What is a carers assessment?

The assessment will help you and your worker jointly decide what help you need and what help the person you look after needs (if you are having a joint assessment).

The assessment of your needs as a carer can include many areas depending on your age and needs and those of the person you look after. The areas of an assessment can include:

Your role as a carer

• the care you provide and the impact this has on you;
• what breaks you are able to have;
• the current practical and emotional support you receive;
• any other responsibilities you have as well as being a carer;
• your need for information and advocacy (support to help you make your views known);

Your health and wellbeing

• your physical well being and safety;
• your mental well being and relationships with others;

Practical matters

• your accommodation and that of the person you look after (if different);
• financial issues;
• discussion of any charges for services and direct payments;

Work, learning and leisure

• your work and your preferences for work in the future;
• life-long learning - your education and training needs;
• leisure activities you have or would like to have;

The future

• your future role as a carer;
• arrangements that may be needed if there is an emergency or unplanned event;
• your right to complain and see records relating to yourself; and
• arrangements to review your assessment at a later date.

It is important that you are able to prepare for your assessment - your local carers organisation could help you with this.  You need to know what the assessment is for and to think about what you would like to tell the worker.  If you are not able to prepare before the assessment, your worker would welcome any issues you would like to raise afterwards.