantial health problems have developed or are likely to develop.
• Involvement at work, education or learning is, or could be, at great risk of not being sustained, causing a major loss of independence.

If your needs are assessed as moderate or low, you will normally not be eligible for a service.

Moderate risk to independence

Harm or danger may occur in the next six months

• Several aspects of work, education or learning are, or could be, at risk of not being sustained, causing a degree of risk to your independence.
• There is, or could be, some inability to carry out several daily routines, causing a level of risk to your independence.
• Several social support systems and relationships are, or could be, at risk.
• Individuals cannot undertake or will be unlikely to be able to undertake, several family and social roles and responsibilities, leading to a level or risk to your independence.
• Moderate risk to your carer’s ability to sustain some aspects of their caring role.

Low risk to independence

Harm or danger may occur over six months

• There is, or could be, some inability to carry out one or two personal care or daily routines.
• One or two social support systems and relationships are, or could be, at risk of not being sustained.
• Individuals cannot undertake or will be unlikely to be able to undertake, one or two family and social roles and responsibilities.
• There is low risk to your carer’s ability to sustain some aspects of their caring role.

If you are not eligible for a service, you will be given information and advice about alternative services.

How we can meet eligible needs

When we have decided that you have eligible needs, we will then consider what social care services would best meet these needs. For example: home or personal care, carer support, rehabilitation, supported employment, equipment.

Last updated: 20 October 2010