If you are a carer, you are legally entitled to have your needs as a carer assessed regardless of what type of care you provide or how often you provide it.
All carers are entitled to an assessment of their needs if they want one. This is called a ‘carer’s assessment’. If you were already getting help from Adult Care before you became a carer, don’t forget to mention to your care manager that you are now looking after someone.
If you have already asked Adult Care for help for the person you look after, you can either talk to the same care manager or you can ask to speak to someone different. Everything you say will be confidential and will not be passed on to the person you are caring for, so you should feel free to explain exactly how you feel and what problems there are.
For up to date information on carers assessments, refer to the Carers UK guide to getting an assessment in Wales from April 2016:
Assessments – A guide to getting an assessment in Wales from April 2016
Where will the assessment take place?
Your assessment is usually carried out in your home. However, sometimes this can be difficult for certain issues to be discussed. If you feel that there are issues which need to be discussed away from the person you care for, your assessment can be arranged to take place in private, at a mutually convenient time and location.
How long will the assessment take and what can I do to prepare?
This depends on the individual needs of each situation, however sometimes this can take up to a few hours.
What does the assessment involve?
A health care professional will go through the carers needs assessment with you face to face. Having the assessment may help identify areas where support is needed and to look at the long term situation. You will also be provided with information such as carer support groups and where to go to for benefits advice.
What happens next?
If areas have been identified where you are able to receive help, your details will be referred to other agencies and they will get in touch with you.
To request a Carers Needs Assessment, contact Adult Care :
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01437 764551
