If you have caring responsibilities for another person you are entitled to a Carers Assessment.
A carer's assessment is free of charge and is simply a conversation with you that will help us understand the impact that caring is having on your life and how we can work together to best support you in your caring role.
Eligibility criteria for carers (if you look after someone)
You will be eligible for support if you meet these 3 criteria as a result of providing necessary care for an adult.
- Your physical or mental health is at risk of deteriorating, and
- You are unable to achieve one or more of the following outcomes:
- carrying out any caring responsibilities you have for a child
- providing care to other people that you are responsible for
- maintaining a habitable home environment
- managing and maintaining nutrition
- developing and maintaining family or other personal relationships
- engaging in work, training, education or volunteering
- making use of necessary facilities or services in the local community
- engaging in recreational activities and
- As a consequence, there is (or is likely to be) a significant impact on your wellbeing.
A note on what ‘necessary’ care is
To get support from us, you must be providing ‘necessary’ care to someone. If you are providing care and support which the person you look after can do themselves, it may not be considered ‘necessary’.
In these cases, we will give information and advice to you (and the person you look after, if appropriate) on how they can use their own resources or community support to meet their needs. This helps delay the need for care and support services for you and the person you look after.
After the assessment
All the information gathered during the assessment will help us make a decision about whether or not you are eligible for support from the council.
The level of support you will receive from us will depend on a number of factors, but whatever the outcome of your assessment, we will always give you further information and advice relevant to your individual circumstances and signpost you to other local services.
Even if you are not eligible there are a range of services and support available to carers in the borough you can access free of charge.